1915-05-26 — Page 5

THE WAR.

ITALY AT WAR.

AERIAL AND NAVAL ACTIVITY.

FIERCE FIGHTING IN BELGIUM.

POISONOUS. GASES AND ASPHYXIATING SHELLS.

MAGNIFICENT FRENCH VICTORY.

THE ENGLISH CABINET.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

ITALO-AUSTRIAN

WAR.

MEMORY OF ANCIENT GLORIES."

ROME, May 25th. There are war demonstrations through- is out Balz, and the whole country vibrating with the memory of ancient glories. The church of St. Mark's, Venice, is decorated with flags as when the Venetians stiled away to achieve the conquesta of Levant.

Almost all the Senators and the Deputies halvo asked to serve in the Army or Navy, and women are coming forward to replace the men in the factories and on the tramways.

Mobilization has been practically com- [-plete" for several days.

AERIAL AND NAVAL ACTIVITY.

ROME, May 24th, An official communiqué states that Austrian seroplanes attacked the Arsened at Venice

in the carly morning, but they were spoodily driven off by Italian aircraft.

An Austrian scoutahip and destroyers attacked Barletta, bat were repulsed by an Italian warship and torpedo-bonte,

Air-guns at Porto Corsini bombarded - some enemy acroplanes, which were also attacked by an Italian aeroplane and a dirigible,

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26TH, 1915.

FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT,

[TÉROUGH RESTER'S BURNOY.}

REPORT FROM SIR JOHN FRENCH.

ASPHYXIATING SHELLS AND

POISONOUS GASES

LONDON, May 24th. Field Marshal French reports that our guns to day silenced three German bat- weries, one battery being destroyed by w direct hit. - East of Xpres the Germans developed an infantry attack in the early morning under cover of poisonous gases, the artillery Bring asphyxiating shells at the same time. Our troops were forced to evacuate some of their trenches, and the enemy penetrated the line at two or three places. Fighting is proceeding, and portions of the original lino have been retaken,

VIOLENT FIGHTING.

MORE ASPHYXIATING GASES.

PARIS, May 24th. Today's communiqué states: At several points between Steenstraate and Ypres German attacks, after using gases,

were everywhere repulsed.

Fighting continued with extreme violence north of Arras throughout the Mrd. The French took 120 prisoners.

The Germans made a number of

counter-attacks north of Neuville and St. Vaast, but they were repulsed. intenes struggle continues.

An

RUBGIAN FRONT

RUSSIAN PROGRESS.

PETROGRAD, May 25th. Today's communiqué states:In the region of Shawli the eneiny maintains a strongly organised position. We repulsed a strong counter-attack in the region of Klimontów and took 1,000 prisoners._

The enemy in Galicia are generally on the defensive.

The enemy made unsuccessful attempts the to piores our front between Pratnysl marshes and Dreister. We began the offensive near Dreister and took nine hundred prisoners.

ENEMY ON DEFENSIVE,

PETROGARD, May 25th.

It is officially announced that the Russian counter-attacks have forced the enemy to assume the defensive along

almost the whole Galician front.

dozen mitraillouses.

THE CURRENCY QUESTION.

INTERESTING LETTER FROM A

· FORMER RESIDENT.

WHY NOT A MIXED RATE. OF EXCHANGE FOR HONGKONG?

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG

DAILY PRESS.

SPRING IN PARIS.

THE CONSOLATION OF THE NEW HAT.

QUIET NOTE IN CLOTHES.

which enabled her to take the important step towards currency reform. Stability of exchange was recognised as desirable for the trade of the country, and having decided upon a ratio, her statesmen wont about the business in a thoroughly ad-

(BY THE TIMES' CO} mirable manner. So far an hor foreign g

DE PARIS, April 27- trade was conducted with other gold-

Every pleasure in Paris is a pale using conatries I suppose the advantage shadow of its former gelf just now, and, could not be gainsaid. So for us her although we have a little of everything, trade was conducted with China. I have made on all sides to make life rum nothing is normal. Efforts are being LONDON, March 25th. SI-In your issue of February 11th, not heard that she has suffered because smoothly for the general good, but we are which reached me this week, you of the change. Some of your readers who continually conuing to an impulse in our activities, whether in work or pleasure. publish a letter, signed "Perplexed,' have a more intimate acquaintancy than Wo find in military discipline a fine dealing with the currency of Hongkong.I have with the subject may be able to antidote to irregulna impulse, however As an old resident of the Colony, with tell you whether the change has a prisworthy, ant Governmental disore

čim nets as an effective check mall, pris substantial monetary interests there, that advantageous or the reverse to Japansevate morts at noing good when ara letter his more than a passing interest trade

rather idealistic than practical. In every sphere of life, indeed, we are finding it difficult to be good or happy, or, as the moralista assure us, to be both, as a neutral consequence

to inc. It raises once again the subject | I have not heard that the trade of India of introducing what your correspondent and Ceylon has suffered since those pou calls a dollar of fixed value."

trics fixed the ratio of value of the rupec. Here, again, other readers may be able to tell you.

and

Since I left the Colony, other mone-

The tragedy of the war has become al monotonous burden which every one tary problems have arisen than that of

carries according to his or her own" the fluctuating dollar. Though these In the.. Straits Bettlements

strength of character. On some it falls problems doubt

former Federated Malay States, where the change more heavily than on others, but all myst feel the weight of it whether they will or residents, indirectly and directly, we was made more recently, I believe trade not, and only the spring sunshine sys We see the may not appreciate them so fully as you has prospered beyond all dregins since the to lighten the load at all. who are on the spot; but you have our dollar was given a fixed value. There sor of ways, and although-it-is-Nature's effcet of the young of the year in all sympathy, and I for one fail to see why a difference of opinion still exists us to loveliness rather than that of artificial. The Russians captured overal villages the Government does not adopt some mea- the rafe adopted (that of 2/4); but most adornment which charms us most, this on the left bank of the Dreister on Sun-sure to relieve your anxiety. I have no residents are agreed that the Exing of watching how naturally a woman's fancy year, yet there is a certain pleasure in day, taking 2,200 prisoners and several expert knowledge to enable us to suggest the value of the dollar was unquestion turns to thoughts of pretty clothes a remedy; but I conecing it as a duty of ably a benefit to the Colony. If only a self-respecting Government to the com- Hongkong had had the present Perma- munity it is supposed to govern to nent Under-Secretary of State for the find the necessary expert advice to assist colonies as its Governor, I am convinced it in procuring something like stability that the question, would have been in the local currency, and I trust your grappled with in a statesmanlike fashion, correspondent and others will so keep the and that the Colony would have derived subject before the Government that the some measure of relief from the disad. representative public and semi-public vantages of a fluctuating dollar-one that bodies will be induced to take it up and fluctuates between 9/2d. and 1/8d., compel the Government to move towards irrespective of the relative value of silver Far, East can have a decent monetary reform. If other British Colonies in the in the bullion market.

aystem, surely it is possible for Hong- kong.

THE NEAR EAST,

{THROUGI REUTER'8" "ICENGE.")

TURKS DESERT SMYRNA GARRISON,

Armers, May 25th.

Five hundred. Turkish soldiers – with.

their officers, have deserted from the garrison at Smyrna and have been given refuge on British warships in the Gulf

GENERAL.

[TEROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

THE KING AND SIR EDGAR

SPEVER,

I would also refer you to Siam and the Philippines, Both placed their cur- rencies upon

gold basis or standard, while using silver as the medium of cur. rency, the one in 1908 and the other in 100%, and the trade of both countries has gote un increasing ever since..

On the subject of a fixed value for the dollar much has been said and written since the halcyon days when the trade dollar (the Mexican) had a value of some thing like 4/-in Hongkong. Some of us There was a time when people used to have seen it decline in value from that imagine that the value of the dollar for LONDON, May 25th. -

figure to a fraction over 1/6d., and most exchange purposes with gold-using coun- Mr. Asquith, in a letter to the Rt. Hon. of us have suffered from the vagaries of trims was ruled by the intrinsic valuo Sir Edgar Speyer, PC., expresses exchange during the past twenty - five of the silver it contained. That idea was sympathy with his indignation at the years. Apparently, you of a new geners | exploded, as I understand, long baseless and malignant imputations cast tion are likely to suffer as we did, and the age The fluctuations of the dollar, upon his loyalty, and says His Majestads of the Colony is likely to continue at any rate, have not always followed the King is not prepared to take any to suffer, because, pobody has sufficient step regarding the marks of distinction courage to grapple with the difficut prob conferred upon hizi (which ho had ex pressed a wish to resign.)

HUNGARIAN CABINET

CHANGES.

Ross, May 25th,

It is understood that Stephen Baron Burian, Minister « later, fesigns, and

the fluctuations of silver. That, however, is a point for others to deal with.

directly the sunlight becomes warm and golden. On Good Friday all the women of the people seerned to flock to the big shops to buy new hats for themselves and their children, and on Easter Sunday, in spite of the weather, all the newly bought hats were worn There was no holidny- making, scarcely a semblance of the joy to which we are accustomed at flowered Laster, but I am sure the now late wero a consolation to many.

In the same way there no women in the upper clases who hit this preant moment are buying new clothes to please a son or a husband who comes homs. Fronz the front now and - they and likes to sco the woman he loves best look prety. Otherwise it is doubtful if they would go to the trouble of choosing very carefany this season, for when you working among sickness and pain, as so many of the society women are nowadays, the taste for frocks and huts is severely modified. Even marriage is a mere incident how, and when the Red Cross uniform is not worn for the wedding a simple tailor-

unde will serve.

It is curious to notice the wayward harmony of things this spring. Very slowly, very surely, the Allies are opening their great campaign: just is slowly and surely is Nature opening hers and with the sani measured trend domestic lile guts Last year everything went on its way.

at the most appalling rate. Spring rushed out and becane Summer before it had been recognized as Spring, and Fashion literally disgraced herself by being es cager to be all her summer Jem until a solution is found. Some tex 1 do not think it has ever bien argued a go, when the King and Queen twelve years ago, when Sir Henry oriously bat fluctuations, of exchang care to Paris, the heat was like that of Blake was Governor of the Colony, the help to promote trade

Nor even that midsummer, and both Nature and Humair Naturs were sunning themselves in gar subject was debated by the Chamber of fetrations are necessary for trade. In garmen:s. This year, how different? Commerce. One result of that debate and fast, most people will tell you that

-EXCUSEÈ FON ECONOMY.- Residental Paris is still deserted, une the agitation in the public Press was fluctuationsa sudden rise or a sudden

fall-aro detrimental to trade. Hong new play has appeared on the theatre to prompt His Excellency to consuls the kong merchants have come to regard them bills, a flower show is au croat to whics hoad of one of the local financial instituas inevitable, like measles, small-pox or you niny go thout a quila, but any ions. It was a delightfully Irish thing the plague But I have yet to learn that thing more wordly makes you only more Hongkong merchants 1egard favourably conscious of your own sorrow and the pała gentleman pronounced the deered that they have to contend. Stability, I think, clothes. A really pretty-lint, and there are so many, fills you with remorse be- him thise who hava to buy supplies from golden you do not honestly enjoy it, an Hongkong could not have a fixed rate of would be welcomed by all, especially by

using countries.

expensive dress is a persistent problem, and it is amusing to see how eagerly every one seizes an excuse not to buy new clothes when in other days they And tlion there are The opposite thing. grabbed at straws in their efforts to do the thousand, and one tricks of the m pecunious. Women who were in the

The latest news emphasises the extent that Stephen Count Tissa, President it to do. As might have been expected, that the fluctuations of exchange with, which of other people. It is just the same with

THE KING OF GREECE.

The enemy's objective at Ancona was the of the check sustained by the Germans in the Ministry of the Interior, succeeds him. Tailway, which was slightly damaged.

Enomy airmen also unsuccessfully attempted to bomb the airship shed at Jesi.

It is officially announced that an Italian destroyer entered the harbour of Porto Buso, a small island near the frontier, destroyed the quay, sank a num- ber of motor launches, and brought of 47 prisoners.

LATEX. There were two acroplanis attacking Venice arsenal. They dropped eleven hombs, but no serious damage was done.

ITALY SEIZES EIGHTY ENEMY SHIPS.

ROME, May 25th. Telegrams state that Italy has seized eighty Austrian and German steamers which have been refuging in Italian Their value is estimated at ports. £4,000,000 : sterling.

|

this district on the 2nd. Despite im- portant reinforcements being brought up with great haste, and vigorous efforts. thrice renewed, they failed with consid erable losses.........

ANNIHILATION BY BAYONET,

PARIS. May 24th

The evening comuniqué states:-The British attacks north of La. Basse have resulted in fresh progress.

The Germans north of Neuville? attempted to attack in strength, but our artillery caught them and stopped them dead, inflicting heavy losses.

Supplementary, reports emphasis the importance of our success reserday nest east of Lorette. In a desperate bayanet: fight wo annihilated the opposing Cor- mms and captured machine-guns,

MAGNIFICENT FRENCH

ATHENS, May 25th. The King is declared to be out of danger! THE KAISER LEAVES GALICIA.

LoNaos, May 25th-- The Kaiser has left Galicia for the west, it it believed that be is going” và the Italian frontier.

THE BRITISH CABINET.

LONDON, May 25th.

pro

exchange. According to

Why, then, do your rulers not endéay attempt to set up fixity would ruin. the

De trade of the Colony. The exchange banks our to set up this ideal currency? and the exchange brokers would transfer they imagine they would lose any of the trade with China that now passes through themselves to Chinese soil, and how could your port? Are they still bound by the One dictum that Hongkong cannot change the Colony' get on without them?

her currency till China changes? Is the thing was absolutely certain: Hongkong currency of China based upon such an could not have a dollar of fixed vahe ideal system that you must keep er ca habit of spending a very modest fum on their porsonal appearance oro reduwd pany Are they still afraid of the to almost nothing this season, and until China adopted it..

brokers? Do they imagino-does anybody only are possible.

Once more I was told by a vendeuse-- imagine--that the banking institutions represented in the Colony would close in a leading house that women who buy

Now, I was never one who agreed in, threatened desertion of the exchange arrangements" of last year's wardrobe

was

of attached than he was

thow arguments. I do not wish to say that the head of the financial institution

their doors if the Government were to whese dicta I have quoted did not wish

attempt to follow the example set by oven and eight dresses are this year go- ing only four, but they are not asking prosperity to the Colony, nor do I say India, Ceylon and the Straits Settle for war pries." as they feel it is their mente? And if they were foolish enough that he was more concerned about the to do so, do you think the Colony would duty, as well as their pleasure, to pay The hope appears to be as prosperity of the institution to which he to left long without the facilities that well as once for whatever they do bay, in that Mr. Job Redinad will be per-

thebeaking institutions supply, mainly for this way making it easier for the business people to pay their workpople and their To set the ball of business These are a few of the questions that merchants. naded to join the Cabinet, which will prosperity of the individual traders who the benefit of their shereholders)

supported that institation and contributs suggest themselves to one who has exper rolling is not easy in Franes on accoust include Sir Edward Carson,

Henced the vagarics of your present dullar of lack of workmen and material, but if The Times States that Mr. Churchilled largely to its prosjerity.

systent, and who would like to see some every women bought according to her undoubtedly a benevolent and public improvement with a view to the better means and paid at once the effect would will remain in the Cabinet.

spirited citizen; but he was not infalliblement of the trade of the Calony. It does he one whica need not be despised

not matter one ion to res whether Hong dresses make them important, and a well- Bootmakers are very busy. The short- BRITISH CASUALTIES. I remember some of his predictions ofor

kong has a one-and-sixpenny, a two- the famous Mackay Treaty, and how they shilling or two-and-fourpenty dollar; cut shos will be of greater moment than In the LONDON, May.251.

have bien falsified by actual fad. I alro hut it would be, as I conceive it, an the hang of the skirt above it. The following casualties

undoubted honcft to merchants in the streets we see the inost wonderful foot remember that Japan adopted a gold eur-

Colony and to most of the institutions gear, and the readymade shops are show- nounced:

Percy," "andy" contrary-to-the predictions in which I have a personal interest to ing all sorts of fantastic models. But

misleading quietness marks the feet of Killed W. E. B. Smith, 2nd Crop-of secalled experts of the day. Japan has have a fixed ratio of some sort.

You may be sure of one thing, namely, the really well-dressed, for nothing is diers; P. C. L. Routalgo, South prospered ever sites. Also, we have had that you will never attract much capitalso expensive as a quat shon or boot, which Staffords; E. E. H. Henderson, Master the experience of adjacent colonies where for investment in local industries in your looks smart at the same time. If it only 1 remember ono well-known resident of in 's missicu, and it makes you feel sura with The Hague. Concation, the enemy thirteen days, battle of the fargest des Fusiliers; G. C. Shakerly, Royal Rifle fixed value for the dollar has been Colony until you havo fixity of exchange, succeeds in being quiet, then it has failed merchantmen will be returned on the con-cription Loretto heights, which the enemy A. W. D. Gaassen, Highland - Light/ adopted, and, ever since, those Colonis: Hongkong (who has sine gone to his rest) that the wearer is given to woollen under- have prospered. I do not ask Low much tiling mo how he had never be able clothing of the same dall appearane. believed to be impregnable, have been Infantry; R. B. Trotter, Camerons; and certain financial institutions ows their to leave the Colony because the few thou Shiny vamps and cloth or untelope tops, big yearly profits to dealings in silver, sands sterling he had brought out as a with modkrately high heels and toom for captured.. This constitutes a magnifi- the Hon. J. S. Bigge.

young man had shrunken so much owing the toes, are what many women wear in as that might be considered rude, urts the extraordinary and unforeseen Paris, bus as simmer coma and flimsy cent vistory. The value aziached to

beside the point under discussion; but 1 decline of the dollar that he was actually dresses are worn the shoes will follow Brown, shees or brown boots with believe, if you could poll Hongkong to

poorer after many years residenco than suit. when he arrived in the Colony, Heng very high tops are being made, and some day, that, with the exception of a few hong has a great future, but its: prys women like the mixture of black and lab. The following telegram was received by large houses who are supposed to havearity will be hampered by the countri-Frenchwarzen wear 1 ss fanciful shoes for which is certainly walking then you see in London, possibly heavy resources behind them, and are thus i tities of its cu only a few years ago, becausó they soldon walk when they are

worse than it was the Governor of Macay from Lisbon:---

it over there were not for currency en toilette..

`LATER.

It is announced that, in accordangs

crasion of pores.

"AUSTRO-GERMAN AMBASSADORS

LEAVE ITALY.

ROME, May 25th. The German, Austrian and Bavarian Ambassadors and Ministers to the Quirinal and the Vatican have left Rome.

SWISS NEUTRALITY,

BERNE, May 25th.

Italy, Austria and Germany announce that they will rigorously observe.... the. neutrality of Switzerland.

VICTORY.

LORETTE HEIGHTS CAPTURED AFTER FIERCE BATTLE.

PARIS, May 25th. An official communiqué states:-After

enemy

the position was shown by the desperat: THE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL

efforts of the

Lo recapture

CABINET. During the fighting wo killed

3,000 Germans.

it.

Over

山

Look and thousand prisoners. Besides the booty in 40717 hands

daily fcd-

Labia to deal heavily in exchange, you Tas National Govermem has badewald End that the vast majority well

favour a fixed value for the dollar. Ask ing quantities of maxims and mortars finitely onstituted as "fellows:- hidden in filled-in tranches. Our logres

Printe Minister, Milaister for War

your retail dealers. Ask your sail and Interior Jogo de Castro. wern high, but we have attained one of

Aak the men who commission agents. Justice

Punto Falçao. Financo the principal objects of cur adion north

Barras Queiroz. Hope to return some day to England. df Arras. This will greatly stimulata

Fernandes Casta.

Hongkong is not, of course, in the m the troops, who are supremely confident

Teixeira de Queiroz.

position as Japan when that country Mandel Monteiro. of victory. Our superiority in tactles

Jose Jorge Perrira.

adopted the gold standard. Japan was was again unmistakeably confirmed.

Magalhaes Lima. the happy possesson of an indemnity

Public Works

Marine

Foreign

Celonies

Education

reform surely, it exists in Hoogkong te It is the essence of Parisian art in dress day; and although it is too much to to simplify, and if flowers are to be necil expect such a clamant reform as this to by the French milliners they will have. receive the attention it deserves in free to be denuded of their common habit of of the great crisis through which the smiling upon the just aid the unjust, the Empire is pas ing, nevertheles, 1 think rich and the poor, alike! They will have our original correspondent deserves the to grow subtly aloof, and they must thanks of the community for resuscitating learn to war the air of liking to bloom

subject, and I trust it will not be singly allowed to drop into oblivion. Yours faithfully,

AN OLD RESIDENT.:

It is not natural, but the result will boa has fridumed in a way we feel to be Parisian It will be very expensive and it will not be easily copied,