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The Hongkong Telegraph
WEATHER FOREGAST
FAIR.
Barometer 29 05.
October 8, 1918,
8067 日四初月九
Temperature Humidity.
74 2
80.
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
THE ENEMY PEACE OVERTURES.
KAISER BREAKS THE NEWS TO ARMY AND NAVY,
Tamperarure 6 a.m.
SINGLE COFY 10 CEYTS.
(ESTABLISHED Copyright 1918, by
1881)
October 8, 1917.
Humidity
TUESDAY,
OCTOBER
1918.
二拜禮:八月十英港香:
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
REUTER'S TELEGRAM
THE ENEMY PEACE OVERTURES..
Austria Approaches 'America.
BRITISH AERIAL OPERATIONS.
Amsterdam, October 7.
Further Raids by ladependent Air Force.
London, October 6.
OTR
TƠN.
TELEGRAMS,
(Reuter Service to the
GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S
SPEECH.
Landos, Oct. &.
A Vienna mamsge says the A istrian Minister in 8:ookholm has requested the Swedish Government to transmit to President Wilson addition to the bombing reported yesterday, bombed sisseplantern Details of Reform Programma.
The Press Barena sunounces that the Independent Air Force, in s telegram stating that Austria-Hungary, which has neter waged and Pirmasens with good results. Toere wat vary heavy fishững FRENCH OPINION, STRONGLY AGAINST AN ARMISTICE,,
war, except defensively, and has several times shown desire to all the way and from the obj olives. We shot down four terminate the present bloodshed and conclude a just and honourable seroplanes Fear British mobines have not returned.
In the course of his speech in the Paris, October 7. -pasoe, proposes that Provident Wilson immediately conclude a The general tonour of the French Press comment unanimously general armistice with her and her Allies and open negotiations for bombs as railways at Mesiaren, Me's ablos, Thiaville and wara Government cannot again be On the night of Oktober 5 6, we drop pad-twelve and a half tons of said he was convinced that after the Beichstag the German Chancellor takes the view that Germany has at last unmasked her long-peace without delay, the negotiations to be based on the garter Courcelice and on aerodromes at Morhangs and Fregaty and formed without the support of the anticipated great pesce cffusive and that it must be un points of President Wilson's message of January 8, the four pointe Barbach Works. Nine heavy homba fell on Barbach Factory and Reichstag and without leaders compromisingly turned down because pourparlers at present would of his speech of February 12 and to take axat of his dealeration fire broke out at Caproelles. All car machines returned, "enable Germany to don the mantle of viotor at a Pesos Conferenos, of September 27.
ultimately recover her pre-war strength, sad sgain menace the The Vienas telegram adds that the demarohs of the Central Powera was discussed lengthily in Vienna and Barlin at a surión of pre of the world.
ocuferences in which military representatives of the German Federal Staton participated.
طرا
The Petit Journal sdda that the enemy Governments realise that they must show their peoples that they are anxion: for pasos, in order to spur them on to new war efforts. Oas of the chief motives of the Pesce Note is the imperative used of asying the prestige of the German Army Bad German Militarism.
The Homme Libre esya:--Germsay, fearing invasion, desires á breathing space from the grip of Harshal Fook. The perfidions msp000476 will not take us by surprise.
Le Journal says:-We shall reply to the fermane, Austrians and Turks as we replied to the Bulgarians-30 suspension of hostilities without unconditional acceptance of conditions imposed by the victora.
41.
*
BIG GERMAN RETIREMENT BEGUN.
Expected Abandonment of Cambrai
GERMANS SHORT OF ARTILLERY AND AMMUNITION, London, October 6. Beuter's correspondent at American Headquarters, writing in-
The Echo de Paris saya :-Our enemies are seeking a drawn pesos in order to have the stakes they ventured on the grase table. Have-The fighting yesterday consisted of consolidating in 1914, hoping thereby to achieve sublime. "German anity and exploit the world by means of eonomic freedom and fraternal division of raw materials,, “Such is the asked sword concealed. beneath idealistic phraseology."
British Government Awalting Proposals.
«London, October 6, Benter was cficially informed on Sunday night that the Government has nos yet received the German proposals and was unable to comment thereapun until it officially knows the exact nature of the proposals.
The Kaiser's Proclamation.
13
London, October 6. The Kaiser bas addressed a Proclamation to the German Army and Navy, in which he sanonuces the a peace proposal. He affirms that the Western Front will not be brakan, but points out that the collapse of the Macedonian Front occurred at a moment when the straggle was hardest.
The Kaiser then states that he, in accord with his Alliee, has resolved once more to offer an honourable peace. Whether arms will be lowered is, he says, still a question. Until then, their efforts must not slacken.
Negotiations Impossible.
Paris, October Bu
A semi-official statement regards the Central Powers' peace proposals as a confession of defeat. It points out that Germany, after violating the laws of war and humanity for fifty months, realising that the hour of punishment is at hand, now seeks protection under the venerated name of President Wilson, but the President had already answered, on September 27, the hypocritical demands. It conclades that there can be no negotiations with the enemy while he is upon the soil of our country.
A Reference to Alsace Lorraine.
Amsterdam, October 6, The following page in the speech of the Chancellor in the Beichstag is not quoted in the Copenhagen version:-"I unshakably adhere to a federative basis for the Empire as a Federal State whose individual members may determine their internal constitutional life in complete independence a right to which Alessé Lorraine has full olaim"
The Allies and the Kaiser.
positions and repelling outer-attacks. Feroe machine-gunning watered in Bie da Sogons and Bois de Canel, north of Nantillais Austro-Hungarians are probably in reserve in this part of the line.
Dar line was curried to within nearly half a mile of the Krienbilde defences, south of Romagne, but here the ground is very open and farther progrese is imposible without organised asistanos, though we again cleared Bois de Marine, taking two hundred prisoners.
il
Os the left, which is the darger point for the enemy, Landwehr reserves rushed up so the assistance of the Guards Division Thera is little change on this part of the front.
This morning near Nancy, the Polish Legion was formally received into the French Army.
The Germans** Gológ."
London, October 6.
Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing this Svaning, ways:The Germans are going. How far, how fast and on how wide a front remain to be disclosed. The svacuation of the Hindenburg Line between Vendhaille sad Biotoussels, which extended eastwards across the Ls Terriere Platesa, was an aumis- takeable symptom of this definite intention, coupled with the dying down of artillery fire.
Dɔnai has been set fra'in many places. This wanton destruction has caused intense bitternes among the troops.
Americans Slightly Progress,
London, October 7.
An Ameriosa official message states:We have slightly advanced between the Meres and Bois de Sagons. There is stabbera infantry fighting further west and increased reciprocal artillery firing everywhere.
A Big Retirement Begua.
London, October 6... Renter learns that an important enemy retirement began on the morning of the 5th inst, south of Cambrai, where the enemy has already retreated to a depth of from one to two miles, on a front of seven. The withdrawal is compelled by British pressare towards Le Ostean had the early abandonment of the town of Cambrsi is anticipated.
The enemy is continuing to evacuate the Rheims salient. He has already shortened bis line by at least ten miles and succeeded in getting to the river between the French and himself,
Dousi is filming fiercely, accompanied by heavy explosives, indicating that the enemy contemplates a big retirement thereabouts.)
London, October 7. Mr. Barnes, a member of the War Cabinet, speaking at Manchester, described the Chancellor's speech as a great advance towarda pesce. Nevertheless, considering the remarkable change caused by our There are indisputable signs that the enemy is getting short of Brmies, when scratiaised the offer revealed time-worn German heavy field artillery and ammunition. We have so far captured one oynidiem. Tarkey and Balgerie were left to their fate, Austria was quarter of the enemy artillery on the Western Front to be cat ap, bat Gormsey, who canerd the war, was to be the only one to come out with a whole skin. No change of heart or system waz indicated, reatifation for devastated territories was not mention.
A Haras mesnage etates:-The persistent pressure of the Allies ed; Germany wasted to bargain for Colonies, yet to retain an has sedentasted the German withdrawal north of the 6t. Quentin- antocratic form of Government. We were not going to make a Rheims sector. Marshal Foch commanda practically the whole of ļ colleague of the Kaiser (Cheere). The road to peace would be the Siagfried position. Buth of Cambrai the Germans are retreat- greatly smoothed if Germany cleared out of Belgium and France and ing on a 28-mile front. A strong Champagne position has been set up a real responsible Government,
taken. Doani ir'in 'fismes.
- American Opinion.
Washington, October 7.
Withdrawal on 28-Mile Front.
Paris, October 6.
+
THE OPERATIONS IN BULGARIA.
The State Department has not received the Central Powera' pesos cffar, but the opinion is expressed that the German Govern-
A German Division Surrenders. ment bas done nothing to warrant entering into discussions. There
Paris, October 6, The Echo de Paris announces that French troops in Balgaris alight probability of any serions sttention being to the German proposals while the enemy is still occupying portions of France and compelled the surrender of the Eleventh German Division, with Belgium, Farthermore, Germany is seeking to make a diplomatic which a German General and two Brigadier Generals anrrendered. virtue of a military necessity.
An Admission of Defeat,
Perin, October 6.
THE BALKAN SITUATION.
German Officials Harrying Home, A Haran messige saysGermany, Austria and Turkey hava
Paris, Otober 6. asked for an armistios and the negotiations on the basis of the four- A Harss mange states :-The German, and Austrians are teen points stated by President Wilson. This in sa admission by making great efforts to place a new Army in Balgrits to bald the Germany that she is being beaten. The Paris From cayn it is an railway to Constantinople, The Turkish attitude is one of helpless impossible request. President Wileon'a points are no basis: they expectation. The Bamboul, Adrianople, Sofia, Badsport line is must be accepted without discussion and the Central Powers growing booked with Germans, officials and osmmercial, bastening proclaim that they cannot carry on the war,
back to Germany.
Conditions Acceptable to Germany.
Paria, October 6, Havar mesage says:The new Chanoallar, Prinos Mar of Baden, in his speech in 50-
in the Reichstag, asid the pesce conditions Dan Accept are the rest tion.
autonomy for Alssos-L Lassien border territorien. In
*hich, Germ
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT.
“A New Ministry Created
For bed Amsterdam, October 1 mewage from Berlin maya the Kuiper ban deorned the forma tion of an Imperial Labour Ministry as's Omniral Authority
the Chancellor, to contral, socist and political alain
Imperial Economie Minist
3
EARLIER TELEGRAMS.
THE WESTERN FRONT.
A Blow to German Pride."
Paris, Cek 5
A Havas message states? There is every indication of an early abandonment of the Flanders.coast, Ostend and Zeebrugge. The enemy will retire to the Antwerp-Metse line. The blow to German pride is severe as the Pan-Ger- msas insisted on the retention of the coast as vital to world' power. The British advanced south of Armentieres and took 4,000 prisoners in front of Cambrai. In Champagne the French and Americans: broke deep into the German enormously fortified second, defence line in east Argonne General Pershing's first army is nearly on top of Argonne Forest Saint Quentin is a skeleton, plundered and shell swept The work of the vandal in destruction is lament-- able. The church is hardly recognisable
The British Successes.
London, Oct. 6. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig states: There was stub- born fighting all day at Mont Brehain and Beaurevoir Hay- ing captured the former early in the morning with five hundred prisoners, the Australians were severely counter attacked. The enemy throughout the remainder of the day repeatedly attempted with reserves to regain the village, but all attempts were repulsed The enemy suffered heavy losses, the British tanks doing great execution. The village remains ours. The possession of Beaurevoir was fiercely disputed and remained long doubtful. The enemy, strongly reinforced, spared no effort to retain the village. After pro greasing during the day by hard fighting the English in the evening re-attacked sad carried the village, establish- ing the line firmly eastward and north-eastward. Northward of Beaurevoir we gained possession of Aubencheril-aux-Bois and established ourselves on the high ground northwards, towards Lesdia We prisonered over a thousand yesterday. northward of Saint Quentin.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We improved our portions slightly in local engagements south-eastward and nonaward of Aubencheal-aux-Bois. Northward of the Scarpe we took possession of. Fresnoy and established our. selves in the eastern outskirts.
Peporting on aviation Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig states: It was cloudy and unsettled on 8th inst. We dropped. 22 tons of bombs, shot down nine areoplanes and drove down three uncontrollable. Nine British machines are miss- ing. Our night-fliers dropped a ton of bombs on railway junctions behind the enemy positions. One British machine is not yet located.
I
French Contious the Pursuit.
London, Oct. 6.
A French communique states: The pursuit continued. all night on the whole Suippe front. On the left our troops, after crossing the Aisne Canal in the region of Sapignent, reached, the neighbourhood of Agulcourt, Fur- ther eastward we are approaching Aumenancourt-le-Petit. The massif of Nogent l'Abbesse is in our possession and
CALT
troops passed considerably beyond it. We are progressing on a general lino northward of Pomacle, north. ward of Lavannes and northward of Epoge... On the right we occupy the village of Font Faverger. on the Suippe. On the Arues our advanced troops reached the wooded crest northward of the river, Several hundreds were prisonered yesterday and during the night. Southward of the Ailette Italian troops operating in the region of Ostel Soupir, after previously capturing the important points d'appui of Lacourt, Soupir-Desoupir and part of this village yesterday engaged in severe fighting on the plateau to the north-east. They carried by assault stubbornly held trenches on the height of La Croix-sans-Tete and Metz Farm Northward of St. Quentin fighting continued with the same bitterness in the region of Lesteins. We made a fresh advance east- ward of that locality,
German Report.
London, Oct 6. A wireless German official message states: We relinquish ed projecting positions between Crevecoeur and Beaurevoir. The Anglo-French continued their attacks between Lecatelet and northward of St Quentin. Beaurevoir and Mont Bre hain remained in the enemy's hands Eastward of Rheims and astride the Suippes we evacuated the Brimont-Berrn positions. Americans continued strong attacks between the Argonne and Mense and advanced as far as the wooded. heights northward of Exermont.
AVIATORS ASSIST BELGIAN OFFENSIVE.
London, Oct. B
The Press Bureau states that Royal Air Force conting ente, working with the Navy, from Bept, 23 to Oct. 5. co- operated with the Belgian offensive. The weather was un- favourable, but we dropped 72 tons of bombs on the enemy's railway communications and dumps and hit several trains, three of which were set afire. We also caused explosions at important dumps, started free among the railway build- ings and caused numerous casualties among reinforcements and transport. We destroyed: twenty-five aeroplanes and drove down, seven incontrollables
fishys
are missing.
drawn therefrom. The indisputable result of the war had been that in Germany for the first time the great parties co-operated in a firm barmonious programme, thus redci- ing a position to determine the fate of the people. This development will never he retracted. (Cheers). He trusted that while Germany's fate was encompassed by dangers those sections of the people outside the majority parties and whose re- presentatives did not belong to the Government: "will put aside all that separatos ns and give the Father- land what is the Fatherland's.”
This development necessitated the alteration of the Constitution in ac- cordance with the Imperial-Decree of September to enable members of the Reichstag entering the Govern ment to retain their seats. The Reichstag Bill to this effect was sub- mitted to the Federal States for im- mediate decision. The Chancellor recalled the speech of the Kaiser on August 4, 1914-There are Partic but they are all German Parties.”— (Cheers). He said the political de- velopment of Prussia must proceed in this spirit and in these words and the King of Prussia's promise of a democratic franchise must be falill- ed quickly and completely
[ (Cheers). He did not doubt that those Federal States lagging behind in constitutional development would resolutely follow Prussia's example. (Cheers.)
1-
For the present the state of siege cannot be relinquished, but the clore relation of the military and civilian authorities must be establish- ed so that in all not purely military questions, especially the censorship . and right of meeting, the attitude of the civilian authorities shall make itself heard and final decision rest. with the Chancellor. (Cheers.) An order by the Kaiser to this effect would be sent to the military com manders and 30th Sept. 1918, the date of the Baiser's decres, would mark a new epoch in Germany's internal history. With the people behind it the German Government, at the peace negotiations, would“- stipulate for the protection of labor and inenrance of workers thus obliging the treaty-making States to institute in their countries within the prescribed time provisions for the secarity of life and health, also care of the workers in the case of illness, accident or invalidity..
The German people after four years of the bloodiest struggle against numerically. superior enemies, were still confident with strength and were resolved to enl dure heavier sacrifices., A coritinu- ons and terribly murderous hatila had been raging for months in tng West. Thanks to the incomparable heroism of the Army at the Front it is unbroken. "Just because we are inspired by this confidence in the Tufure it is our duty to make certain that the bloody struggle shall not he protracted a single day beyond the moment when the end of the war seems possible to us, which will not effect our honour."
1, therefore, supported by the con... sent of all authorized persons in the Empire and the consent of all our Allies acting in concert, sent last (Continued on 2301 10.3
DON'T FORGET.
Vistoria Theatra---0.16 pa?