1915-12-28 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PREEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28rm 1914.

FINANCES OF BELLIGERENTS.

·STRIKING COMPARISON.

FALL OF PERSIAN CABINET.

ALLIES DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL TO TRADE UNIONISTS.

GENERAL.

[TABOUGH REOTER'S AGENCY.} BELLIGERENTS' FINANCES. CONTRASTED BY MR, MONTAGU.

LONDON, December 27th.

of the

(TAROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.]

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AT GLASGOW.

APPEAL TO TRADE UNIONISTS.

YOU CANNOT HAGGLE WITH AN

EARTHQUAKE."

LONDON, December 28th.

In his speech at Glasgow, Mr. Lloyd George said he came on behalf of tho

"BILLETS IN FRANCE,

SOME RECENT EXPERIENCES.

Billets ocasionally forma vezed sub- joet out at the front.

Regiments coming into a town watch each other closely to see which securet the best billets, and if one regiment gets hotter quarters than the other on two ocessions rauning, the brigade billeting officer is looked upon with suspicion and suspected of being engaged to the sister of the adjutant of the rival regiment. Even generals have boon known to amil, less genially at each other because one occupied a chateau while the other lived in the home farm,

HEROISM ON TORPEDOED TRANSPORT.

AUSTRALIANS GALLANTRY ON THE SOUTHLAND."

GENERAL WHO DIED FOR #18 BOLDIERS.

Captain 0. E, W. Bean, the official Press representative with the Australian forts in the Dardanelles, has furnished interesting details concerning the expe rioners of the Australians when the trans sport Southland was torpedoed some time 950,

The transport was carrying Australians to Lempos, and Captain Bon states that the conduct of the men recalled the story of the Birkenhead.

hole forty feet by twelve was blown in the pot side forward. Some of the deck stanchions were blown clean through the opposite side of the ship. There came the sound of water rushing in.

The men turned out immediately. There had been buat drill on the voyage, and the men ran straight to their proper places and lined up. There were officers shout- ing." Steady, boys; that's the one thing, steady I'

a

MALURGH TO STARBOARD,

The Southland was liating heavily to port, but afterward the list changed with lurch to starboard; bat the men stood

Billets are partly a matter of arrange

It was a cloudless, sunny morning, with mont, partly a question of "bounce,"

a fresh breeze and a choppy son. The The general commanding the division Southland was bowling along, and not for decisles where his different brigades are from the journey's end. The only land in to billet in nocordance with tactical cou-sight was the distant gun-bathed shores of sideration. Each brigade then sends on a one of the Gréck islands, Exactly at 9.48 billeting party in advance to the and in the morning some of these on deck saw selected. The party is supervised by the wake of a torpedo travelling straight brigado billeting officer, who allote areas

for the ship. They watched hopelessly. to the different regiments. A smart reg-Tho na moment there was a loud explo mental billeting officer wil, discover a reagoa and son why his regiment should not be allot of the town sewage works, and why it would be better if some other regiment was put there. Or the billeting officer of The Hoa, J. B. Montagu, interviewed by a correspondent of the New York.

another regiment will "jump" a nice private house just outside his aren and Tribune, in a very favourable comparison

get his officers installed in it before the of the financial position of Great Britain

regiment in whose are the house properly and Germany, contrasted in scathing

this time it is probably late at night, forms Herr Helferich's hysterics and M.

belongs discovers what he has done. By

Ribot's unvarnished account

Government and at the request of the possession is nine points of the Inw, and French Loan results. Germany threw

British Army to arrange for the manufacthe officers of the regiment that has been there. The discipline was perfect everything into the senle to strike a decisive blow before our preparationsture of big guns and projectiles, and, be robbed lie down, too tired to grumble in would bear fruit. She struck, and railed, added, "We need your help." He pointed out that while British ex- change in America had been restored to more steady balance, the German exchange had been falling to vanishing point. Gerincluded seven Trade Unionists, he was interrupted with some cries of, "We all her available. many had realised on assets in the shape of negotiable foreign don't trust the Trak Union leaders," and when he emphasised the necessity of accur securities and had suspended specio pay- ments. If this happened under presenting 80,000 skilled workmen for the State conditions what would be the value of the munition factorica a voice shouted, "You mark when peses comes? The Garman im won't get them." Thereupon, Mr. Lloyd porter wants to re-stock his empty larder George said, "I have come to face 3,000 and storehouses, tries to exchange his de-Trade Unionists; will the interrupter ven- preciated paper for overseny goods, Ger- ture to Flanders and face 3,000 British (Prolonged soldiers in the trenches?" many had made no provision for the pay

cheers.) ment of interest on for War Lonna Moreover Austria's financial ruin was al- ready complete. Germany had been suck- ed dry. If the enemy emerges from the war in the same state as after the 30 years'

When Mr. Lloyd George mentioned that the Committee which proposed the dilu tion of skilled labour by unskilled labour

Mr. Lloyd George, after paying a tri- bute to the French resistance against the German machine-the result of the co- operation of French workmen dwelt upon

sa outhouse,

As a general rule when à regiment marches into a villago where it is only going to billet for one night the men ars put in barns and bayaheds. In this way they can be kept together by platoons, ensily assembled in case of alarm, and the than going from cottage to cottage and actual disposal of them takes far less time putting a few in cach. I even the smal always a good supply of barns and hay- last villages in France there is nearly lofts. The men find the bay and straw probably prefer it to the bare Boer of a good enough lying after a trench, and cctlage Officers sometimes lie down with bedroom. Most of the beds in French the men and sometimes seek a cottage outtages have a tier of at least three mat tresses, so that taking two and laying thers on the four three pouple can make themselves comfortable in one bedroom,

By customary etiquette the captain of the company has the bed and the subal Lerns fie on mattresses on the floor; where. there are only subalterns in the company they fight for the bed,

In the forward part of the ship they could see the hatch braken in and the water washing about the dark space of the hold with the bodies of some of their

plosion, floating about in it. comrades, who had been killed by the ex-

"Bad luck, that two and a half months in the desert should ond in this," said one.

"Are wo downhearted" called another. "No!" they all shouted

"Are we afraid to die" called some

"No

again.

they shouted Every now and then a sharp order to clear the boats." A party would be would come down, Twenty men wonted

immediately detached and spring up the others remained steady in the ranks below. compation to the boat deck, whilst the

"Are there enough hosts for all" one of the men asked of his officer.

Don't know," was the reply." The best thing we can do is to cut down some of these horseboxes in case they are neces

So the party set to work with might and main chopping down part of the temporary fittings,

THE HEROIC BIX.

Meanwhile, up in the sunlight, so

AFTER A YEAR OF WAR.

MANIAC WHOSE BLOOD HAS

BEEN DRAINED."

BRITISH SUBMARINE

ACTIVITY.

LIST OF GERMAN SHIPS SUNK IN BALTIC.

The Press Bureau has sanctioned the One of the most influential and serious

publisation by the Liverpool Daily Post newspapers in America, and one which of the following list of German ships re- has maintained a neutral attituds on the ported to have been sunk by British sub- war the New Fork Evening Post-con-marines in the Baltic between October 11th

and 23rd A tains, in a recent issue, a remarcabl article from its special ericspondent now. in Berlin, Mr. Horace Groen,

Mr Green writing from Berlin pa October 5th, compared the state of feeling in Germany with what it was won be visited the country just a year before. The first question addressed to him was from a sergeant, who was guarding hila at the frontier. The sergeant said: --

"How long does America, think the war will last?"

I said I did not know. This question

OCTOBER 11TH. Tulea In Lloyd's Register there are Iwo German steamers of this namo, one being steel-scrow steamer of 2,280 tons, built in 1880, and the other a steel-scrow steamer of 1485 fons, built in 1902. One is registered at Labeck and the other at Hamburg

GOTOBER 12TH. Germania, steel screw stemmer of 1,006 tons, built in 1904, registered at Hamburg.. OCTOBER 18TH. Director Reppenhagen, steel-sorow teamer of 1.883 tons, built in 1893, ragia-

of the duration of the wor is the metered at Stettin.

Nicomedia, steal-screw steamer of 4,391 frequent, I have heard during the pas year ago the slogan everybody slip tons, built in 1901, registered at Homburg. Walter Leath rat, steel screw steamer, year ago the slogan was, Germany will win; to-day the cry is everywhere, How of 1,201 tons, built in 1902, registered at

Hamburg.... long will this thing last 1

Mr. Green contrasts the behaviour of the people in the train gang towards Berlin now as compared with a year ago. kle says :- T

A year ago such groups were busu ing, bristling, fuli od ugut, and fun of hate; to-day they are, reaguzi, calm, tolerant. To-day Gerany is Las a feverish patient to waoni ne feled has been applied she war mamac whos blood has been drained, I worked 101 some time trying to get the prope Bgures of this blood-letting. I foun the answer on the walls and corridore and written in the hies or the Wai Umce. Here the casualtylists have been compiled up to Uctober 2. Copy- ing and republishing the lists in tier- man papers is strictly forbidden; bu¿. for the benefit of Irionda and relatives the names of individual dend, wound ed, and missing are systemntally and honestly posted

Peach day during severe fighting.

The German casualites for the singl week onding October 1st were 61,950 In other words, more than 8,350 a day have been killed, wounded, or takeu prisoner during the last seven days of Kussian: warigre. Since it takes wook or more to compile the reports from the front, these figures can have no connection with the great fight along the Western front, where during the renewed English-French offensive it i said that the fosses were tire time,

greater than at any similar period of the war. In all cases the Prua sian, Saxon, and Bavarian loses won grouped separately. In certain in stances companies, and even entire re giments, were wiped out.

OCTOBER JATH.

Svania (Svanen 7), steel-srce steamer, of 688 tous, built in 1911, registored at Halmstad,

Gertrude, steel screw steamer of 1,038 tons, built in 1907, registered at Stettin,

Pyrgos, sool-screw steamer of 3,589 tons; built in 1900, registered at Hamburg, Emgard (not in Loyd's Register),

OUTOSKE: LUTH Babylon, steel-scrow steamer of 2,489 ions, built in 1898, registered at Hamburg.

OCTOBER 19TH,

stoel-screw Pernambuco, 1,788 tons, built in 1897, registered, at Hamburg g

aleamer of

Soderhamn, steel-screw steamer of 1,409 tons, built in 1899, registered at Hamburg.

Johannes

OCTOBER 20TH, Russ, steel-screw

steamer of 1,751 tons, built in 1008, registered at Hamburg.

Hernosand, strel-screw steamer of 1.182 ons, built in 1894, registered at Ham-

Jurg.

Datulfven, steel-screw steamer of 1,048 ons, built in 1910, registered at Han

Jurg.

John Wulf (not in Lloyd's Register.) Hernosand (2nd), iron screw steamer of 485 tons, built in 1803, registered at Stockholm,

OCTOBER 23RD.

Electra. There are two steamers in,

Lloyd's Register of this name as being ro gistered in Germany. One is a steel-screw

eamer of 1,281 toma, but in 1898, and he other a steel screw steamer of 833 tons, built in 1899. The first vessel is owned by Him and Nolzen and registered at Fiers, Mr.burg, and the second is owned by Dumple hifffahrtiges Neptun, registered at Bre

The policy now in Germany (says Groen) in to treat neutrals, especially Americans, with more consideration.

ARITHMETIC OF WAR: LENGTH OF FRONT AND BATTLE

WASTAGE

Colonel Feyler, a well-known military critic, discusses in the Journal de Geneve what Americans would call the rock-

War wo will be able to hang up our swords the excellent work he had recently seen peasantry nearly all remained in their beats had been launched, but owing to bottom bases on which alt calculations as

without anxiety for the rest part of the

century.

PERSIAN CABINET FALLS.

ALLIES' DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH.

An He said if the men

done by women. failed to adhere to the Government's dilu tion programme, two alternatives remained either to tell the soldiers that it was impossible to got the guns to enable them to win in 1908, or to tell the Kaiser frankly TEBERAN, December 26th. that we cannot continue and that he might The Cabinet has fallen, and the Sheb let us off with the annexation of Belgium has nominated Firman Firma Premier.and the payment of an indemnity with a This is a great diplomatic victory for British Colony or two lant; he would cer the Allies.

Six men came forward instantly, dived Vrighted the overturned boat, and haled her out,

the hoste crie or two overturned order came, Six men wanted to jump to the duration and chances of the was into the sea and right an overturned life should be founded. His article is worth

studying by all the pessimists and satre bost

direction of the enemy's plang with tin necessarily slightly s.ower decisions m mongers who compare the single-minded the Allies, and the lighting strokes on Germany with our deliberata parries and ripostes. But if the mills of Goa grand slowly they grind exceeding small," and Colonel Feykr raison arithmetic which is the only thing that never changes in this world to pro subordinate allies may make, she can never hope to emerge victorious from the struggle. It may be trus that no was has ever ended for want of combatants,

men,

Rensburg, steel scrow steamer of 4,839 tous, built in 1910, rogistered at Hamburg, and owned by the Deutsch-Austral Dru- pfschiges

GLoven, steel scrow steamer of 4,210 tons, built in 1907; registered at Hambirg, and owned by the Deutsch-Austral Dru pfschiges.

WAR" PROPHECIES,

OLD MOORE'S ‘IDEAS.

The prophets and astrologers, as a rule, Sumang thainstives to vague generalistes, and have tought rather my of the war, ut in Old Moore's Ammack, the modern presentative of Francis Moore, who

sax following courageous plunge is made.

*** From the stellar influences? he stablished the Almanack 210 years ag

writes, "there appears to be but little in- dication of peace during 1915, elipse of the sun in February (1916) will

The

Germany defeated and her legione driven back to the confines of her own country. The British arms will be trium delland wil suffer terrible privations and

phant and win victory after victory.

tainly demand that Great Britain should pitality with gifts of tins of bully boot anch number of Australian officers and men who that whatever efforts Germany and her will be driven into the War. Throughout.

It appears that Prince Beuss (the Gersurrender the command of the son, and man Minister to Persia) returned to the Great Britain would he qs completely Teheran after his abortive attempt at at the mercy of Prussian despotism as Bel a coup d'elat, and subsequently left for gium was. Kermanshah, where he met the emissary

jend

In the early days of the war the French villages, even though the latter were quite close to the firing line. The peasants are invariably hospitable and cordial to the British soldiers in a way which our troops who have fought in France never forget, Not a murmur have I ever heard from farmer as a platoon of mudcaked Tom mies tramped into his hayloft, pulled the hay about to make themselves comfortabic,By twelve o'clock the last boat had left and lay down in it. Perhaps the hay re-the ship. It contained a general and presented the farmer's savings for the year staff who were travelling by this ship, and capital for the next. But the French During the long wait the men had peasants serm to give of their all to the amazed themseves singing songs. There British Tommy as gladly as if he were remained on the Southland the captain, their only son, Our men return the has officers sine members of the crew, and a hand with the farm work, milking had volunteered to stoke the ship and

help bring ber to port...... the cows and so forth.

A portion of the scratch crew of the I do, however, remember one rather outlu, proved worse than useless amusing story of an example to the confrom the first moment of excitement, and, but the reason is that no nation has ever frary of the welcome the French people though other members of the crew gave pushed heroism to the point of profer- generally give us. It is a true story, and an example of courage and coolness, a ring the massacre of every man to aur though people reading it may lift their great part of the crew's work had from eyebrows incredulously, there are some the first to be done by the soldiers.⠀ still-living who were with me on the occa sion and can vouch for it, and two brother officers had gone into a village

the Aisne to forage near our trenches We found a small farm where we could buy elder and some eggs. We decided to boil and on the eggs in the farmer's kit chen. He pet the fire at our disposal and stood by his door while we ate the eggs sitting round bis table. I noticed he geent ed a little surly We talked with him and asked him about the Germans, who had been through the village before us, and our own troops He said that some officers of the German Stuff, who were passing through had commandeered his kitchen for the night. We asked him if our troops behaved well towards the peasantry, and he said that they did. Then we asked about the Germans. He grew enthusiastic, most perfect gentlemen. When they sat down to dine the night they were in his house they asked him to join them at the table. We looked guiltil at ech other, for we had finished the eggs and left him standing by the door.

Mining engineers helped to get the pumps going, and officers and privates stoked, and the Southland was eventually able to struggle to Mudros,

the Spring most appalling slaughter will cur, and step by step the Allies will fore their way ahead. A decisive naval victory is denoted in May. The culminat- duy ng 1916, and it will not be until the following year that tho hordes of Ger- during many will be overthrown finally. Power was given unto the Beast to continue for two-and-forty months,

Inciser detail the prophe: a utter- auces for next year are as follows:

January-Germans will be rolled back to the borders of their own country.

February.The red torch of War now enters the borders of Germany, and

March. The Prussian hordes will meet hand of retribution will fall-heavily on that thrice-accursed nation. with severu reverem.

Dwelling on the necessity for haste, Mr of General Von der Goltz. He after Lloyd George mentioned that there had wards preceeded to Bagdad, where he been 300,000 casualties since the agreement met Herr Vassal, who was appointed to between the Trade Unions and the succeed him as Minister at Teberan

Government last March, and mid if the UNTRUE TURKISH REPORTS, workman helped thoroughly and quickly LONDON, December 28th. this would slrengthen their chim on tho The Press Bureau i

says that recent Tur- British people at the end of the war for kish noports of the sinking of moniterse redress of their grievanceĖ

He concluded by saying that he won- on the Tigris are untrue. No armed vessel has been sunk, except two small dered if the people realised that this war river gunboate, the abandonment of was a convulsion of nature upheaving the which was announced on the 4th Decovery rocks of Europeau life, and said:

"All this chaffering about the relaxing of HERR BALLIN'S CHRISTMAS rules and customs is out of place. You The German Stall officers, he said, were livs but much exhausted, and died front of 1,000 kilometres Busy October-Socialistic troubles rend the

ber.

WISHES.

HIS FEAR OF AN ECONOMICAL WAR.

LONDON, December 28th. Herr Ballin the manager of the Ham burg-America Line, publishes his Christ- mag wishes in a German newspaper. He says that the men who are called upon to construct peace will have the foremost task, besides ending the war, which has destroyed generations, and simultaneous-

cannot huggle with an earthquake,"

Mr. Lloyd George, after the meeting, had a satisfactory conference with the local officials of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers with a view to definite and immediate action for dilution.

GENERAL CASTELNAU AT ATHENS,

ATHENS, December 26th. General Castelnau was received by the

ly ending the armament fever, of finding King. He also met the heads of the

a security that the sanguinary war shail Greek General Staff at luncheon at the General Castelnau

Bot be followed by an economical war, French Legation. which will separate the napORD.

departs this afternoon,

This is, of course, a very wild exception. As a rule the general tale told by the French people is of roughness, and somnos times of brutality, at the hands of the invaders I shall never forget one house in which we billeted when we were follow

In the present war the longs the fronts or the less the troops are mayed in depth-the more rapid is the disappear ance of the clite. This is precisely the case with Germany. In the beginning she lost her young men, the Famewhat older ones, ubtil death began to reap the lip A GENERAL'S SUPREME BAORIFICE, One of the officers who saw the incident grizzled heads, victory meanwhile states that after the torpedoing of the ping from the grasp of her decimated Southland a boat containing General battalions. The Allied Powers als Linton was not the ship. When the boat suffer but each one only in proportion overturned the General was sent in the to his shorter line of battle, which neces killed compared with that of the popula water swimming well. Someone shouted sarily reduces the proportion of the to him, How are you getting on ition. As the German army is feltine on He answered." I am doing well save the longest front it suffers the most rapid diminution. For three Germang killed the others first."

The rescuers accordingly continued or put out of action per kilometre and picking up the others, leaving Crueral per day on a length of front of 1.200 kilo. Linton, who was a strong swimmer, metres the empire loses in one year among the last to be picked up roughly 1,300,000 men out of a population with When taken from the water he was of 70,000,000, or 1/54th of the total. On

a population of 160 millions, lotes shortly after from shock and exponire.

Shortly afterwards General Birdwood/100th or three time les On a front 400 kilometres France, with 40 million, of inhabitants without counting her issued the following special order:

colonial populations, loses 450,000 or 1/390th. Lastly Great Britain on a front of 120 kilometres, lose 1/48th of the population of the United Kingdom, exclusive of the Colonies.

On behalf of all the comrades now serv ing on the Peninsula 1 wish to convey to the Australian unit concerned our gene Tal feeling of admiration for the gallant behaviour of all ranks on the transport Bonthland...

Apri-An armistice may be proposed a. this time, and diplomacy will be busy May-A brilliant victory is prasigrifed for the British Navyzna

-June-More successes for the Allies,

July-Honours and gain to the British

arms.

August. The commencement of the September Decisive battles. Kaiser's downfall.

November German Exchequer depleted. German Empire

December-End not yet, but continued progress assured for Britain.

HANBURG WARNS THE KAISER.

No doubt, says the Volkszeitung If we suppose for argument's All the troops of the Army Corps have that a nation with immense crat for all the nations, the German people in- heard with pride of the courage and titude can beas the loss of 1/30th of its cluded, are longing for peace. discipline shown at the moment when the population, or about 3 per cent, this "If Germsay had only to arming the ing in German footsteps after their, terres of the braveet are liable to be co being the valid male population of over matter with France and England it would

17 years of ago, Germany on the basis of

not be impossible to make peace on the highly tried.

fronts and losses, would, or sis of exchanges and compensations, ~present Not only was there not the slightest might be able to hold ut for another without fear of future difficulties,

France who would, on the same confusión on the part of the troops," who

Russia, however, in spite of her big quietly fell in and prepared to meet basis, be the hardest hit after Germany. whatever fate might be in store, but later, could last two years, and Russia and losses, has recovered herself with astound When prospect of the Southland being Great Britain still lunger. Colene Teying quickness, Germany should take ad- able to make way under her own steam, ler even argues that England might con- vantage of the present favourable situs- and stokers were called for, the men at siderable extend her front, and when tion to begin peace negotiations. If she nos came forward and successfully helped, France is worn out could take her place allows the present moment to pass it will

from the Swiss frontier to Dunkirk. ba tos late in getting the Southloed into part. –

treat. It had been commandeered by the officers of a German regiment as their hiilet. They had ransacked everything, carrying away with them blankets, pillows nad everything they could lay hands on There was hardly a completa piece of croc kery in the home, and even the owners' few books and private letters had been torn out of bookcases and strewn over the floor. A. Bubaltern in the Daily Mail,