1916-12-12 — Page 5

THE WAR.

THE

HONGKONG

BRITAIN'S NEW 7 GOVERNMENT.

"SPLENDID EXPERIMENT."

OLIMAX APPROACHING IN

GERMAN

GREECE.

MARITIME OUTRAGES.

BIG BATTLE IMMINENT

General,

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

BRITAIN'S)

GOVERNMENT:

TRIUMPH FOR MR. LLOYD

* GEORGE.

LONDON, December 11th.. An official announcement atates that the new Government War Cabinet will con- sist of Mr. Lloyd George; Lord Curzon, the Lord President (who will be leader in the House of Lords): Mr. Arthur Henderson and Lord Milner. the latter, two without portfolios.

IN ROUMANIA.

COMMENTS ON THE NEW.

GOVERNMENT.

DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12ra, 1916.

EARLIER CABLES.

The Balkans.

THE NEW CABINET.

A CHANGING SITUATION.

LONDON, December 8th, Conditions and political rearrange- ments change from day to day.

Things now seen to be re-shaping them. selves towards a Cabinet or War Council. of five, the names of Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Bonar Law, Lord Curzon, Mr. Hen- derson and Bir Edward Carson or Lord: Milner, being mentioned.

It is believed that the War Council will

be virtually in permanent session, pre- sided over by Mr. Lloyd George, and while the latter may lead in the House

ment of Parliamentary business to Mr.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.].

GREEK SITUATION MOST UNCERTAIN.

ATHENS, December 11th. The Government has protested against

the blockade. The situation is most un certain. Diplomatic circles are not optimistic and there are rumours of ministerial changes... an

KING CONSTANTINE'S INTENTIONS.

ATHENS, December 10th. While the Government announces that

the situation has improved, diplomatists

ROUMANIAN SITUATION.

THE FALL OF BUKHAREST.

PETROGRAD, December 9th. There is no disposition to minimise the seriousness of the fall of Bukharest, which is an important bentre of railways and roads, whereas the region to the east, whither the Russians and Rouma- nians retired, is lacking in communica- tions and is unsuitable for manœuvring. The few roads are congested with refugees, as, owing to the extraordinary speed of General Mackenser's advance, an orderly evacuation was prevented.

MILITARY JOURNAL'S WARNING.

LONDON, December 9th.. The Russky Invalid, a military organ,

FRENCH FRONT. NOTHING IMPORTANT TO REPORT

LONDON, December 10th. A French communiqué states:-There is nothing important to report.

Our aeroplanes heavily bombed a ruil- way station and military establishments at Martigny, Ham and Mons-en-Chausee ENEMY EXPLODES MINES,

PARIB, December 11th.

A communiqué states:-South-east of Butte-de-Mesnil the enemy exploded mines, and unsuccessfully attempted to possess the craters,

UNIVERSITY OF HONGKONG, DINNER AT ST. JOHN'S HALL The first annual dinner for past and

of Commons he will delegate the manage are reserved. It is stated that a friendly anticipates an offensive against Generat present undergraduates and their friends Honar Law. Thus Mr. Lloyd George wil7pirit prevailed at the audience which Barcail, and urges decisive action, not

King Constantine had with Sir Francis give his undivided attention to the direcElliot and M. Demidoff. His Majesty tion of the war. NEW FEATURES AND SURPRISES,

LONDON, December 11th

It is authoritatively stated that apart from a small war Cabinet of five, there will not be a Cabinet in the ordinary acceptation of the term. The activities

"A National Government at last" is the keynote of the newspapers, which are unanimous in regarding Mr. Lloyd George's Ministry as a splendid experi- ment, even out-Cromwelling Cromwell. It is considered that Mr. Lloyd George has secured a considerable triumph in effecting the co-operation of such hostile elements as Mr. Hodge and Lord Devon of other Ministers will be purely, depart port. It is frankly admitted that the mental. This most startling feature of new Department has shivered political the new Government racets with general traditions for generations into fragments, approval, as it is admirably adopted to but the papers of all Parties unite in acute

secure au intense concentration on war cordial welcome to the new Government, problems. while intimating clearly that they await

An unique feature is that no fewer than

its performances before giving their final | seven of the new Ministers are prominent business men. Some of the appointments judgment.

indicate a

more stringent control of shipping, the dividing up of the Bourd of Trade work, the consolidation of rail- way serviors and the relief of the labour and coal problems,

Mr. Bonar Law, who is to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and will lead in the The feature of the comments is the Howe of Commons, will also be a mem complete obliteration of any criticism on her, but it is expected that he will attend old Party lines. The new Ministers are the War Cabinet meetings irregularly, being supported in the most unexpected The other members of the new Govern- quarters The Labour members appear most satisfied with the way in which Mr. Lloyd George has accepted their wishes. Lord Milner is regarded as a tower of Home Secretary, Mr. George Cave, strength, and it is pointed out that Mr.

K.C.

ment are as follow:-

Lord Chancellor.-Sir Robert Finlay.

Foreign Secretary-Mr, Balfour. Colonial Secretary,--Mr. Waltec Long- Secretary for War.-Lord Derby. Secretary for India-Mr. Austen

Chamberlain, President of the Local Government.

Bourd.-Lord Rhondda. President of the Board of Trude-Sir

Albert Stanley.

Minister of Labour. Mr. John Hodge. First Lord of the Admiralty.Sir

Edward Carson.

Lloyd George, in appointing some of the

The surprises include the Rt. Hon. Robert Munro, (formerly Lord Advocate of Scotland) Mr. RF froth to (Unionist M.P for the University of Oxford), and Sir Joseph Maclay. The

principal Ministers, must have had last-named is the recognised leafing regard for powerful local industrial authority on cargo shipping. connections; for instance: Lord Rhondda

The appointment of Lord Rhondda is

for Wales, Sir Joseph Maclay for Clas-probably in recognition of the efficient gow, Mr. Illingworth for Yorkshire and

manner in which he has carried out most Sir Frederick Cawley for Lancashire,

important duties in America on behalf of the Ministry of Munitions.

It is explained that the expedient of an Inner Cabinot plus the War Couricil has been found impracticable. It is pre sumed, however, that the heads of the great departments will be summoned to a Cabinet convoked to discuss questions

Minister of Munitions.-Mr. C. Addi outside the war.

EDU.

1

Another far-reaching innovation is the Minister of Blockude. Lord Robert Government's determination to establish

Cecil.

Food Controller.-Sir Joseph Maclay. President of the Board of Agriculture,

Mr. B. E. Prothero. Bresident of the Board of Education.-

· Professor H. A. L. Fisher, Vice- Chancellor of Sheffield University. Commissioner, of Works-Sir Alfred

Moud,

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Sir Frederick Cawley. Pust Master General-Ur.

Wingworth.

Minister of Pensions-Mr.

Barnes.

Percy

George

Attorney General Sir F. E. Smith,

K.C.

Solicitor General. Mr. Gordon Hewart,

K.C.

Secretary for Scotland. The Rt. Hon.

Robert Munro, K.C

s.system of Parliamentary Commissions, after the French model, whereby members will be kept in closer touch with the Government.

LORD CURZON ENGAGED.

LONDON, December 10th, The ongagement is announced of Lord Curzon to Mrs. Duggan, of Argentina, the widowed daughter of the late Mr. Hinds, who was at one time American Minister to Rio de Janeiro.

COLD WATER FOR AMERICAN PEACE ADVOCATES.

NEW YORE, December 11th. Speaking at a dinner of the Pennsyl vania Bociety, Mr. Davis, Solicitor General, poured cold water on the peace declaring that peace Lord Advocate.-Mr. J. A. Clyde, K.C. advocates, Solicitor General for Scotland. Mr. proposals at the present moment were brutal, impertinent and useless. Neither T. B. Morison, K.C. Lord Lieutenant of treland Lord the United States nor any other country

Wimborne.

was entitled to dictate terms on which Chief Secretary for Ireland. - Mr. the belligerents were to corapose their

Duke, K.C.

Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Tho Bt.

Hon. Ignatius O'Brien, K.C.

NEW MINISTRY CORDIALLY WELCOMED.

LONDON, December 11th,

All the papers cordially welcome the new Ministry, and pay a tribute to Mr. Lloyd George's courage in casting aside

differences.

DEATH OF PRINCE OYAMA.

TORIO, December 11th. The death is announced of Marshal- Prince Oyama, Lord Keeper of the Seal

Professor Fisher (Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University) and Sir A. E. Stanley (manger of the London Tubes and Omnibus Co.) are not at precont members of the House of Commons. Sir Robert Finlay bas stipulated that he should waive his pension right.

LONDON, December 11th. The Ministry includes the following Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Frederick Cawley, (Liberal M.P. for S. E. Lancashire and Chairman of the Heaton Milla Bleaching Company); Soli- citor General for Beotland, Mr. T. B. Morison, K.C.

A MODIFIED TRIBUTE.

LONDON, December 9th. The Times pays a tribute to the breadth of vision and courage manifested in the composition of the Ministry, but regrets the mention of Mr. Balfour and Lord Robert Cecil for the Foreign Office and

Mr. Walter Long for the Colonial Office, on the ground that freshness and rigour

are specially needed in both offices;

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S POSITION.

LONDON, December 8th The Times anys that Mr. Chamberlain will remain at the India Office. INDIAN COAL PROHIBITION.

LONDON, December 9th. The Times says that coal exporters are exercised at the Raj's prohibition of the export of the better quality Indian coal, They doubt whether the effect on a coaling station like Colombo is grasped by the authorities, as it will curtail the steaming powers of calling liners..

RUSSIAN RESOLUTION."

PETROGRAD, December 10 The Council of Empire has passed resolution urging "the destruction" of clandestine responsible influences in [The deceased, who was born in 1842, was

affairs of State "; the formation of a *д ax-Commander-in-Chief of the Man real working Government united by a churian Army. He as created a Count in well-defined programme, relying on the 1884, Marshal in 1586, and became a Prince confidence and good will of the country,

with the Legislature with powerful national effort for final triumph Lover the enemy,

denied hostile intentions, and offered to withdraw three regiments from Thessaly and to entrust French destroyers with the guarding of Corinth canal and the Chalcis bridges.

**TRAITOR TO THE NATION."

CANEA, December 11th. A meeting of the whole population passed a resolution dethroning King Constantine, and cursing him as a traitor to the nation Greek troops who wero present torn off their budges.

ROUMANIANS ON THE

OFFENSIVE.

RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

PETROGRAD, December 10th. A communiqué says:--There has been a continued advance in the Trotus, Salty and Cheboniacha valleys. ~The Roumanians have taken the offer sive along the Bun Plccshti road, and drove back the enemy Grikovul river.

behind the

A Berlin communiqué mentions that the Bussians have captured a height soath of Trotus, and that General von Mackensen is advancing east of Wal- lachia

SAFE-GUARDING BUKHAREST.

JAISY, December 11th Prior to the loss of Bukharest the Government appointed pro-Germans to the most responsible positions, with a view to safeguarding the city.

EARLIER CABLES,

AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS

IN GREECE.

PREPARING FOR THE WORST.

ATHENS, December 8th. No demands have yet been formulated in writing...

The personal luggage of diplomatists was sent to the Piraeus this morning. GREEK TREACHERY FEARED.

only on the part of Russia, but on other Allied fronts as well. It says the enemy must be prevented from establishing winter quarters in Central Roumania and the Danube lowlands, whence he will be fortified with a six months' food sup- ply and will be able to attack Salonika, after which he can attack the Russian main front in the Spring..

"A BULGARIAN REPORT.

LONDON, December 10th. A Bulgarian communiqué statęs: -The Russians and the Roumanians are retir ing north-eastward from the left bank of the Danube, between Turtukai and Cernavoda.

We crossed the Danube noar Turtukai, and captured the town of Oltenitza, which the enemy had previously looted.

We also crossed near Silistria,

The Russian act Bre to the town Kalarash and the surrounding villages.

Naval Activities.

LATEST CABLES.

of

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

HIGH SEAS OUTRAGES.

BRITISH MERCANTILE CAPTAIN

TAKEN PRISONER.

AMSTERDAM, December 10th, A submarine has taken prisoner James Blaikes, captain of the Anchor line vessel,

Caledonia.

A GERMAN SHUFFLE.

AMSTERDAM, December 10th

A Berlin message, justifying the sink- ing of the Anchor line vessel Caledonia in the Mediterranean on the 1th inst., states that the ship rammed a submarine, which was not waiting to attack. Before shy was struck the submarine torpedood the Caledonia, which was sunk. submarine was slightly damaged.

was held at St. John's Hall, the Univer sity last night.

The Acting Warden (Rev. E. Martin, M.A.) was in the chair, and the guest of the evening was the Colonial Secretary supported by the Bishop of Victorin (Hon. Mr. Claud Sovern), who was Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G, Mr. J. R. Wood, Mr. S. W. Tse, Dr. F. T. Jemo, Ph.B., Rev. E. Bryant, B.D., Professors Smith, Hinton, Matthewman and Earle representing the three Faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Arts), and the About fifty Wardens of other Hostels. wore present.

The Hoa. Mt. Severn, proposed the toast of St. John's Hall," and men- tioned that it was the first hostel of the He University to be opened in 1912. looked upon its position as similar to that held by Keble College at Oxford, or his own College, Belwyn, at Cambridge, only that St. John's Hall was not the junior, but the senior Hall of ita University. Ho also referred to the success of students in their studies, no loss than twelve out of the twenty-six new graduates being members of St. John's Hall. Similarly in the field of sport, St. Johns' Hall held the cup for tennis doubles, and was well represented in the various athletic teams. Mr. Severn specially named the two. University champions, Messrs. Wong Po Kie and Wei Wing Lok, the latter of whom has already won two tennis cham- pionships in America since leaving St

John's last term.

The Rev. W. H. Hewitt, B.D., replied. to the toust as the fret Warder of St. John's Hall. Speaking of the conferring of degrees on Thursday next, he reminded the students that the office of Chancellor, held in Hongkong by H.E. Sir Henry. May, was originally held in Western Universities by a Bishop whose duty it was to see that the Professors taught nothing

bus pure truth. The old custom had changed, and the speaker thought it was a good change, leaving Professors and students a greater liberty to seek truth along all the paths of knowledge. wherever the truth might lead them. the connection between religion and the pursuit of knowledge romains, and he believed it essential to put high ideals before students. St. John's Hall filled that place in the Uuiversity.

A smoking concert followed the dinner.

|HONGKONG'S WATER SUPPLY

The water return shows that on Decem bor 1st, the storage in the City and Hill district was 538.80 million gallons against 654.96 million gallons on the same date last year. The consumption in the same district during Novembor, by an esti mated population of 26,419, was 138.22 The million gallons, or an average daily consumption per head of 17:3 gallons. In November, 1916, an estimated population of 262,810 consumed 118.10 million gallons, or 149 gallons per head per day.

LONDON, December 11th. The British-India vessel Tanfield is believed to have been suük,

EARLIER CABLES,

PIRACY,

BRITISH SKIPPER TAKEN PRISONER.

LONDON, December 9th. The Daily Chronicle, correspondent in the Piracas telegraphed on December 5th as follows:-The Greeks occupy vantage Points near Athens and the Piraeus, and

digging trenches and mounting guns sank. The captain has been made pri-

everywhere.

Strenuous efforts are being made to place a strong army in the Larisss region, with the object of falling on the Allied rear, in conjunction with a Bulgarian attack

German-

PLAYING FOR TIME.

LONDON, December 9th. The Times demands that strong mea sures be taken against King Constantine, who is playing for time.

ULTIMATUM BY THE ALLIES.

LONDON, December 10th, Router's correspondent at Athens learns on good authority that the Entente will present an ultimatum to Greece to-day.

BRITISH CARRY TURKISH POSTS.

LISBON, December 10th. The British ship Britannia, has been

soner and twenty-three of the crew land. ed. Fifteen of the crew are missing,

THE "DEUTSCHLAND?? ARRIVES.

AMETERDAM, December 10th, The Deutschland has arrived off the Weser, after making a zapid voyage... Franco-Helgian Front.

EARLIER CABLES.

TAZOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

BRITISH FRONT.

RETALIATORY BOMBARDMENT.

LONDON, December 11th.

In Kowloon reservoir, the storage on December 1st, was 312.10 million gallons against 387.00 million gallons on the saine day last year. The consumption during the month was 28.09 million gallons by an estimated population of 99,050, or 12.4 gallons per head per day. In November, 1915, an estimated population of 60. consumed 24.47 million gallona, or 1.8 gallons per head per day. The Govirus ment analyst's report states that the water is of excellent quality.

CROWN COLONIES AND WAR

SERVICE.

The case of Mr. R. Leslie Melville, a. Ceylon planter, late of Tellisford, Keu dangalawa, was brought before the Beach, at home for a decision, Capt. the Reed claming him for servico in Tonbridge Court. The Tonbridge Free Press (Kent) gives the following report of the proceedings

Capt. Reed stated that Mr. Melville was a Caylon tes planter, having been there for 16 years, but he had sold his property and was now resident in Eng land

Mr. Molville said Ceylon was his residence. He was only here for the benefit of his health. He had been here, since February 28th.

The Chairman: Do you say you ́ arə not an ordinary resident

this country? Mr. Melville: Ceylon is my home. The Clerk: It is not a question of

domicila.

The Chairman: Have you any ties in

Ceylon

Mr. Melville: All my money and my work.

The Captain: Anyone may have Gen, Sir Douglas Haig, in a communi-money there. What work are you doing?

qué, saya:In retaliation for the enemy's shelling of areas behind our front north of the Ancre we bombarded heavily various points behind his line. Hostile

VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUELS.

PARIS, December 11th.. There has been violent reciprocal artil-parties were dispersed to the east of

and Bake Berre, and Gommecourt Wood. traditions in order to obtain the best in 1907. He took part in the Japan-China and consequently capable of collaboration ory firing at Monastir

There has been much reciprocal artil On the oth instant the British carried lery fire in the salient in the Loos Turkish parts south of Berres,

and Hulinch sectors.

pen to carry on the war.

war, when he was Commander-in-Chief of The Cabinet has been confined to fire the Second Army, which took part in the War Cabinet Ministers.

capture of Wei-hai-wei ant Port Arthur.)

Dotran

to #

Mr. Melville: I had a rubber planta- tion.

The Chairman: You are not engaged in any work at present 1

Mr. Melville: Not at present. Mr. A. F. W. Johnson: I don't under- stand how you say you are not under the Act,

The Chairman (after

consulting with?

his colleagues): We are of opinion that you do come within the Act.

Capt Reed aid he would give ample time for Mr. Melville to get medical ex sminativn,