1915-01-15 — Page 5

THE WAR.

VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUELS.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 1916,

LATE TELEGRAMS.

A FOUR DAYS DIARY.

EYE-WITNESS' STORY.

LONDON, January 2nd. The Press Bureau issuen a statement by "Eye-witnite." He says that on the December 28th there was a hurricane followed by a violent thunderstorms There was nothing notable to report The weather waterlogged the ground, which was not favourable to operations.

The French progressed elsewhere, cap turing St. George's and inflicting heavy losser,

On December 29th our righ gradually advanced and recovered much ground AUSTRIA'S PREMIER RESIGNS.occupied by the enemy is the previous

ACTIVITY ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT.

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

HARD STRUGGLE AT SOISSONS.

LONDON, January 13th.

5.15 p.m To-day's Paris communiqué states that. there have been artillery duels with great violence from Rheins to Argonne. hold the salient to the redoubt at Beause--

We

a71

LONDON, January 14th.

A mossage from Amsterdam states that official despatch from Vienna announces that Count Berchtold, the Premier, has resigned for personal rea- sons, and that the Emperor has accepted. the resignation. Herr Berchtold will be succeeded by the Hungarian Minister, Baron Burian.

[BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE CABLE}

MERCIER.

On the 30th the progress on the right was maintained.AND

On the 31st there was equally unevent- fal fighting over in perfect labyrinth of excavations. When there was slackness in the fighting the troops were kept hard at work strengthening and constructing fresh defences.

jour, and have established a trench within THE ARREST OF CARDINAL running before the gale, had to heave to sixty metres of the German trenches. There has been rain and wind, in Argonne, and intermittent cannonading elsewhere, but the, weather is foggy, and there has been a heavy full of snow.

The persistent bad weather has impeded the operations along almost the entire front, and there has been a sand storm on

the dunes.

Our artillery along the Nieuport Ypres tine successfully bombarded the enemy's trenches. The fighting was of the bitterest throughout the day around spur 132, at Soissons, where the Germans, are employ ing very large forces.

BELGIAN KING'S PROTEST. The King of the Belgians has addressed a telegram to the Pope protesting against the arrest of a Prince of the Church, and expressing his admiration for the conduct of Cardinal Mercier, who, following the example of famous Prelates in the past, was not afraid to proclaim truth and affirm the incontestable right of a just cause before the conscience of the world.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY:]

ITALY.

We have maintained ourselves on the TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE IN top of the slope westward of the spur, but eastward we had to give ground. The struggle is proceeding.

Our artillery, between Soissons and Berryaubac, caused explosions at various points in the midst of the enemy's batteries.

RUSSIAN FRONT.

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

TURKS OCCUPY TABRIZ.

LONDON, January 13th.

12,000 PEOPLE KILLED,

LONDON, January 14th.

A message from Rome states that sharp earthquake shocks have occurred from Ancona to Naples, and in many places half-a dozen to a score of people have been

killed.

It is reported that Avezanne has been destroyed and that thousands of people have perished.

The twenty foot statue of St. Paul, on the roof St. John Lateran, Rome, fell to

2.15 p.m. A message from Petrograd states that the steps and was smashed to atoms.

the Turks have occupied Tabriz.

[Tabris, the ancient Tauris, is the most important city in north-west Persia, being the capital of the province of Azerbaijan. It is a great commercial centre, and is import.

[Avezano is a small town in the province of Aquila, with a population of about 7,000 people.]

LATER.

Another message from Rome states that ant from its situation on the route from as a result of the earthquake, 19,000 Trebizond to Teheran. It contains the Kabud Masjid (Blue Mosque), one of the People are dead and 20,000 injured.

Avezanno has beca completely destroyed,

44

AMERICA'S VERDICT ON THE

WORLD WAR.

SCATHING INDICTMENT OF - GERMANY.

A senthing and complete reply to tho ""appeal to the civilised world," which was signed by ninety-three of the most distinguished scholars of Germany, bas been written by Mr. Samuel Hardon Church, president of the Carnegie Institute at Pittsburg and author of

of a Life of Oliver Cromwell. The appeal referred to was widely circulated in Americs, and was an attempt to change publie opinion in the United States on the subject of the war One of the signatories was Dr. Fritz Scheper, a professor at the University of Berhn, and personal friend of Mr. Church, to whom he sent an autograph

copy of the document

THE MAIN QUESTION. Mr. Church writes:

RESPONDENCE.

CONSCRIPTION FOR:

HONGKONG."?

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE." HONGKONG DALLY FRESS"]

56, The Paak, Hongkong,*

January 14th, 1915, DEAR S18,—There must be many, who read your contributed article on Con- seription for Hongkong, who would like some qualification of your contributor's statements. In the first place, an article of such vigour, should be signed by naine, it should not remain anonymous; the writer is surely shirking his obvious duty

This earnings, he may not be able to go to the front, but his salary will not be redwood by joining the `Volunteers. Hongkong. There are very few men in the East whose health is so bad that they sould not meet the requirements of the local Corps, in respect of physical well being, and in some instances the work in the open has proved just what was needed for meu inclined to stay indoors tod much,

In addition to the question of the future, What did You do!" there will be naked, What did you enable others to do for You?" as an alternative. Sono have health and strength, some have money or influence, and the cry Busi ness as usual" should be qualified by

in not boldly setting his signature to such for the Victors." This war will be, a hard hitting, so that his readers may long war, a hard war, and it is, up to It gives me a feeling of pity to note the have some guarantee that the writer of every individual and firm to help in importunity with which the people of Germany are secking the good opinion of such an article is entitled to be didactic whatever capacity presents itself. The America in this strifo. It is grontly to on the subject of one's duty to the nation. manager who presents in the name of tha their credit that they wish to stand right. As one who agrees with the writer that Firm certain dollars to a Fund does not in the judgment of this nation. But the nation should have conscription, my thereby buy immunity: from personal Germany need have no fear that American public opinion will be perverted by the

servico. lies and calumbres of her enemies. We are till going deeper than the surface in our search for the truth

most

ROOKIE.

[ THE EDITOR OF THE LONGEONG DAILY PRESS,'T

...

feelings were a little mixed after perusal of the article. I could not help being reminded of the abortive white feather" Your letter speaks of Germany as being campaign which recently occurred at in a struggle which has been forced upon Home, during which

all þér t

That is the whole questión; patriotic man who had - given

HONGKONG, 14th January, 1915. others are subsidiary

I believe, dear Dr. Schauer, that the freely to the Prince of Wales Fund

DEAR SIR,-I am not in the habit of judgment on this hammount question has and to the Belgian Refugee Fund, and rushing lightly into print, but the effort been formed. That judgment is not based who was medically incapacitated from of one of our shirkers" to allay the upon the lies and calunnies of the enemies

was accosted in the promptings of his own conscience, by of Germany, not upon the careless public active service, tions contained in the newspapers, but Charing Cross Road by a virago who belittling the efforts of others appears to upon a profound study of the official car peremptorily demanded why he was not call for some remark. respondence in the case. What do the

at the front]: Another incident was

I do not know if he wishes us to infer official documents prove?

called to my mind a major, who was that he was a volunteer before the fall returning from short leave, in multi got of Tsingtau, but the view that the defenco into a first-class compartment in a train. of Hongkong may now be neglected is in the West of England; in this compart novel, and perhaps absurd; as it is ment was sented a lady of the hustling impossible to foresee what complications big huling man like you ought to be at order on sering bim she said, "A great may orise out of the present situation.

the front," and was very annoyed indeed when he burst out laughing.

THE "" FORMIDABLE ” "DISASTER.

RESCUE OF CUTTER'S CREW.

LONDON, January 2nd. Seventy of the crew of HM.S. Formidable were saved by a trawler. They had been in an open cutter for twelve hours when rescued. The trawler,

owing to the force of the wind. Just previously, she struck heavy seas. One of the crew was noticed in the open boat, driving before mountainous seas, with an our hoisted, flying a sailor's scarf. The boat was frequently hidden by foam. The trawler, by superhuman efforts, reefed a mainsail, set a stom jib and then fibbed. After four attempts they.

Mr. Church states that he has consid and brought it alongside. The trans-ship-ered fully all these documents, and wishes succeeded in throwing a rope to the cutter ment of the men was a most difficult task that the German people might have the as the seat were thirty feet high. The opportunity which Americans have had rope was cut as the cutter was full of of reading the Stato papers in their water A hole in the bull was stuffed wilg the evidence fr. rescued men with the sailors' pants Some of the were trouserless and all suffering from exposure, One man remarked, when rescued; Here wo Bro again! undress uniform: swimming costume."

CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT.

BANDSHAKING BETWEEN POES.

LONDON, January 3rd.

A letter from a Private of the Rifle Brigade says it was a fine picture to see British and German officers or Christmas Day, shaking hands, in the glow of a searchlight, midway between the trenches. tremendously when the officers returned, The men were most excited and cheered. and the men swarmed to meet, crossing and recrossing,

THE ALLIES' CAPTURES.

A TOTAL OF 604,200

PARIB, January 3rd," Estimates of prisoners held by tha Allied countries total 604,200,

GERMANY'S SUPPLIES.

A CANDID TEUTON TIEW

LONDON, January 3rd. The Fossische Zeitung says Germany is eurrounded by an unbreakable chain, preventing the importation of supply and the scarcity of petrol is noticeable. There are every where indica tions that the harvest in Germany will be below expectations. We have not yet. clearly grasped the fact that our grain supplies are not less a means of defence. than guns.

finest specimens of Persian architecture, and is so called on account of the magnificient blue faience with which it is encrusted Tabriz has been the residence of the heir- apparent since 2805, and was the seat of the Turkish, Russian and

British Consuls General. The town was sacked by Timur in 1393, and was, in great part, destroyed by an earthquake in 1721, and again in 1780. The King has visited the ravaged dis said General Joffre had written to her

In the former disaster 80,000 people are said to have perished.]

GERMANS BEHIND. STEEL SHIELDS.

LONDON, January 14th.

11:20 a.

A Petrograd communiqué records

£

and the surrounding country devastated. Only eight hundred people in the town were saved, and the majority of these are injured.

tricts.

A grave disaster is feared to have taken place at Potenza; with which place com munication is entirely interrupted.

[Potenza is the ancient Potentia, and was a town of importazes in the Middle Ages. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1278 and also in 1857. The town has a population of about 17,000.]

| GENERAL JOFFRE SATISFIED.

BORDEAUX, January 4th. General Joffre's sister, in an interview. saying the was satisfied with the progress

WHO BEGAN THE WAR

Church cong

udes: Who borga it? Was it Englund? Scarcely so fut England, in so far as her Army is concerned, had yielded to the popular plea for arbitration she was not ready for war and will not be ready for another six months. Was it France? Was it Russia Not one of the 93 distinguished men who have sent, mo this letter, if they will read the evidence, will say so. It was Austria, who, by her unreasonable and inexorable attack on Servia, began the war, supported at every step by Germany, who, in her saru, gave notice to the Powers of Europe that any

would

he

interference with Austria resented by Germany to the full limit of

WAJ.

THE CRIME AGAINST BELGIUM. Mr. Church proceeds:

The next point in your fetter heads thus: It is not true that we trespassed in neutral Belgium." Have these 93 men studied well the letter they have signed? Could intellects O superbly trained Heliberately certify to such an ranted declaration?

unwar

Has any one of my 93 humoured corres pondents read the appeal to the American People by Imperial Chancellor you Beth- mana-Hollweg, published in the American newspapers on August 15th? I fear not, for in that statement the Chancellor said: We were compelled to override the just protests of the Luxemburg and Belgian Governments. The Wrong-I speak frankly that we are committing wo will andeavour to make good as soon as our military goal has been reached."

What will the good conscience of the Garman people say when, in spite of its passion in the rage of war, it grasps the awful significance of the confession of its Imperial Chancellor?

Now I will in no way yield to your contributor in admiration of the doctor who offered his services and on his being declined joined the ranks, and who am glad to see, has been promoted to commission. I would point out, however,

that the doctor in question has regular hours on and off-duty and that the hours off duty are those that be devotes very patriotically to the nation. But, Mr. Editor, the private practitioner is never off duty, he is at every one's beck and all that he does not volunteer for military duty is no fault of his; he would be very glad to be made to perform his share of military duty in the present crisis.

а

Your correspondent does not appear to know that the local volunteers keep them- selves fit, and in touch with drill.to. » sufficient extent, to be of use in guarding an important and isolated Colony. His suggestion that this is unnecessary should not be allowed to discourage those who are doing it. They should remember that it is a self-confessed" shirker who makes the suggestion, and reflect that if it is not now a question of releasing mora regulars (though even that perhaps might be done if the shirkers did their duty), we are avoiding the necessity of sending Territoriale out, which will have to be done if the local volunteers fail to main- tain their afficiency

It would therefore appear to be the duty of every able-bodied man to make himself acquainted with the rudiments of drill and the use of the rifle,

Nothing unreasonable is asked; and attendance for an hour's drill two or three. times a week, though irksome perhaps, is a small sacrifice of time in comparison with the strenuous work done at Home. It is however sufficient at prosent and gives one the pleasant feeling that some thing at any rate is being contributed to the welfare of the State.

Personally, I'volunteered at the very outbreak of war for duty, but was informed that I was too old, and that there was a suficiently long waiting list." I may pertinently ask: Hee your contributor also volunteered for duty at Home? But I do not ask this question, because, not being aware of his identity, I should consider such a question not pertinent, but impertinent. I may add that I was by no means content with volunteering once and being refused; I The smug satisfaction of our friend who repeated the process five times in various thinks he does all his duty by carrying The wrong that directions. Ter here I am, Mr. Editor, on business and making money as usual we are committing." The wreck and rain in the class your contributor terms fails to convince me. of a country that has dono you no injury, the slaughter of her sons, the expulsion Shirkers. of her King and Government, the block- mail of her substance, the destruction of beautiful monuments of historienestus her orties, with their happy homes their

The wrong that we are committing Worst of all, when the desperate and maddened populace, seeing their slain and their homes in fimes, fired from their windows in the last instinct of nature, your troops, with barbaric ferocity, put is my misfortune that I cannot serve my them to the sword without distinction of

of events. Madame added that Generale priceless works of Joffre would say nothing unless he was sure of what he said.

GERMAN RULE IN BELGIUM

EXACTIONS AND PROHIBITIONS..

LoNDos, January 3rd. German exactions on Belgium continue" to be made. The latest is the infliction of a fine of five thousand pounds in gold on Ghent, because a few hundred yards of

series of intermittent attempts by the CHINESE TELEGRAMS. telephone wires were cut.

Germans to resume the offensive along most of the front, which have been easily repulsed. In one case the Russians found abe Germans sheltering behind steel shields.

GENERAL.

THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

RUSSIAN NEW YEAR HONOURS.

Loydon, January 14th.

On the occasion of the Russian New Year, His Majesty the King has conferred the following honours:-

-C.B.

The Grand Duke Nicholas.

C.M.G.

[FROM THE CHUNG NGOL SAN PO.] THE MODEL TROOPS.

PERING, January 14th. The model troops proceeded to-day to the Kuan-yu and Kuok-fe temples and took an oath of loyalty to the President.

KWANGTUNG¬A VERY GOOD.”

PEKING, January 14th. The Government has examined the pro- vincial records which are divided into three grades" excellent," very good and good." Kwangtung's records are classed as "very good."

MINISTRY OF FINANCE-

IMPEACHED,

A proclamation has been issued at Courtrai forbidding the inhabitants to approach trains conveying war prisonera, or to give presents to prisoners. Violators of these regulations will be severely punished. The Municipality was curtly informed that it will be held responsible for the observance of these regulations. GERMAN SOCIALISTS AND

THE WAR...

BELAN, January 4th The German Socialists' trade union,re viewing the year 1914, says ; --:

11

and

Furthermore, whee the The Volunteers also carry on their business as usual, and sacrifice part of their play time to the public neet.

country was not at war 1 took the trouble to qualify as a marksman. Did your pince the outbreak of war? I have been contributor da likeater or has he done so

for the past ten years a unit in the defenes scheme of the Colony in that, request, my services are, in case of war. to be earmarked by the Government,

There are a

need just now to go to one extreme or the "Part" I say advisedly. There is no

other, but the motto of the Boy Scouts is not a bad one-Be Prepared.”

Drake did not neglect his seamanship when he played bowls, and there is plenty of time to play golf and do a little drill

・age or sexi. The wrong Oh, Doctor country in time of need. Schaper, if these conditions should ever be good many in the Colony who feel with as well, but golf should not become such reversed and these foreign soldiers should we that it is very trying, from force of an obsession that no time can be found march through the streets of Berlin, would circumstances, to have to stay in this part for anything else.

Volunteers have become inured to ah

not you, would not all of my ninety-three- correspondents, if they saw their homes hattered in ruins and their sons dead in the streets, would they, too, not fire from their windows upon the merciless invaders? I am sure I would do so!

THE SUPREME WAR LOED.

In Mr. Church's opinion

of the world comparatively inactive while

our kith and kin are undergoing all hard-attitude of amused contempt on the part ships imaginable, in order that we may of those who do not rush into Khaki,*** exist as a nation. I fail to see, however, and though it may be only charitable to how denuncistory epistles are going to assume that the contemptuous ones would

this war began potentially twenty-five help our cause; would it not be much come forward at the last moment should years ago, when Emperor William II. better to conduct a well-reasoned personal an actual attack take place, they would ascended the Throne, declared himself campaign! Figorous denunciation is not then be of very little are Supreme War Lord, nud proceeded to the method of the recruiting officer at If everyone bears a hand, the burden is

His own "prepare his nation for war.

¡Home, but close and well-ordered lightened, I do not think there would be children were raised from their babyhood

much opposition if the Government insist- to consider themselves soldiers and to look reasoning. forward to a destiny of laughter; and I must apologise for the length of this ed on every able bodied man attending a here in America we know even his daugh

perusing your

COMMON SENSE.

ter only by her photograph in a colonel's communication. I am sure there are others few drills regularly. This might be uniforms. And as with his own children, who must, have had similar thoughts in called conscription but I venture to think

were Empire

contributor's article. it would also ba So all the youth of his brought up.

Therefore we can do nothing but However, in spite of all, 1 must, however: execrate the conduct of your Emperor, unwillingly, include myself in your con- who has driven his troops to slaughter tributor's category of shirkers"; but their brethren and be slaughtered by them I am not unprepared to meet any mud THE T.K.K. SOUTH AMERICAN in this bloody and unspeakable conflict

that may be slung at me, and I am not going to follow the example of your cou tributor, but shall fearlessly sign my

I ain, Yours faithully,

name.

to

SERVICE.

We know that we have held out and, shall continue to do so Our confidence is based not only on the strong organiza tion, execution and discipline of the army but also on the love of country which hos united all Germans without exception, Whether the war continues for a month or for years it will merely force the nation into a more united solidarity and will in- crease immeasurably the forces of the

The Toyo Kisen Kaisha has decided Fatherland. Germany will emerge from The Pioneer's London correspondent

extend the service the war the strongest of all of the bellicabled (before the English Coast raid):-

of their gerents."

Recruiting continues to be satisfactory

South America Line to Los Angeles G. MONTAQU HARSTON. end at a steady rate of a division and a

and Panama. Full details are not The late Admiral Mahan made the half of men per week. The Northumber-

Hongkong, 14th January, 1915.

yet available, but it is expected that following interesting comment on the war and Fusiliers are now completing twenty

DEAR SIR, I read with interest the the service will be quickened and better with fifteen in a letter written last October to Messrs. battalions. Regiments BF Stevens & Brown, his London battalions each or ever include the effusion by Shirker," and evidently facilities offered to Arst and second class agents: I take this opportunity to Warwickshires, the Royal Fusiliers, the your contributor got somebody on travel, The first steamer on the new ruB, express to you the vivid interest with Liverpools, the West Yorkshires, the East

the raw" There are few indivi- the s.8. Kiyo More, has already left long- The German newspapers increasingly which I am following Great Britain's Cheshires, the Welsh Fusiliers, the Hamp

duals who, if they try hard, korg, and the Bango Maru, new attack the United States. This is intercourse in this war. But the testimony to shires, the Sherwood Foresters, the thepreted as a recognition of the failure of the uprightness and efficiency of her Middlesex, the King's Royal Rifles, the cannot find some kind of excuse for twin-screw geared turbine steamer cf “ shirking.” It seems to me that the 18,500 tons displacement, is scheduled to the mission undertaken by Count Bern Imperial rule, given by the strong adhe-Manchosters, the York and Lancasters, the storff, German Ambassador, and Herr sion and support of India and the Durhame, the Highland Light Infantry. Dernberg, an ex-Becretary of State for Dominions, is a glory exceeding that of the Royal Irish Rifles and the Rife Hongkong man has little or no excuse leave Hongkong on Wednesday the 10th the Colonies.

If a man bus any people dependent upon Merch next, Brigade. pitched battle and overwhelming victory.

General Yarouchkovitch, Chief of General Staff.

General Daniloff, Director of Opera- tions.

General Russki, commanding

northern armies.

General Ivanoff, commanding southern armies,

the

PEKING, January 14th.. The Censorate has again impeached the Ministry of Finance,