1915-12-18 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY FRESU, SATURDAY, DECEMBEK 19cm,+2016.

BIG ENEMY EFFORT IMMINENT

IN WEST.

FORMIDABLE PREPARATIONS.

LULL IN MACEDONIA,

· EARLY · INVESTMENT OF SALONIKA UNLIKELY,

AMERICA'S FIRM ATTITUDE TO AUSTRIA.

BRITISIT ATTACK NEAR ARMENTIERES.

FRANCO-BELGIAN, FRONT

(THROUGH REUTER'S JOENOT"}

FORMIDABLE GERMAN

PREPARATIONS.

FOR GENERAL ATTACK IN THE WEST.

LONDON, December 17th. Reports from Holland speak of formid able German preparations for a general attack in the West.

THE BALKANS

{THROUGH KEUTER'S AGLECT.)

THE BULGARIANS' TASK. HAD NO WISH TO FIGHT ALLIES.

SALONIKA, December 17th. Reuter's correspondent at Headquar- ters states that the situation threatens to enter a period of comparative quiet pending clearer revelations of the one- my's intentions regarding the invasion

(THROUGH REUSER'S AGRTOR.]

GREECE AND THE BELLIGERENTS.

ATRONS, December 18th.

{THROUGH HEUTER'S AGENCY.) RECRUITING BOOM.

STATEMENT BY LORD DERRY,

LONDON, December 17th.

[THRÖUER-KKUTWA'S. LOKNOT-]

TURKISH LOSSES IN MESOPOTAMIA.

LONDON, December 16th General Townshend telegraphs that according to Arab reports the Turks lost 8,000 in their attac on Kut-el-Amara on the lath. General Townshend sadd be could not confirm the figures, but he estimates that the newly lost fully 1,000 The attacks have not been renewed since.

RANGE FINDER FOR ZEPPELINS.

CHINESE TELEGRAMS

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]

QUINTUPLE VIGILANCE.

TO BE MAINTAINED AT PEKING.

PERING, December 17th.

The Quintuplice Ministers called on the Waickajopa yesterday and stated that their respective Geverniscrits would maintain an attitude of vigilance.

The King, thengh still indisposed".

In the House of Lords, Lord Derby de received the Premier in his bedroom and

olared that they recruiting campaign, had discussed the foreign situation, which is

boon like an-skotion where the elector's officially regarded as progressing normally,

came with a great rush at the end There ALLIES' MILITARY POSITION | fore the details could not be given till

IN SALONIKA,

Mr. Asquith delivered his statement, but LONDON, December 18th.

there was overwhelming evidence that the In the House of Commons Lord Robert country was absolutely determined to-do- Cecil announced that the Allies in Greece all in its power to bring the war to a desired to regularise their military pose successful conclusion. An important tion at Salonika. They deny that the question was as to how far bnchmors bac Contral Powers is in control of this. Hresponded to the call, and he hoped to be believed that this was in accordance with able to give thear figures in detail. The the wishes of Grocer herself. Negotiations married man must not be called up unti were being actively pursued and it was the bachelors had been recruited in pro | hoped would be satisfactorily concluded per numbers. Mr. Asquith's pledge to FLYING CORPS CASUALTIES, intention to depart from the declaration,

PARIB, December 17th.the marriest men must be kept Lart The evening communiqué says that all Derby eulogised the splendid work of his is quiet in Macedonia.

GRIT OF ENGLISH NURSES.

Lorpos, December 17th. A hundred English nurses have arrived &t. Scutary from Serbia, having walked the whois way.

USSIAN FRUNT,A

{THROUDS ZEUTER'S AGENCY.}

GERMANS PREPARING

FOR

BIG BATTLE.

PaTROGRAD, December 17th,

recruiting colleagues.

Lou Crowe congratulated Lord Derb upon his heavy work, and great services.

THE THRIFTY FRENCH. UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE TO WAR LOAN.

PARES, December 17th. The Chamber of: Deputies unanimously agreed to a vote on account for the first three months of 1016.

M. Bibot (Minister of Finance), wind- ing up the debate, said he was as yet

The Germans are roporped, to be prepnable to give the results of the Loan paring for a big battle in the Dvinsk just subscribed, but the respouse of the region.

country was unprecedented. It was the They are bringing up heavy guns and loan of French thrift and was in nowise new regiments,

speculative. The foreign subscription GENERAL PAU AT PETROGRAD. included £25,000,000 by Great Britain,

BRITISH EXCHEQUER BONDS,

LONDON, December 16th.

Tho Paris Temps says that while the of Greek territory. reports should he accepted with reserve!

A captured Bulgarian officer remarked they are not improbable. The constant that the Bulgarians had completed their arrival of new troops and munitions ap-task and had no wish to fight the pears to indicate that Germany intends Allies. This sentiment is so universally a big attempt, and the journal points expressed by Bulgarian prisoners that ít

PETROGRAD, December 17th. but that it is significant that Germany seems to reflect the feeling of the bulk of

General Fan has arrived, and it is has ceased operations on the Eastern the army. There was a time during the stated that he will remain in the capital retreat when the Bulgarian raid south with the Imperial General Sipffs. The of Lake Doiran might have proved disas-decision is welcomed in the Press as con- astrous, by the cutting of the British com tributing to the unity of action of the

munications, but this was not attempted,

front.

If the Germans do attack in the West, the Allies could inflict such a defeat would entirely change the situation.

GREAT QUANTITIES OF AMMUNITION.

AMSTERDAY, December 17th.

FUTURE OF SALONIKA Fears of an investment of Salonika in the near future are not entertained as

Reports from the frontier state that | it will be a colossal task to bring up great quantities of ammunition are the necessary siege artillery owing to the arriving in Flanders from Germany. There are numerous fresh troops at roads being bad, the bridges having been Courtra, and great activity at Ghent

A GERMAN PROCLAMATION.

AMSTERDAM, December 17th.

A proclamation by: Prince Albrecht of Wurtemberg, which was found on a de- merter in Belgium, exhort, the troops to summon their energies to strike a deci- sive blow in the West, opening the way

blown up, and the railways being partly destroyed. The Germans may use the lull to bring further pressure on Greece to kick out the Allies, only preparing. for further operations after perceiving the futility of this.

BRITISH CASUALTIES. The total British casualties in the re-

Allies,

AUSTRO-ITALIAN-FRONT,

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE.

ROME, December 17th.

A communiqué says that the enemy con tinued intense artillery activity, especially with long range guns. Oar guns repliest, and bombarded Gorizia, GENERAL

ĮTHROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.]

UNITED STATES AND AUSTRIA,

A Prospectus has been publisked of an issue of 5 per cent. Exchequer bonds at 100, repayable at par in. 1920. They will be accepted at their face value for sub scription to future loans. An interest ings feature is that where they belong to a person domiciled abroad the bonds will be exempt from income-tax or any other. British taxes.

ABYSSINIA AND THE WAR.

· INTERESTING SUGGESTION IN

FRENCH CHAMBER.

LONDON, December 17th.

A motion was submitted to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber asking

LONDON, December 17th. Mr. Tennant stated in the House of Commons that the War Office had an efficient range-finder for Zeppelins.

LONDON, December 18th.

In the House of Commons Mr. H.-J. Tennant said that the total casualties in the Flying Corps for the three months ending the 31st August were:-Killed, 14, wounded, 92, prisoners, 18, The casualties for the three months ending the 30th November were:-Hilled, 11; wounded, 21; prisoners, 16; also tân missing.

The

LAW OFFICERS' SELF- SACRIFICE.

LONDON, December 10th,

Smith, K; C.) stated in the House of

Attorney-General (Sir F.

Commons that the Law Officers have sug- gested the reduction of their emoluments by £5,000 each yearly.

NO K.C. APPOINTMENTS DURING WAR.

LONDON, December 17th. The Lord Chancellor announces that no appointments of King's Counsel wat be made till the end of the war, owing to the number of barristers who are serving in the army.

Lu Ching Haiang replied that the pre- parations for the change of Government

would take time to complete, and he ex- pressed the hope that the Powers would adhere to their original and oft-reprated declaration to respect the independence and the integrity of China.

The

Ministers assured La Ching Hsiang that they had not the slightest

MANCHUS FAVOUR

MONARCHY.

PERING, December 17th, The Manchu Imperial household has memorialised in favour of a Monarchy.

YUAN SHI KAI AND THE THRONE.

HIS FIRST REPLY TO THE STATE COUNCIL,

The reply of President Yuan Shi-kaij Emperor-elect of China, to the first memorial submitted by the Council of. Btate asking him to ascend the Throne was as follow:

I have received a despater from the Lifayuan, enclosing documents nominat. ing me to the Throne. I find that, as stipulated in the Provisional Constitution, the sovereignty of the Republic is vested in the whole body of its citizens, and that since it has been decided by the represente tives of the citizens to adopt the, form of a constitutional gjonarchy,. I, the Pro- sident, van have no ground to discuss the subject. But with regard to my nomina tion, I am overcome with mortification and surprise. Heaven firat created the peopio Heaven's will is unalterable, always fav and then chose a monarch for them. curing one who has rendered conspicuons service aiub whe is endowed with exemplary virtues. Only such a persoa cu fil this exalted position; while wi regard to myself I have been a poliziera for well-nigh thirty years, during whien period, changes and turmoils have repeat: LONDON, December 16th Ledly occurred, and no special achievement In the House of Commons Lord Robert ould be credited to me. Since the cres tion of the Republic, four years have pass Cecil said that a Fresa report that HE.ed away, a period noted by the magnitudo Sir John Jordan, His Majesty's Minis- ter at Peking is shortly retiring is ab- solutely unfounded.

SIR JOHN JORDAN.

:

of difficulties and disturbances, and the number of my faults anil blunders. S Have not beer successful in establishing an ideal government."

At the time when I lived in retirement on the bank of the Yuen river, I had no worldly ambition;

I was compelled to

the Government to institute in concert BONGKONG JOCKEY CLUB. emerge from my retirement by the desire with the Allies an immediate enquiry with a view to obtaining the military co

to the coast and to vistory. The procla trest were you, including 500 wounded RELATIONS AT BREAKING-POINT.operation of Abyssinia in the war.

mation ways. Your Imperial master will be in your midst. in a few days, to spur you to fresh" triumphs.”

BRITISH ENTER GERMAN TRENCHES,

OCCUPANTS DISPOSED OF,

LONDON, December 17th. British Headquarters report that n Wednesday night hostile trenches were entered near Armenti res. The occupan s were disposed of. It is estimated that 70 were killed. Our losses were trifling. On Thursday! there were mutual hom bardments about Ypres

The report by German wireless on Wednesday that we lost four aeroplanes is untrue.

GERMAN ARTILLERY.

SMOTHERED.

PARIS, December 18th. The French batteries smothering the German artillery is the feature of today's communiqué, which also says that another

German ammunition depot was blown up

between the Oise and the Aisne

"DAMAGE TO GERMAN. DEFENCES.

PARIS, December 17th.

The evening communiqué says that can norading and mining at various parts of the front resulted in further consider able damage to German defences.

THE NEAR EAST

́ÍZÁNYUGH AKUTEE'S. AGENOK.} "DARDANELLES OPERATIONS.

PARIS, December 17th. The Turkish artillery activity at the Dardanelles bas lessened."

who were brought into safety. The ba lance are missing and must be regarded as mostly killed, because

the Bulgars have been bayonetting and shooting the wounded, BULGARIANS NEAR DURAZZO,

LONDON, December 17th. The Bulgarians are reported to be fifteen miles from Durazzo,

يد

A LULL IN MACEDONIA. AMSTERDAM, December 16th.

A Bulgarian communiqué says that the whole front is calm, and we have provision ally ceased the pursuit. We have captured altogether 1,234 prisoners and 14 guns "From to-day communiquée will only be. published if there are important opera- tions"

BULGARIA AND

GREECE.

LONDON, December 17th.. The Bulgarian Minister at Athens,

Doiran will be surrendered to Greece. interviewed, declares that Ghergeli and

NEUTRAL ZONE ON FRONTIER.

AVOIDING GRECO-BULGARIAN

INCIDENTS.

AMSTERDAM, December 16th,

WASHINGTON, - December 17th, President Wilson and Mr. Lansing reserve comment on the Austrian roply to the Note regarding the Ancona out!! rage pending receipt of the official text, {but it is stated authoritatively that the United States will decline to enter into the suggested exchange of views or dis cuss the facts. The general opinion is the relations between the United States and Austria are at breaking point.

BERNSTORFF NERVOUS.

SIGNIFICANT SUGGESTION TO

BERLIN.

FOUGHT FIVE ARABS. DEATH OF CALLANT JEMEDAR.

LONDON, December 17th.

The King has telegraphed to the Com mandor of the 36th Light Cavalry deploy- ing the loss of Jemadar Mohammad Khan- who fought five Arabs single-handed neu: Aden on October 7th, killed three and dis abled a fourth before he himself fell His Majesty recalls thing he saw the Jemedar at the Delhi Darbar when the latter won the gold medal for the best man-at-arms. LONDON, December 17th. The Viceroy and Mr. Austen Chimber- Lain have telegraphed their condolences to the "Aga Khan at the murder of his brother.

WASHINGTON, December 17th- It is stated that Count Bernstorf sug gests to Berlin that the appointment of

at the successors to Captain Boy-Ed and Cap-COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE tain you Fapen, the disgraced German Attaches at Washington, ig undesirable at present, as he is anxious to avoid für- ther difficulties.

FOODSTUFTS BY PARCEL POST.

-EXPENSIVE SMUGGLING INTO GERMANY.

LONDON, December 10th, In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil said that considerable quantities of food were being sent to Germany by parcel post from Amerios. Steps were being taken to deal with the matter effee

A Bulgarian official message says that the capture of Monastir and other places near the Greek frontier made it desirable to avoid Greco-Bulgarian incidents. Con sequently Balgerin had proposed a motively. tral zone by the Bulgarian and Greek troops retiring two kilometres from the frontier line

Greece has agreed, and has ordered the Greeks to co-operate with the Bulgarian officers in the formation of the nentral

zone.

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLA

LONDON, December 17th. The President of the Board of Trarie has appointed Mr. Louis Kershaw, at the nomination of the Indis Office, to be a member of the Advisory Committee of Commercial Intelligence.

BLAZING AEROPLANE.

BRITISH AIRMAN BURNED TO DEATH.

LONDON, December 17th.

DRAW FOR GRIFFINS.

The Luchow brought down from Shang- hai yesterday 27 subscription griffins for the annual race meeting. The draw for the griffins resulted as follows: Hoof

No. Colour Drawer.

Blank Mr. H. A. Seth, 33 Grey....Mr. Tiersċ, 21-Brown...

28 Black,

38-White..

of the nation at a time of turmeil, being determined to sacrifice myself for the salva- tion of the country. During the winter of 1911, I filled a high position in the Government without either benefiting th policy of the country or relieving the dis Iress of the people. It is always with a feeling of intense shame and remorse that I think of my late monarch. How can I feel at ease if I occupy the exalted posi so suddenly? On grounds of principle nd morality I cannot help feeling

nihamed:

To attain a peaceful state in ruling a

peaceful Bes-nation it is first essential to keep faith.

Mears. Pearce ad

wick, Mr. H, M. H: Nems

zee.

Mr. A. V. Apeds. Bay.... Hoa, Mr. Landele, Bay, Mr. CG. Mackie. 13-Brown...Mr. H. Humphreys,

5-Chestnut....Mr. E. Moller. 47-Bay...Mr. Morton Smith. 50-Chestnut.....Dr. Jordan.

-Gres... „Messrs. Thomas. and

Sedgwick, Col. Iles and Captam

Cassol, Mr. P. Kremer. Dr. Forsyth.

9-Brown.

60 Chestnut.

14-Grey

62-White

42-Grey.

43-Grey

20-Grey.

...Mr. Shares..

Mr. Billiards. Mr. D. M. ROBE Hon. Mr. E. Shellim, 61-Bay Mr. H. Morris, 31-Greg. Mr. Beith, 35-Black.. ......Sir Paul Chater. 37-Skewbald....Sec. 1 A. Co. H.K.V.R.

50 GreyMr. Dyer. 24-Iron grey...Mr. White. „25-Grey...............Mr. Lowe,

40--Bay Major Nathan,

The Luchom also brought down fiv other ponies, four of which were for Mr H. P. Whito.

THE DEAD” OFFICER.

DRAMATIC STORY OF TWO HUSLANDS.

A blazing aeroplane crashed to earth AMATIC STOR Farnborough, and Captain Suith, of the Flying Corps, who, was aboard, was burn- ed to sleath.

THE KAISER.

LONDON, December 16th,

AMSTERDAM, December 17th, In the House of Commons Mr. H. J.

The Kaiser has arrived in Berlin after Tennant said that he knew nothing of a visiting General von Hindenburg's promise to Mr Winston Churchill that armies. He reusing in the ospital fo be would be given command of a Brigade. some time.

• Anestonishing and dramatic incident recalling Enoch Archen has just occurred in England, asys the Express,

At the inauguration of the Republic, I the President, made an each at the Tson- yiyuan (Parliament) that I would do my utmost to develop republicanism. Should I now become Emperor, I would be guilty of disregarding my onth. On the ground of truthfulness and righteousness, there fore, I cannot even excuse myself.

Then, when I formally assumed the Pro sidential Office, I again decinred that my earnest and only desire was to save the country and the people without calculating upon any success or failure, and being indifferent to hardship or comfort, criti eism or eulogy. Since it is my avowed object to save my country and people t all coste, I shall proceed to attain the go!. by sacrificing everything else if necessary; But being aware of my own deficiency and considering that the step would involve a sweeping disregard of principle and morality and of truthfulness and cannot be ignored, I hope the representi righteousness, which are great things that tives of the citizens who really love me will not force me to act a dificult parts and I hope they will; at their great megt ing, reconsider this matter carefully and conscientiously and nominate another ma

my stead for the consolidation of the nation, whilst I, the President, will con tinue to carry out my various duties in order to preserve the present condition of the whole country under the title and authority I now hol, during this period of their deliberation.

INDIA'S REVENUE.

ت

A gratifying and remarkable recovery in An officer in the Army was reported. to the revenues of the Government of India. have been killed at the front After an is shown by returns recently published. intervay his widow, became engaged to an The total civil revenue to the end of Sep- other officer, an old friend. He was fember this year is forty-four lakhs larger ordered abroad for active service, and be than in the corresponding six months of fore his departure the two were married fast year. The improvement is chiefly The second husband is still abroad on under such headings as land revenue, salt, service, and now, in his absence, it is stampe and Customs. The increase is a learned that the first husband is a prison striking testimony to the financial security in Germany f

of IndiaTM