FIRST WIN THE WAR
MR. CHURCHILL'S ADVICE.
THE NEED FOR REDOUBLED EXFICTIONS.
Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at a féle in aid of the Russian Wounded and Scottish Prisoners of War Funds at Chelmsford last month, said:
THE SAVY AND THE BLOCKADE.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESD I OCTOBER 1778 154
GERMAN TRENCH WORKS”
DUG-OUT "ARCHITECTURE.
UNDERGROUND VILLAGE OF 500
MILES
Along many miles of the Western front, ss it was till the end of June, it is now possible to stand at one 6 case in the middle of No Man's Land and observe trench on the one hand and a Frooch the differences between a German front or British front trench on the other The arst point to be noticed is that the Allies' wire is only cut across by Deat Janes or gangways at convenient intervals, while the German wire les in a trampled mess on the ground, Then, the Allies support their barbed wire mainly with wooden stakes; the Germans do it with iron.
Next, our parapet owes much more of its strength than the German to visible sandbags,
AIR CORDON ROUND ENGLAND.
50,000 AEROPLANES AND
160,000 MEN:
LORD MONTAGU AND DEFENCE.
aircraft offensive and defensive at a Lord Montagu, in a speech on our meeting of business rien and women in the Freemasons Hall, Edinburgh, last month, said the recent raid of 18 Zep pelins on London and the East Coast of England was by far the largest we had encountered, and at the same time it was the most ridiculous. The effect on the South of England was not to produce panic, but to strengthen our resolve that the why must be won, and won on our terms.
If the German Government and the was the result of that raid, this was German people wanted to know what
the answer it made as angry that we had not been able to repel the attack with greater loss to them, but it strength ened our determination to win the war After an appreciative reference to Lieutenant Robinson's gallant exploit in bringing down a German airship, Lord Montagu said
I should like to say to you, "Don't let us yet talking too much about after the war" After the war all sorts of bright prospects will be opened: When we have won the war there are any number of line things which we can do, and all classes will be able to participate. An oppor tunity unique in history will be provided
Inside the two trenches the differencca to us. There will be a chance of building are greater. The Allied trench looks, in up a broader, better organized society hoped and meant to move on before every way, like the work of men who here at home and rallying round it, bind-long; the German trench looks like the ing to it by unbreakable ties, those work of men who hoped, or feared, that valiaut friends and brothers from the they would be in it for years. Our Dominions who have come to our aid trench housing has been much more of from across the oceans, and of welding a makeshift, a sort of camping-out, with together and weaving together all this fabric into one Imperial and national come ingenious provisions for shelter and unity (cheers), when we have won the war comfort, but not more than the least but and only when we have won the that would serve. Moat of our dug-outs war. But anything short of decisive vicare just roughly delved holes in the
“I was not altogether pleased about tory, anything in the nature of an con-earth, with only enough props and the national attitude towards this fine clusivo ponce, will mar all this fair pros rafters to hold the roofs up: their foors exploit. We have had about 40 Zeppelin peet and put all these hopes of favourable are bare ground, with a little straw on raids on this country, and at a low solution perhaps for ever beyond our it their doors, if they have any are estimate some 120 airships were engaged reach. That is why I say to you, "Da few odd pieces of plank with a couple in them from bringing to end. Yet this not let us be drawn too ranch into dis of other pieces nailed areas; often the was the first airship we brought down cussion of what we are going to do after floor is on the trench level, to save on our soil. To be frank, I do not think the war," To nine hundred and ninety-burrowing. Lighting is done with that that is very much to boast about. nine men and women out of every thou-candles, mostly bought at the canteen, I hope that in the future those in charge sand in our land the true motto is "Look and if anyone owns an armchair or a 2ft of the air defences this country will ofter the war and after the war' will high mirror, it is the jest of the platoon, strengthen them to such an extent that look after itself." (Cheers.)
The German front in the West je like no Zeppelin raid can take place except one huge atraggling village, built of wood at great peril and loss to the enemy. and strung out along a road 300 miles The Germans have a good deal to make long. Of course the houses are all under He criticized the confusion of aircraft then nagry at the present time, and not ground. Still, they are houses, of one control. Although the Admiralty is only angry-hungry. First of all there or two floors, built to certain ofisial machines, the ship which came down at responsible for the construction of is the Royal Navy, never stronger than designs, drawn out in section and plan. Cunky was out up, dissected, and in it is to-day, never with more supreme The main entrance from the trench level vestigated by the military. That showed control of the seas than it has to-day, for is, sometimes at any rate, through a steel how chaotic our service is. One depart the battle of Jufland has shown that even
door, of D pattern apparently in their waters the German fent dare not standardized, so that hundreds mayment gives warning of the approach of fight a decisive engagement with our line
a hostile air fleet, a second fires at it of battle. (Hear, hear.) Now is the mo- come from the factory on one order, and by sea, a third takes up the pursuit ment for tightening the blockade and missing parts be easily replaced. stopping by every possible means the profusely timbered doorway is made to over land, and a fourth performs the lauching of supplies into Germany their measure. Outside this front door through neutral countries. Much pro you may find a perforated sheet of metal, gress is being made in that direction. A to serve for a doormat or seruper naval blockade takes a long time to make Inside, a flight of from 10 to 20 stairs its effect felt-longer than we expected leads down at an easy angle. The treads but it is beginning to make its effects of the stairs and the descending roof felt in Germany, and they are beginning of the staircase are formed of mining to let us know that they are beginning to frames of stout timber, with double top feel the effects. There are widespread stills; the walls are of thick planks signs throughout the German Empire that notched at the top and bottom to fit the the continual battering of their front by frames and strongthened with iron the Allied Armies, that the heavy losses tic-roda running from top to bottom of they have sustained from the beginning the stairs and with thick wooden struts of the war, that the increasingly dark at right angles to those. ened and narrowing outlook for them abroad, and the increased stringency, and privation at home have produced and are producing sensible effects upon the Ger to wonder whether, after all, war is quite man nation, and are making them begin such a pleasant thing, and whether, after all, it is not better to live and let live. and to respect treaties and enjoy and cultivate your own wide country and let your neighbours alone, whether they be great Empires or little States. That is All the more reason for redoubling our efforts and increasing the stringency of our arrangements.
THE NEW BRITISH. ARMY.
E
**** HORNETS" THAT FLY BY NIGHT.
we have reason to be satisfied and proud. The reports from the front are unanim us testifying to the superiority which
́PASSAGES AND STAIRCASES,.
The
At the foot of the stairs, a tunnelled"
anything up to 60 yards, and from it open corridor, runs straight forward, for rooms and minor passages on each side. In many dug outa a second staircase, or two staircases, lead to a lower floor which may be Juft, or 40ft. below the trench level,
"
MINE SHAFT AT LA BOISSELLE..
POLITICAL FRONTIERS.
SECURITY THE BASIS OF PEACE.
INTERESTING DISQUSSION BY THE
BRITISH ASSOCIATION,
At the meeting of the British Associa
on political frontiers took place in the tion at Newcastle last month a discussion
Geographical section. The subject was said that it must reluctantly be admitted introduced by Bir T. H. Haldich, who that the best way to preserve peace among the nations was to part them by as strong and as definite a physical fence as coukl be found. A boundary must be a barrier, and the position of it must be influenced largely by the will of the people. The anneration of territory against the will of the people had always been regarded as a political blunder. The Basimilation of its people with the conquering zation was a slow and often an impossible pro
CORS,
mechanically, but real chemical fusion An admixture might be affecterl never took place. Under such circum- stances it was seldom that the acquirent territory was a safe and thoroughly sound unit in the political entity. As to the methods of ascertaining the will of the people a plebiscito had been suggested, but he could not imagine a surer way of starting an armed conflict, Where opinions were divided and the expression of them weak and wobbly, sentiment might well be allowed to give way to physical conditions which should govern the line of partition. It was quite prab- able that we should before long be faced with a comparatively new phase of bound- ary problems where there could no longer he the excuse of want of sound map know- ledge of the districts concerned to account for misleading and inaccurate delimita tions, but where ethnical interests of the most important character would possibly present painfully complicated problems, In no case, however, could be imagino that the wishes of the majority of the people concerned would be difficult to ns- certain
He insisted that a boundary must be
a sound and unbroken barrier as fac as possible, and that it must be selected with the great object: In view of hindering in every possible way any proposed scheme of violation. Peace could only be based in this imperfeet world on security. Ho trusted that our political representatives, past mortem is one of a successful impressed at last with the lessons of the political boundaries with lizes na strong assault. He desired to see the whole war would set about designing new of our air service co-ordinated, amalgamated, and made into much secure these strong barriers: Incompar as they could be made. How were we to bigger and better service than at pre-ably the best boundaries were mountain sent, Priority of attention should, of course be given to the Army at the watershed, the ordinary divide between ranges. Failing definite uplifted front, for the strain there was tenfold the leads of minor affluents of a river what it is here. He did not desire that basin were quite a useful alternative, the Army in the Beld should be de prived of a single aeroplane or a single rivers also played an important part, anti-aircraft gun, as The Times had well though it depended on conditions of remarked, the task of providing adenvironment whether a river made a good quate aircraft for Great Britain, and boundary or not. In conclusion, he said at the same time keeping the front sup he did not imagine that in the reconstruc plied, ough not to prove incompatible. tion of political frontiers at the close of the war there would be any great depar- ture from the old order which adopted intervals to guard frontiers. It was the elevations and placed strong fortresses at strength of the line of French forts from Belfort to Verdun which determined the initial strategy of the German campaign, and it was the Rhineland fortresses and not the Rhine itself which would protect the Western frontiers of Germany.
Continuing, Sir Thomas said that
Professor Lyde, of University College, London, regarded a river boundary as preferable to a mountain one, and thought the best, bounary was one whicu enabled the maximum of peaceful associa tion with a minimum of warlike assosia tion. Where here was a navigable river: in an area through which a political follow the fairway of the river. He also frontier was drawn the frontier should urged that navigable river frontiers should be made international.
Miss M. Newbigin spoke of Italy und the Adriatic, and said it seemed unlikely. that Italy would attempt to displace the Adriatic merely to put a new and energetic nation in her place
FOR THE FEET. EYES
the past. In the recent affair in the There had been culpable slackness in North Sea we lost two fine cruisers, the Nothingham and the Falmouth, while the Germans rarely lose one. Why Because the Germans used air ships for scouting, had to use sea abips All these staircases, passages, and wings while we be tu ar mines and rooms are, in the best specimens, com other risks of the ocean. While the pletely lined with wood, and as fully North Sea is patrolled over all its atrengthened with it as the entrance length and breadth by German aircraft, staircase already described. In one we have to similar craft to do the work typical dug-out each section of a platoon for us, so we must continus to risk Then there is the British Army itself had its allotted places for messing and valuable ships and valuable lives in the the new British Army-the Army which sleeping, its own place for parade in a performing the work, “Our Fleet" de will for ever be linked with Lord Kit passage, and its own emergency exit to clared Lord Montagu, must have eyes chenor's name Night and day, week 1, the trench. In another, used as week out, without rest or pause, the great dressing station, there are beda for 39ought to urge the Admiralty to accelerate as the German Navy has eyes, and we new British Army
is storming and patients and a fair-sized operating room. the building of airships so that our in thandering on the German lines with A third, near Manetz, was designed to mense superiority in strength and num courage never excelled in history and house a whole company of 300 men, with bere may not be dissipated by lack of with a devotion and sacrifice which no the needful kitchens, provision and facilities for reconnaissance.** troops of any country have ever sur munition store rooms, a well, a forge passed. It is too early for us to say what riveted with sheets of cast iron, an craft in the fighting line Lord Montag Austria from the north-eastern shore of
To the excellence of our military air will be the full and final consequences and effects of the tremendous battle that engine-room, and a motor-room. Many has been taking place upon the Somme, of the captured dug-outs were thus lighted paid a high tribute. He mentioned that our latest type of machine had already bat we can at any rate say that no by electricity.
Sir Arthur Evans, President of the braver troops have ever marched to war
"In the officers' quarters there have been brought down 27 Fokkers and that for than those which have attacked and taken found full-length mirrors, comfortable weeks at a time no German aeroplane Association, said he had very friendly the German lines.
bedsteads, cushioned arm-chairs, and was seen over some parts of the British feelings toward Italy, but he had also some pictures. One room is lined with line. If the Navy were equally well of the Adriatic, where in the country lived for several years on the east coast glazed sanitary wall paper, and theplied the enemy would not be able, as in districts the population was largely Then there is the air. And there, too, present English occupant is convinced by the Battle of Jutland, to race back to glavonic, and he hoped they might even-
circumstantial evidence that his pre- port. On the contrary, a battle would decessor lived there with his wife and caste which would result in a final and tually be able to build up a south Slav child. Clearly there was ao expectation forces. He asked what was to happen cost of Istria were Italian, in sentiment, Italian overwhelming disaster to the German civilization. All the States on the west
State very largely permented by
our airmen have obtained over the enemy of an early move. in the Beld of battle. We cannot but oc
to cur air service when peace was de and nobody could doubt that Italy ought struck by the fact that we are getting a
clared, and that, in his opinion, was to get Trieste and Fols, on the condition, greater mastery of the problem of dealing Other German trench works show the probably a year off yet. Our aircraft however, that Trieste, should be a free with the German airships than we have same lavish use of labong as the dug-service must be continued, for we were city and a free port. Italy must secure ever had before. We cannot hut he struck outs. In the old German front trench no longer an island. In future, Eng herself en the Adriatic, but she must do by the fact that the hornets (laughter) south of La Boisselle an entrance like land would be menaced not by a score of so by wise meada, If she had the west are learning to ly by night as well as by that of a dug-out, leads to a flight of 24 Fairships, or a hundred or two of uero coast of Istria, the arsenal of Pals, and day, and you will wish me in your name stairs, all well finished. At their foot planes, but by forces infinitely greater the key points of Bologna and Brindisi to express the congratulations which we a landing three feet square opens on After the war we should require an air and certain islands, she would do very all feel, the pride we all feel, in that its further side upon ancarly vertical defence all round our 2,000 miles of well. If she tried to do more she would supreme act of a new prowess of a single shaft. Descending this by a ladder of coast, and in some parts the stations do it at her own risk and at the risk of man by which the young officer the other 39 rungs, you find a second landing like could not be more than 20 miles distant certain war within a limited number of night sent to its doom one of these the first, opening on a continuation of from each other. That would mean a years. Why should we, he saked, who accursed engines of destruction. Cheers) the shaft. Down this a ladder of 60 permanent force of 20,000 seroplanes, at sympathized with Italy in freeing Venice I have heard it said that this country rungs brings you to the starting point a cost of 15 millions, which five Dread and Lombardy, not now sympathize also is divided into optimists and pessimists of an almost straight level tunnel three noughts cost already, and a force of with Serbia in seeking development: If Well, it may be so, but there is only this feet wide and about five feet high, aut
Italy did not alienate this new nation- one difference between the optimist and the pessimist. The optimist thinks we through pure, hard chalk. It ends in a
ality, she might look forward to peaceful settlement in that region, but on no other are winning the war by the aid of the blank wall. This right underneath a
What, he asked in conclusion, are we tervis, Government, and the pessimist thinks we huge crater which had evidently been are winning the war in spite of the held, and probably made, by British going to do with regard to our own air Government (laughter), but in all classes troops. So that, at the moment of the service in the future 2 He suggested of our countrymen there is no division advance in July, nothing remained, pre that the Air Board should be given com- of opinion as to what the ultimate out sumably, for the Germans to do but to plete control, at least on the supply come will be. The great strength which bring the necessary tons of high explo- side, and that there should be one united - The Austro Germans are furious that our country has shown is a source of sive to the end of their tuanel, and blow air service for the United Kingdom or the munitions with which they furnished pride to every one. The unanimity with the mine under the base of the old even for the Empire.
Bamanis during the months unmediately which our Empire has rallied to the crater. Like an incomplete dug-out near Motherland in the great cause justifies Fricourt, this mine still contains part
now be used against them. As s and vindicates British institutions. It of the machinery used for winding up 3s over two years since the war began, the excavated chalk to the surface,
an uncleared dug out of the kind. On matter of fact, the supplies involved in- and I well remember feeling at that time
the other hand, when an Allied advance claded not only vast quantities of 3 and German trench work is therefore more profoundly, convinced that in declaring elaborate than ours, but there is made good, every German left in such inch shells, but at least thirty batteries tos at a dug-out will be either a dead man or 150,000 rifles and 20,000 cavalry carbines of the latest Krupp * 75's," together with war on Germany our country, had per mean that it is better. formed the most noble deed in all its size and the overhead strength of Gerdug-outa give more protection from very should not, moreover, be surprised to
a prisoner. No doubt, again, the German of the latest Austrian patterns. history. We have gone through a lot man dug-outs keep down casualties since then-terrible losses, many disasters, under bombardment and sometimes en bad weather than ours. But, they also learn that a number of big Krupps and bitter disappointment but I never felt able the Germans to bring up anns and there is nothing to show that the built submarines destined to Bulgaria remove men more from the open air Skoda Bowsiness and section of German- more sure than I do now that the course pected forces to harass our troops in the hall-buried German Army gains more and Turkey had been duly detained by we took two years ago was absolutely rear with macine-gun and rifle fire by relative immunity from rheumatism the Rumanian Customs suthorities w right, and that our children will live to when a charge has carried our mes past and bronchitis than it loses in the way that they could now be used against the bless the day and to glorify the deed. (Cheers.)
(Continued at foot of next Column.)・ of general health and vitality.-Timer. Huu!
100,000 officers and men, which was no more than the strength of our origina) Expeditionary Force
THEIR OWN WEAPONSI
Pheen the war or sinee its outbreak
Hello! Are you there? Oh, no. it's not nearly finished yet, and Haig's simply pouring shells
across into the Hun positions north of the Somme.
Hand grenades, too, are the order of the day, and our boys do REALLY GOOD WORK with them.
Eh! What's that? What do
they cost? Well, a £100 EXCHE- QUER BOND repre- sents about 800 band- grenades, and these in the hands bowler won't need my help to draw a mental picture.
of a fast
you
Lively picture, eh? Yes, the Hong- kong Bank gets the Bonds for you. Think it over. 111 ring off now. Bye- bye.
Hello! Did you think over that business about the Bonds? Yes, it's pretty certain now that an UNREMITTING PRESSURE on all fronts will lead straight on to Victory, and you can help in some mea- sure by lending money to the Government.
The least you can do is to convert all avail- able cash into EXCHE- QUER BONDS. The. HONGKONG BANK will buy them.
us
What do you say? Only 5 per cent.? Well, I don't think of
any should mind whether it's 5 per cent. or 6 per cent. so long as we get through with the War.
What's that? Oh. you're writing a chit
to the Bank now. Alright! I'll ring off Good-bye, old man.
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