EXCHANGE, Closing Quotations ——
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The Hongkong Telegraph
WEATHER FORECAST
FINE.
Barometer 29.58.
(ESTABLISHED
1881)
Copyright 1918, by the Proprietor;
July 19, 1918,
Temperature
82 Zip.m. 89
July 19, 1917,
Humidity
87
68
H
7998
日二十月六
FRIDAY, JULY
19, 1918.
伍特禮 號九十月七英港香
EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
THE GREAT BATTLE IN FRANCE.
WHAT THE ENEMY REPORTS STATE.
Claim to Capture of 18,000 Prisoners.
London, July 17,
A German official message issued yesterday afternoon claims. 13,000 prisonera.
The Enemy Armies,
London, July 17.
A German communique issued last night says:-We broke in on enemy positions to the south-west and east of Bheims. General von Boehm crossed the Marns between Janlgoune and east of Dormans, stormed the slopes of the south bank and penetrated stubbornly defended woods, driving back the enemy towards Gonde Is Chapelle, Comblizy and Merenil. We alas won a Franco-Italian position between the Ardre and the Marne."
The armies of General von Madra and von Einen attacked from Pranay to Tabure. The enemy avoided oar attack and we csptured the Arst position. We pushed forward south of Nauroy Moronvillera soross the Cornillet-Kielberg heights as far sa the Roman road north-west of Presney.
Eset of the River Suippe, we progressed between Auberive and south-west of Tahurs.
The enemy maintained bis second position north of Prosnes, Sousin and Perthes.
Violent Allied Counter-Attacks.
London, July 17.
A Germs wireless rfficial message staten:-Southward of Courtemont we advanced as far as the Surmilin sector. Violent enemy counter-attacks south of the Marne broke down.
We extended our successes north of the Marne. We advanced to heights to the north of Vanteuil and fought our way through to Bidemat and Boi Woode. We threw bick the enemy on Montague de Rheims sad osptured fortified heights north-west of Massiges.
The prisoners now number 18,000. We shot down a further Ahirty-six aeroplanes.
Heavy Fighting Reported,
London, July 18. Renter's correspondent at the French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 17th instant, states:-There was heavy fighting this morning from Comblizy to Vrigny, about twenty miles, the enemy pressing hard in a south-easterly direction, his left meancing Rheims from the west and his right pushing eastward along the Marne Valley in the direction of Epernay,
"
South of the Marne, the Germans are endeavouring to push on towards the south in order to enlarge the holding on the south bank and to obtain_manoeuvring room for Divisions marching up the river, but the French are strongly posted on the heights overlooking the river which separates the German left and right wings, en it is doubtful whether such an attempt will result in serious gain,
It is important to remember that the credit for the French istory must be asigned to General Goaraud, east of Rheims, because the Germans, who failed everywhere in this sector, are pretending in their communiques that the attack here was merely a diversion. This is camouflage, for evidence gathered on the battlefield leaves no doubt that the enemy intended to reach Suippes on the first day. One Division whose ordere we captured was instructed to halt on the bank of the 'Marne and await the supporting Division before crossing. The German High Command intended occupying Chalons to-night.
GERMANY'S DREAMS IN AFRICA.
}
Allied Possessions as an Indemnity,
London, July 15,
In view of the triumph of the militarists in Germany, 88 evidenced by the fall of Baron von Kuehlmann, it is interesting to note what their leading newspaper, the Kreur Zeitung, has to say about war sims. After remarking that only weaklings can believe in the possibility of an understanding with England, it proceeda to say that a victorious Germany will have no paper agreements. She will simply require of England, France, Belgium and Portugal the osasion, as an indemnity, of such proportions of their present possessions as she may need for the establishment of her Central African Empire. East Africa, Togoland and South West Afrigs are to be corner pillars in this new Colonial Empire. which Germany intende to develop into a great military Power with carefully. protected wireless stations, roads, railways, shore batteries, depols for raw materials, food and mauitions. The Kreus Zeitung again dangles before the eyes of the German publio the idea of a great army of African natives, remarking that the Hereros and especially the Hottentots provide excellent material for soldiers. It declares that in the military training of coloured auxiliary troops Germany intends to take a great place among the nations. One great resalt of this policy will be, eays the Kreux Zeitung, that a compact German Mittel Afrios, armed with strong white and coloured protective troops, will never permit anutigaons opponents to send a single man from African soil to the European seat of war unless they wish to abandon their own colonies."
GERMAN PROPERTY ON THE SHAMEEN.
Decision of the British Government.
London July 19, In the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour stated that it has been décided at present to treat the German property in the British concession on Shameen, Chins, in a similar way as the Chinese Government treated German property outside the concession. Neotecary instructions had been given. This involved the termina- tion of the leases on German buildings.
ON THE ITALIAN FRONT.
London, Joly-17.
An Austrian official wireless messere states:--Wezepulsed four powerful Italian assaults at Monte Pertion and Bolarolo with
heavy enemy Inesen.
EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE.
"A Signal Fallure."-
Paris, July 16.
A Havas messago says: The fifth German offensive since March 21 began yesterday at daybreak, covering a total front of about sixty miles from Chateau Thierry to Main-de-Massiges, with Epernay and Chalons-sur-Marne as the main objectives; but the results gained by the attacking masses, at least 42 divisions strong at the outset, hurled against the iron barrier of French, American and Italian troops, amount to a serious setback It was a signal failure," as if they progressed slightly at a few points their advance was entirely out of proportion to the acale of the attack and stupendous sacrifices made. Not a single minor ob- jective was attained, and at all vital points the enemy was securely held. According to orders found on prisoners the gain of very large ground at the outset was expected by the Germans. The same orders show that many divisions which were to be engaged only on the second and third day had to be hurled in before noon on the first day, so great were the losses sustained at the very" beginning of the battle...
The German artillery preparation began at midnight, but was forestalled by the French, who, an hour earlier, began an intense shelling on the whole front wherefrom the attack was about to be launched, which caused havoc in the German ranks, "considerably hampering the enemy dash. On the weat front of the attack the Germans croesed the Marne at points between Fossey and Dormans. A magnificent counter- attack by the Americans drove the Germans back from some of these points to the northern bank, destroying the bridges bastily built and drowning many hundreds in the river.
Between Dormans and Rheims the enemy maszes, after progressing slightly, were soon held in check by the stub- born resistance. East of Rheims they failed utterly in their desperate and repeated efforts to break through. At no point did they pentrate the main fighting positions of the defenders.
To sum up the..present general situation on the whole front, the Germans failed to realise their plan to make a rapid initial advance and the German onslaught is", being victoriously held.
American German and British Reports.
London, July 16. An American oficial dated July 16 says: We co-operated with the French in yesterday's battle eastward of Rheims. We repulsed the enemy attacks and maintained our positions at all points and captured prisoners and machine-guns. Yesterday morning in the Vosges the enemy attempted after artillery preparation to attack our lines on a front of que thousand yards. The attack broke down under our artillery fire..
.
The German evening official says: The enemy delivered violent counter-attacks on the Marne frant, achieving some local successes south-westward of Rheims. The situation is unchanged castward of Rheims.
Field Marshal Sir Doughne Haig reports: The enemy attacked and entered two of our new poste in the neighbour- hood of Hebuterne. Our counter-attack immediately drove bim out. We secured prisoners. There is hostile artillerying
We Storms handicapped airwork yesterday. at Locre. dropped a few bombs and brought down six aeroplanes. One British machine is missing. A violent thunder-storm prevented night-bombing after mid-night. Previously thereto we had dropped over four tons of bombs on Secfin railway station and hostile billets. All our machines returned.
Violent Fighting.
London, July 16.
A French communique states: The Germans are unable to resume the general attack broken yesterday, but violently endeavoured to enlarge the local successes. Fighting was particularly stubborn agath of the Marne this morning and afternoon. We impeded an attempt to advance up the river by a defence foot by foot and held it on the line Ceuilly... Leuvoigny. We counter-attacked on the front Saint Aguan- La Chapelle-Mont Hodon. We took these places and carried the line to the heights dominating the valley of the Marne in the region of La Bourdonnerie. Franco-Italians between the Marne and Rheims repulsed several enemy attempts and maintained their positions. East of Rheims the Germans this morning resumed. their violent artillery preparation, whereafter attacks followed at several points. A powerful attempt in the direction of Beaumont-sur-Vesle was unable to debauch from Prunay. Our fire broke down two attacks "west of the river in the sector of Surppe. Fighting is equally lively north of Crannnes and east of Tabure, where the eneiny attacked.
reserve
од
The enemy efforts everywhere were in vain. The storming troops were repulsed with heavy losses. Orders found on prisoners confirm that the attack on the Champagne front was carried out by fifteen divisions in the line and ten in It was intended to advance twenty kilometres the first day and reach the Marne on the right. Aviators played a very important part in the battle. especially on the Marne. Notwithstanding the dense amoks concealing the bridges thrown over by the enemy our aviators discovered and attacked them at a low altitude, destroying two covered with troops, who were thrown into the river. Fourteen tons of projectiles scattered convoys and columus debouching from the northern bank during the day and fourteen tons, were dropped on bivoraes at night. There was severe fighting in the air. Forty-one enemy machines were felled or disabled and nine balloons burned:
A" Peace Attack."
2
London; July 16. Reuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, tele. graphing at mid-day, says: The enemy has practically not progressed during the night on any part of the battle-field, although heavy fighting continued from five in the afternoon until late in the evening in a narrow belt ten miles long by four deep south of the Marne, between Fossoy and Marenilleport, wherein the enemy established himself on Jaly 18. The enemy was held on the night of July 15 in the western sector on the line St. Aignan-Chapelle-Mont Holon-Boucquigny Wood, which is equivalent to a maximum depth of two and a half miles.
The enemy had fifty-siz divisions, including many crack divisions. There were fourteen each in the first-line west and east of Rheims and the same in the second line. The heaviness of the enemy losses is evidenced in the case of rsone division which was obliged to sak to be relieved at mid- day on July 15 instead of the evening as stranged. · Pris- oners state the German Army has christened the - batija
The Friedensturm, or (Teaeg Atfaak.”*
THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE,
A Serious Reverse,
London, July 16. Router's correspondent at French Headquarters report-“ ing at 23 on Tuesday afternoon," says: The Germans on the whole battle-front east of Rheims are held in the French advanced zone, where only outposts are maintained. Most of the ground lost there is not particularly valuable. The Moronvilliers massif had to be abandoned-after hard fight ing. The enemy again holds the five creats Cordellet, Blane, Haut, Teton and Casque. The French did not attempt to hold them strongly, thus avoiding a large haul of pria- oners when the front was withdrawn between two and three miles to the Souain-Perthes les Surlns line.
Reuter this evening learns that generally speaking the enemy has suffered a serious reverse, especially cast of Rheims.. It is too early to say that the attack is definitely repulsed, but the situation may be regarded as distinctly good. Until noon the attack had not resulted in an advance of five miles at any point from the original enemy front. It is now clear that the enemy concentrated all his efforts on the offensive. It is established that the Germans employed. over thirty divisions, "compared with forty on March 1st. No British have so far been engaged.
Poor Initial Results.
London, July 17.
If there were no other evidence the restrained tone of the German communique alone would show how little success the enemy offensive bas achieved. Indeed no great offensive hitherto has been so barren of initial results. It cannot yet "be said that the enemy has failed, but his definits failure is more probable and the legend of the irresistible force of the first German onset is already destroyed. It is clear that the Allies have profited by experience, notably by greatly extending the area of the first or covering defence zone, and the unity of command is proving more effective. How well the French have the situation in hand is proved by the fact that east of Rheims they retired to lines of resistance without losing a gun, while west of Rheims the progress of the Germans was so limited that their position with the river immediately behind and their communications incessantly bombed, may become precarious. The news- papers emphasise as a momentous feature of the battle, the conduct of the Americans, who more than fulfilled the brilliant promise of the previous minor engagements, shat- tering the belief fostered among the enemy peoples that the war would be over before the American factor became a reality.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried out a successful minor enterprise eastward of. Villers Bretonneux, which resulted in a few prisoners and machine- guns. We also repulsed raiders in this sector. A successful English raid in the neighbourhood of Hulluch prisonered a few. Hostile artillery is active in some of the Ancre sectors, northward of the Scarpe, north-eastward of Bethane and northward of Bailleul.
The Offensive Degenerates.
London, July 16. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters reports today: The enemy's attack on July 15 was in length of front, probably also in number of divisions engaged or ready to engage, the greatest effort he has yet made. It failed The Crown Prince's great offensive degenerated on the second day to a disjointed series of local attacks, which, although better, were only undertaken to save what could be saved from the wreek of Monday's hopes. The push along the "Marne valley may progress farther before it is brought to a standstill. The Germans are fightingTM" hard here. It would be extremely useful for propaganda purposes. The Crown Prince would be able to claia the capture of the wealthy little town of Epernay.
SUCCESS OF BRITISH WAR BONDS.
London, July 17.
When the War Loan Bill was taken in committed in the Commons last evening, Mr. Bonar Law said no new opera tions would be necessary for the next nine months as the War Bonds organization had succeeded to a greater extent even than anticipated.
SPANISH STEAMER TORPEDOED"
Athens, July 17.
A Spanish steamer with the Spanish Minister to Grecce, Senor Lopez-de-Vega aboard, en route to Spain, was tor- pedoed by a German submarine. The steamer flew the Spanish flag. The minister with his family was rescued Germany had been notified of Senor, Lopez-de-Vega's de parture sir days previously.
THE SIBERIAN CAMPAIGN.
London, July 15,
The Czecho-Slovak army in Siberia comprises a number of Russians commanded by Generals Erdelli, Alexeicft and Data, also Poles.
COL, ROOSEVELT'S SON KILLED,
Paris, July 17 Flight Lieut. Quentin Roosevelt, youngest son of ex- President Roosevelt, was killed in an air fight near Chateau Thierry. He fell in the enemy lines...
다
NO MEATLESS days in FRANCE,
Paris, July 17. --
It is officially announced that as from Baturday the consumption of meat will be unrestricted. Thus there will be no more meatless days in France,
U. S. AMBULANCE STATION BOMBED.
Paris, July 18. Enemy aviators bombed an American ambulance station last night, killing two and wounding ning.
FRENCH, TRAITOR EXECUTED.
Paris/ July 17 Dayal, who was sentenced to death in the Bonnet Bouge „trial, was executed this morning at Vincennes...
Temperature & sum. 783, 85
78 Humidity.
66
Her seat
PARIS AGAIN BOMBARDED,
Paria, Tuly 16 The long range bombardment was resumed on Monday,
SINGLE COPY 10 (F) TS, $36 PER ANNUM,
TELEGRAMS,
(Renter's Service to The "Telegraph.")
THE SILVER 'MARKET.
London, July 17
The silver market in meady.
*
SERICAN SAILORS.
A Glowing British Tribute.
This interesting tribute to the work of American sailore and the asry's firing men in English | esters in from the London letter “ of the Manchester Guardian. The correspondent writes:
Everyone who eses much of the mercantile marine knows how appreciative of and grateful they are for the splendid part the American navy has played in guarding our ships in the sub- marine zones. Since their first Br« rival in European waters they took up the game with an enthusiasm and thoroughness characteristic of their desire to exosi in everything and prove their kesness by resalts, The British navy, although it waN the biggest in the world, had its personnel strained at the begin. oing. of the war to provide instructors and establishments for the great expansion that took place in it. The ratio of expan. rion in the Americ›n navy, öf course, was much greater, as their establishment WAI BO much smaller,
It has been stated in America that half the number of axilors that were in the Ameriósn navy at the beginning of the war sze
in Garopean waters. The system of training is to have a number of training bases in Europe constantly Alling ap from American drafts. Esch new destroyer that comes over senda back, after some time, some of ita men to form a nucleus Grew for a дет destroyer taning up in America, Their
taken place is
by drafts from the training bases. The new destroyer makes up its comple-. ment from the battleships and other unite in America. The American training beren are at Newport, Ohiorge, San Francisco, and Norfolk, Va, where the man have bad many months's train- ing. The proportion of mechanias among them is probably higher than in the British navy, and they have tapped every side of their sbounding national development for the navy.
To a vast number of young men on the Great Continent: the iden of travelling thousands of miles. to see the ees and become sailors. had the charm of extreme novelty that dan hardly be understood in these islanda. At the same time. they have a consistent ses tradi tion, famous in the world; and the professional standard of their own. Davy was equal in our own. Great things are expected of the neW phase in their naval history, which has bren began so well by their destroyers off our coast...
Whatever may be the truth about the delays in their seroplane construction, it was not the fault of the American navy. Their very keen young airmen bave been working from British seaplanes, and have won som mendation from our Admiralty. and commanders. Recently an American pilot scouting for submarines epotted a periscope and dropped a bomba few feet, ahead and a few foot setern, both in line. He circled and attacked again, droppad a Bomb in the centre of the disturbance, and oil came up in great quantities.
Another American pilot man- aged the rare fest of dropping s bomb in the centre of the deck of, sizeabmarine travelling fally. blown on the surface, and had the mhappy, experience of seeing it fail to explode. These are's few of the early swallows of the big {flights of American sirmen that same day will d'urken the French