THE
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
EXTRA. `
HONGKONG, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1917.
TELEGRAMS.
(Reuter's Service to The "Telegraph."] ̧.
THE GERMAN RETREAT.
British Still in Touch with Enomy,
London, March 20. Router's correspondent at Haadquarters says:--Our cavalry and infantry patrols are everywhere active east of our new lice
We hold the line of the Somme in strength from Peronne, southward to Caniny.
Our reconnaissance patrois are active sa fac sa Mousang- Inarse(?). In eoveral sectors between Arras and Bapaums our savalry maintained touch with the enemy all day long.
Yesterday there was a good deal of skirmishing, bat no heavy fighting.
THE DARDANELLES REPORT.
Outspoken Sprach by Mr. Asquith...
London, Marsh 20. --
The House of Commons was crowded by distinguished visitors, including those from the Dominions, when Mr. A-quith rose to maks a exstament on the Dardanelles Report. He asked, if it was in the national interests not to print the evidenos, why in the name of common cause and common justics did not the same argument apply to the Report itself? The problems of the first four months of the wae were sa namerɔns and as "complicated as ever confronted a sister- man, and he was content to leave the manner of their handling to the judgment of history. He defended the war procedure of the previous Cabinet and denied lack of precision, or that the experta had not been given opportunites to express their viswa.
Mr. Asquith took exception to the Commission's referencës to Lord Kitchener, after mentioning that Lord Haldane was one of thou who most strongly preened for the appointment of Lord Kitchener. Although the latter was masterful and endowed with a formidable personality, and was disposed to keep his own counsel, it was a complete mistake to suggest that he lived in isolation without consulting military opinion. Upon 20 man în our history had a heavier burden been laid; hence he (Mr. Acquith) was indiganat at the recent attacks on Lord Kitchener,
The expedition was primarily naval, because Lord Kischanar proved to the War Conneil that troops were not available, The War - Council spent three whols days in examining the available Tesouroo of men, and
summoned Lord
French from France to hear his views. The War - Council almo securiained the opinion of other British and French experta. The whole naval expert opinion favoured the enterprise, Lord Fisher's NŻYNING VÌAW WÀN not founded on technical' naval objections, but an an avowed pralareno, for a different objective in a totally different sphere.
Mr. Arquish, in dealing with the alleged delay in sending troops, including the 29th Division, emphasised the immense dif Soalties thereof. The Bassisu position was then bad, and there was urgent pressure by General Joffee and Lord French to keep the 29th Division. Lord Kitchener might have been right œr wrong; certainly be had weighty reasons. Moreover, what would' have been said if the civilian members of the War Council over-ruled Lord Kitobenar? While the operations were proceeding he was in almost hourly consultation with Hard Kitobecer, Sir Edward Groy and Mr. Churchill.
He therefore took strong exeption to the statement in the Report that the War Conseil did. not meet during the critical period. Speaking of the operations generally, he maintained that they had marod the position in the Canosana and prevented for months the deflection of Bulgaria; had kept three hundred thousand Turks immobilised; had destroyed the serge d'elits of the Turkish Army; and had contributed to the recent favourable events in Egypt, Mesopotamis and Persia.
The concluding portions of the speech are not to hand sa wo go to press-Ed. E. K. T.]
THE IMPERIAL WAR CABINET.
Dominica Representativas drently Impressed.
London, March 20.
Tha Dominions representatives were greatly impressed by the sone of the Imperial War Osbinet proceedings, which opened with a pasch, by the Premier, so which Sir Robert Borden, the Hon. W. F. ✅ Patty, Croneul Beauts, Gir Edward Morris, and the Mahsenja of Bikanir replied.
The Oshinet then proceeded to ordinary busizom. Babasquently- zaprumentativas attended to hear the Dardanelles debats in the Houn