1916-03-09 — Page 5

Page

THE

WAR.

NEW PHASE OF VERDUN BATTLE

GERMANS MULTIPLY ATTACKS WEST. OF

MEUSE,

WORK OF FLEET REVIEWED.

MR. CHURCHILL CAUSES À STIR.

LUCK OF THE

+

MOEWE."

FRANCO-BELGIAN FRONT.

[THROUGH RAUTER ́S AUKONDY.]

UNIMPORTANT GERMAN GAIN.

ENEMY CHANGES TACTICS.

PARIS, March 7th, 2.45 p.m.

A semi-official statement says the enemy's- gain à Forges is only 100 yards. This gives him no advantage, as the French

hold firmly the dominating position of Colé de Loie.

The German operations in Champagne were local and unsuccessful. They were prompted by the encuy's fear of the

French massing troops, at Verdun,

The newspapers point out that the second battle of Verdun has been charac _terised_by_spasmodic attacks, vastly differ

(THROUGH BRUTER'S 'ADENCE.]

BATTLE ENTERS NEW PHASE,

FRENCH RESISTING DESPERATE.

ASSAULTS.

PARI, March 8th.

3.50 a.m.

The battle has entered on a new phase, with the Germans abandon'ng the costly attacks on Douaument, and letting loose

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRERA, THURSDAY, MARCH Erg, 19167

NAVAL ACTIVITIES.

Finmodum REUTER'S ACHHOY.J

WORK OF THE GRAND FLEET.

FIRST LORD DEALS WITH BIG

FIGURES.

LONDON, March 7th.

In the House of Commons Mr. Balfour

(THROUGH BUTER'S AGENCY.]

NAVAL MEN'S CRITICISMS. Commander Carlyon Bellairs, R.N. (retired) said it was intolerable that any eno in a high position like Mr. Churchill should be trying to interfere with the Government.

Admiral" Bir Hedworth Meux, în-a

[Bonan MutiR'S AUKKOT.}[/

“AIR RAID ON ENGLAND.

NINETY BOMBS DROPPED INDISCRIMINATELY.

LONDON, March 7th.

At least 90 were bombs dropped by the three Zeppelins which raided England on

the 5th. They were dropped apparently indiscriminately, in rural districts, Pos- sibly owing to the rough weather, the

maiden speech, said the appointment of (First Lord of the Admiralty), introducing Admiral Lord Fisher to the War Council the Naval Estimates; dwelt on the Inter. would cause consternation in the Navy Zoppelims were uncertain of their where nationel work of the British Fleet and The reason of the intrigues on behalf of the present Board, and said they directly Lord Fisher was because the Admiralty bombs before escaping under cover of the

continued the work of their predecessors. Was working to the satisfaction of the including shipbuilding activities. He Navy and not advertising. He reminded emphasised that Mr. Churchill was cond Mr. Churchili that a rolling stono did not pletely justified in saying that the Fleet gather moss, He wished Mr. Churchill ho had prepared was adequate for the success in France, and hoped be would task of maintaining the command of the stay. there, seas, and paid 'a' tribute to the Admiralty in clearing the geag of German cruisers, C

Mr. Balfour emphasised the magnitude | of the task since the Mediterranean' opera- tiam, especially with the appearance of | German submarines thero.

|

THE "MOEWE'S" LUCK.

ELUDES PATROLS OUT AND HOME.

LONDON, March 7th.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour announced that the Hoerd eluded our patrols going out and succeeded in getting back round North-feeland, The beflagging of Berlin for the Loewe showed that the

The Navy had transported about 4,000,000 combatanta, 1,000,000 horses, tons of stores, and 27.000.000 gallons of oil. They might view with satisfaction the enemy's standard of achievement was not achievement of this task, especially con- | high. gidering the new dangers to be faced.

He also eulogised the work of the Com. mittee of Imperial Defence.

PROTECTING LIBERTIES OF WORLD.

The Navy was protecting the liberties of the world. It had expanded cuorious-

their infantry west of the Mouse. It is #fil) doubtful whether the Germans will confine the action to reducing & trouble some salient or whether they are beginningly, and the tonnage under the White En. a concerted action by the wings,

sign, including auxiliary cruisers. had ixen increased by 1,000,000 tong since the outbreak of the war,

The French have been expecting an offensive on the west of the Meuse and are fully prepared. The region is favourable to German attacks, as the Meuse Valley ent from the tremendous uninterrupted is flooded, Hence the abandonment storm of the first battle. The German | of Forges, which is at the bottom of the troops are no longer the same. They now valley and only held outposts, and Hill consist of youths who are inclined to 265. The French are now solidly entrench- ed at the Mort Homme position, which is resisting desperatų assaults.

waver.

GERMANS PUSH FORWARD.

HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED. BY FRENCH GUNS.

PARIS, March 7th. 3.30 p.m. To-day's communiqué says:—An intense bombardment enabled the Germans to

pro gross on the west bank of the Mense along the railway lino-in the neighbourhood of Regneville, Simultaneously, a German Division attacked and captured Hill 285, which is about a mile south-east of Forges, despite heavy losses inflicted by the French artillery and machine-guns

The French hold the village of - Bothin- court the clumpe eastward of Corbeaux and Cumieres Woods, and the upper part

of the ridge.

Eastward of the Meuse, in the region of

BERLIN CLAIMS.

HEAVY FACES IN GERMAN

EXCHANGE. TH

LONDON, March 7th.

1.30 p... A Berlin communiqué states that it is more quiet at Verdun. Nevertheless, the communiqué makes a dubious claim of 900 prisoners in minor engagements.

Neutral opinion of the German prospects is reflected in the heavy falls.in the Ger- man exchange in Switzerland, Denmark

and Holland,

MORE ENEMY · CLAIMS,

AMSTERDAM, March 7th. 8.50. 15

A Berlin communiqué elaims a hundred

Mr. Balfour paid a tribute to Mr. Churchill's-work in connection with the Naval Air Service, which had grown ten- fold. The Navy always requires a special Air Service, and none could say what the future relations of Zeppelins and aero- planes would be. Both were improving, but the latter were the faster.

He considered that airships were very desirable for Naval scouting. Wo were developing these, but the difficulty wes to find accommodation.

WARSHIP BUILDING. Warship-building the past 19 months was unprecedented. The Dreadnought battleships, Dreadnought cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers and submarines and patrol-boats had been greatly augmented, and had suffered no check. The same could

be said of guur stores, and munitions. Wo were not replacing armoured cruisers,

DUTCH STEAMER FIRED ON

AMSTERDAM, March 7th.

The Dutch steamer Bandbrug, proceed- ing to Holand from India, was fired on the Mediterranean without warning. The lifeboats were damaged, THE BALKANS

1

[THROUGH BUYER'S AGENCY.]

MILITARY IMPORTANCE OF

VALONA.

HEAVY ITALIAN

REINFORCEMENTS,

ROME, March 7th.

abouts and were anxious to get rid of the

night. There was no military damage of any description, and the casualties were entirely confined to civilians. One of the injured persons has since died.:

VISIT IN SNOWSTORM.

London, March 8th. Much surprise was fet at the visit of the Zeppelins, as it was snowing at the time. The arrangements where warnings were given worked smoothly, and the lights were extinguished without the slightest alarm, Both incendiary and explosive bombs were dropped. A block of 'work- men's buildings was demolished, and a woman and her four children killed, ther husband being taken to hospital. A non- agenarian pensioner was incinerated in his bed,

GERMAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.

AMSTERDAM, March 8th. The German 'official account of the air raid says:-Some Naval airships abundant- ly bombarded the Naval base of Hull., Good results were observed. The airships wero vigorously bombarded, but returned safely.

BRITISH TRADE FIGURES.

EXPORTS INCREASE BY MORE

THAN £10,000,000,

LONDON, March 7th. The Board of Trade figures for February A semi-official statement says that Lieut- General Piacentine has been appointed show that the increases in importa amount; Commander of a special Italian Corp, ined to £2,147,271 and in exports to Albania. The appointment of a General £10,158,815. The principal increases in of such high rank and the dispatch of imports in grain and four, several Divisions to Albania are consistent £1,425,517; and the principal increase in with the great military importance of our exports vas in colton, £2,448,690. *holding Valona

· THE GREEK CABINET.

ATHENS, Marc h7th. The Government newspapers deny the reported impending reconstruction of the Skouloudis Cabinet,

GENERAL

The Naval Division, which had covered itself with glory in Gallipoli, would be kept at ita full strength of six battalions,

The health and discipline of the Grand Josj Fleet left, absolutely nothing to be desired,

{THROUGU" "MEUTER'S AGENCY.]

ACTIVITY AT CONSTAN- TINOPLE.

FULL OF GERMAN SOLDIERS,

LONDON, March 8th,

were

PRESIDENT WILSON'S

TRIUMPH.

[THROUGH AMUTER'S' AGENCY.]

***NELLORE ON FIRE.

PASSENGERS AND MAILS LANDED,

LONDON, March 8th. Lloyd's agent at Malta, reports that the P. & 0, staaer Nellore, from Yokohama to London, is afire in the main hold. Tugs are assisting. Passengers and sails hayo been landed

[The Nellure's passeiger-list chided tho following frota Hongkong and this Wrừ Hud 1-—Mr. Leonard Corner, "Mr.

Brockett, 4. E.

Mri

IL Parsons Mea. C. and Miss Flow Tucker, Mr and Mrs. F. H. Williams, Mr. Y, Harris, Mr. H. Tonkine, Mr. G. E. Davies, Mr. C. 5. Page, Mr. A. Ellis Mr. W. Bush, Mr. R. Shackleford Mr. G. T. Kala, Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Parker, Miss. Blagg, Mr. E. Mazzi, Mr. and Mrs, 0, D. Spoor, and Mr. C. Woldringh.].

SPANISH MAIL LINER DISASTER.

LONDON, March. 71. The disaster to the Spanish mail liner Prince of the Antariat occurred in a fog. The vessel sank in five minutes. Many officials were among the 400 drowned. De- tails are lacking.

RUPEE LEGAL TENDER OF EGYPT.

CAIRO, March 70. A Decree by the Sultan makes the rupee the legal tender of Egypt till further notice.

KING AND THE WOUNDED.

LONDON, March 8th. His Majesty the King has invited 2.000 wounded soldiers to tea.

RE-CAPTURE OF SUIFU.

REBELS SEVERELY PUNISHED. PEKING, March 7th. The Government troops have re-capturad Baifu as the result of fierce fighting, in | which the rebels suffered heavily.

It is reported trom Yunnanfu'tbat alarm has been caused by the advance of the Saochuan troops, who have already entered Yunnan, where troops from Kwangsi and Kwangtung have occupied Payai.›

AUSTRIA'S STRENGTH.

FRENCH WAR OFFICE ESTIMATE. REPRESENTATIVES AND PRO.

GERMAN RESOLUTION. A

The French War Ofics gives me some WASHINGTON, March 8th, particulars of the probable strength of the The House of Representatives, by 276 Austro-Hungarian forces (writes the Paris votes to 143, indefinitely shelved the resoly-correspondent of The Daily Telegraph). The figures are only approximate, 9, UR- tion of Mr. Melemore, which is similar to like the German Government, the Austr that brought forward by Mr. Coro in the Hungarian Government has a publishesī Benate, warning Americans not to travel official lists of losses. The total number of men available for military service in the on armed merchantmon. The figures, shows Austro-Hungarian Empire is estimated at ing the increased strength of President 5,450,000. This figure is computed as fol- Wilson's supporters, were received in great excitement with cheering,

lows:-

Now at the front... Official · losses at the rate of 180.000 men. Đ month for

16 months of war, ..........

Bois Haudemont, and also in Woevre the prisoner in Champagne, and 300 at (Cheers.) He paid a tribute to the Navy's stantinople is full of German soldiers, of COLONEL HOUSE'S MISSION. Men employed on necessary work

artillery struggle continued with intensity. During the night the French again bom harded the German positions in Argonne, and repulsed Germans who attempted to occupy a mine crater,

ENEMY MULTIPLIES INFANTRY ATTACKS.

FRESNES CAPTURED.

artillery

A Salonika telegram states that Con-

Fresnes, part of which was captured. The enterprise, courage, and skill, and also to whom fresh contingents are continually the work of submarines in the Sea of Mar- arriving, besides large quantities of heavy

WARRINGTON, March 8th. communiqué only mentions

Colonel House has conferred with Pre- mora and in the Baltic Sen. (Cheers.) guns, munitions, motor vehicles, coal and sident Wilson on the results of his mission activity west of the Meuse.

The minc-sweepers and trawlers—(Cheers) | flour, from Bulgaria. New sad heavy --facing unexpected peril, never seemed to

guns have been placed on board the fail. (Choers.) He tendered, amid loud Goeben and Hamidich, cheers, thanks for the bravery of the mer. cantile marine.

AUSTRALIANS AT VERDUN.

SIEGE BRIGADE ENGAGED.

MELBOURNE, March 8th. Speaking at a crowiled and enthusiastic. meeting at the Town Hall, demonstrating PAR15, March 8th..

sympathy with and admiration of the 1.35 a.m.

French in the defence at Verdun, Mr. The evening communiqué is received in London in incomplete forin, probably Pearce, Minister of Defence, announced owing to a storm and interruption of the that an Australian Siege Brigade was fight cables. It says:-West of the Meuse the ing there, and that a large sum had been bombardment by heavy guns continued subscribed to the French Red Cross,

intensely. The enemy in the coume of the day multiplied his infantry attacks.

The following addition has been receiv-

ENEMY

ed:-Between Bethencourt and the Meuse

BOMBING ATTACKS REPULSED.

LONDON, March 7th,

Mr. Balfour concluded that Admiral Sir John Jellicce and the other: Admirals bad shown themselves worthy of their immense responsibility. (Cheers.) There was the free.t exchange of Tdeas, and every-

thing had worked most smoothly between the Admiralty and the Admirals. He did not think there was the slightes justifica

⠀⠀.. CAPTOR OF ERZERUM

DECORATED.

PETROGRAD, Match 7th.

Tho Tear has conferred the Order of St. George on General Fadenitch the captor of Erzerum. LORD' DERBY AND MARRIED

MEN.

LONDON, March 7th. tion for certain subacid pessimism. The Lord Derby, speaking at Manchester, world had come to recognise that the basis said the married men had been called up of the Allies was the British Fleet. He long before he expected, but he was sure

those attacks were repulsed, except in the

A British communiqué says:-The day could not understand anyone who was con.they would respond patriotically. He did Crows Wood sector, where the enemy has been quiet, except in the neighbour.fident in 1914 being anxious in 1916. gained a footing.”

hood of the Hohenzollern Redebt, where The Germans east of the Meuse, as the the enemy made three unsuccessfu) bomb- result of a violent artillery bombardmenting attacks. In the morning he exploded in the region of Haudaumont Wood, pens- a mine in the same place, but we command trated a redoubt, whence a counter-attack

the crater. unmediately ejected their,

The Germans in Woevre occupied the village of Fresnes after a light in which they lost heavily.

The French bombarded cantonments.cust of Muhlbach and trenches at Wattwiller.

in the Vosges

A German zeroplane was brought down in Argonne, and the two armen, who Fere wounded, were conjured.

There has been much activity with trench-mortars, grenades, and artillery: fire between Hohenzollern and Loos.

DIED AT THE FRONT.

LONDON, March 8th. Lord Desmond FitzGerald has died in France. Lieut. Colonel C. Davidson, Houston, previously reported missing, is unofficially reported killed.

not doubt that they would secure suf- cea; men for the Army, which was com

MR, CHURCHILL DATERS A SILIZ Mr. Winston Churchill (anw Lieut.posed mainly of single me Colonel commanding & Battalion a at the Front) affirmed that we must not assume that the German Fleet would be content to lie impotent in the derided Kiel Canal, He created a stir by asking if the time- table of the ship building programme of the previous Board was being kept. Thero must be no limit on labour where the Fleet was concerned. Vital units must be the first charge of our labour resources. He urged Mr. Balfour to furtify himself and vitaliss and animate the Board by recall- Ling Lord-Fisher

AUSTRALIAN PREMIER IN

ENGLAND.

LONDON, March 7th. The Australian Premier, Mr. T, Hughes, has arrived at Liverpool":

Interviewed, he said he had come to. exchange views with the Imperial Govern. ment regarding the war Australians

toward victory, not only would use every-ounds of energy to assist on the battle-feld but in commeres and industry. He hoped Australia would calist 300,000 by June. Ile desired to visit the Western Front

to Europe.

LAND SETTLEMENT FOR

SERVICE MEN.

LONDON, March 8th.

In the House of Commens Mr. Bonar Law said he was approaching the Premiers of Canada and Australia with a view to ą comprehensive scheme of land settlement

for ex-soldiers and ex-sitors, -

TURKS ATFAOKED NEAR ADEN.

Loxion, March 7th..

in the country

2,220,000

2,850,000

500,000

Mon abroad ntable to return to

Austria-Hungary

200,000

Wounded men who may be ex-

pected to return fit Wounded me now cured remain

ing provisionally in depots... 1917 recruits now training ...

280,000

150,000 250,000

8,450,000

The estimate of jœsses above is calculated as follows: The Austro-Hungarian pri- soners taken by the Russians and also by the Serbe reach at least 1,000,000 men, which works out at more than 60,000: per month. There remains therefore, estimate of 120,000 men per month killed or permanently mained. The above figures represent the present strength of the Austro-Hungarian army.

38

What supplies of men can be drawn upon in the future! This month Land- sturm men of from 43 10 50 are being called up. Secondly, a new law hng extended the In the House of Commons Mr. Chambor, military age to 55 years. Finally, the 1918 contingent will probably be called up next lain said the situation at. Aden was un-spring. We have therefore:- changed. A small column inflicted casual.Total of Landsturm mon

50 estimated at ties on the Turky on the 24th February.

Landsturm men 50 to 55, estimat- Mr. Chamberlain said that be expected

ed at -1918-contingent-.. to receive from the Bay shortly a report covering all recent minor operations on the North-West Frontier and elsewhere. including Aden, on receipt of which would considor the question of publica- tion

43.50

500,000.

230,000

200,000

950,000

-To this figure must be added: (1) Wounded men who will return fit, (2) Wounded men now cured, and (3) 1917 cou tingen, three categories forming a total of 650,000. mep. The grand total of the availab'e fresh-strength-in men of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is thus finally RUSSIAN MINISTER TO JAPAN | estimated by the French War Office at

RECALLED.

1,800.000. This, it is added. is stretching probabilities to the extreme possible Imit PETEOCEAN, March 7th. in favour of Austria-Hungary.

Obviously over half the man thus includ- The Russian Ambassador to Japan hased will be useless for fighting purposes. Austria-Hungary has reached the extreme been recalled owing to his health.

I'mit of her resources in men, and has al- LORD.CUBZON'S MISFORTUNE

"nady" resorted to natures unattempted in any other country, for instance, ealing LONDON, March 7th. up at 55 years of age of men who have never served and alto calling up the 1918 contingent. These are desperate

Lord Carzon has broken an

81-res,