1916-12-18 — Page 5

THE

THE WAR.

THE

GREAT FRENCH VICTORY: GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS BY EYE-WITNESSES.

THE GREEK CRISIS STILL ACUTE.

THE PEACE NOTES DESPATCHED.

IRISH RAILWAY STRIKES AVERTED.

Franco-Belgian Front.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH KRUTER'S AGENCY.] BRITISH FRONT. BOMBING PARTY FOILED.

LONDON, December 17th. General Sir Douglas Haig, in a com muniqué, styв:-A small enemy bombing party was caught by our barrage last night, to the north of Hill 60, on the Ypres salient -

Wo bombarded trenches to the north of Hullech and to the east of Neave Chapelle.

THE FRENCH VICTORY

VERDUN

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.

AT

next offensive. The artillery was brought close to the lines with the object of regulating the fighting. The weather

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18rm, 1918.

The Balkang”

LATEST CABLES.

[THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENOT.)

THE GREEK CRISIS.

ALLIES DEMANDS ACCEPTED.

ATHENS, December 16th. The Government have accepted the Allies' demands, and says that orders have already been given regarding the movements of troops and war material and will be carried out as rapidly as possible. The transfer of material wards will immediately cease.

THE PEACE PROPOSALS.

COUNT BERNSTORFF INTER-

VIEWED

NEW YORK, December 17th. Count Bernstor, interviewed, indi- cated that Germany hoped that President Wilson would arrange a Peace Conference at the Hague. He said the peace terms would remain in abeyance until the Plenipotentiaries had assembled.

AMERICA'S ATTITUDE.

LONDON, December 17th. The Daily News Washington correspou deat states that American representatives ia Europe have been instructed to con north-fidentially report the real purpose of the German Note and its reception by the Entente. If Mr. Lloyd George on Tuesday re-affirms M. Briand's sentiments President Wilson will decline to identify himself with the German proposals. There is no intention of joining other neutrals in addressing the Entente..

THE ALLIES ULTIMATUM.

ATHENS, December 17th.

of

There are indications that the Govern- ment will accept the Allies' ultimatum in principle.

THE ALLIES' OBJECT.

FABIB, December 17th. It is stated that the object of the Allies demands is to provent large numbers of Greek troops concentrating in Thessaly.

ALLIES WILL ACT WITHOUT DELAY.

PROPOSED ARBITRATION. Regarding the events of the 1st December, the Government submits its proposal of arbitration. It trusts that the Powers will re-consider their decision further delayed the attack, but it cleared to continue the blockade, which is strain- after a night of rain and snow. Our gunsing the relations and impressing public silenced the enemy artillery an hour opinion. In conclusion the Note dwells before the attack.

We destroyed the on the desire of the Government and villages of Vaucherauville, Louvement people for a resumption of the excellent traditional relations with the Entenit, Works, Hordaumont, and BezonVaux.

based upon reciprocal confidence: The last-mentioned was almost empty. Seven deserters appeared at our lines on the eve of the attack, the remnant of a German company. Unprecedent rapidity and enthusiasm characterised the move- ments of our infantry, and obstacles like ravines were cleared in the swiftest manner. All our objectives were attained by the hour fixed. The Germans must have felt up to the last uncertain as to the point of attack. They certainly Reuter's correspondent at Verdun writ-expected it on the left side of the Mouse, ing on the 16th inst., says: witnessed as it was there they chiefly barraged.

THE GENERALS IN THE BIG the battle. It was a clear winter morn- ing. The battlefield was soaked with

SUCCESS.

PARIS, December 16th. many weeks, rain, and the ground was

The newspapers state that General in n.condition to prove most exhausting for infantry. In front of me was the Nivelle organised, General Petain direct. long wale-backed line on Pepper Hilled, and General Tangin lod yesterday's height, 330 metres in length, and on the attack at Verdun. One result of the right of it was the flat, battered crest of operations, in which half-a-dozen Divi- Douaumont, on which huge Germansions participated, was that the French shells were barsting. Between Pepper regained the loftiest hill in the district, Hill and Froideterre Ridge, of which which the Germans had been using for Dougumont is the highest point, stood out observation poets. The French captured the ridge of Loaremont, which no one 75 guns and destroyed many others. expected to be captured to day. The FOUR DIVISIONS BEAT FIVE. allack on Pepper Hill was carried out.

LONDON, December 18th. with the chronometric precision characteristic. of the new French battle tnetics,

LONDON, December 27th.

|

PAKIS, December 17th. It is stated that in view of a certain danger the Allies have decided to act without delay in Atheus.

RUSSIAN WARSHIPS ACTIVE. BOMBARD BULGARIAN PORT.

LONDON, December 16th,

A Russian communiqué reports minor. operations on the Western Carpathian fronts.

The enemics advance in the

Oituz valley was repulsed.

Bussian warships bombarded the port of Baltchek with a view to the destruction of Bulgarian Aour mills,

BOMBARDMENT OF MONASTIR

COPYING HUN METHODS.

LONDON, December 16th. A Serbian communiqué states that the Hulgarians, without military accessity, bombarding Monastir, killing civilians.

are

BULGARIANS

REPULSED.

A French communiqué states that the four French Divisions which yesterday attacked between the Meuse and Woevre The French infantry rushed on with defeated five. German Divisions, of which absolute confidence, advancing on the all the regiments were in notion, and took very edge of their artillery barrage. As prisoners from every one. The enemy they crossed to the German trenebes one did not counter-attack during the night. saw clearly, as at a training demonatra

SUCCESS FOLLOWS SUCCESS. tion, from the rear, an unbroken line of

LONDON, December 16th. PARIS, December 17th.

An official report from Salonika staten: milky smoke-bursts, marking the grenade

An isolated attack on our new positions A communiqué states:-Following upon the Struma were repulsed, barrage by which the infantry sought to

our success on the right of the Meuse, we smother the enemy resistance before leaping on him at close quarters. Moving tured the village of Beron Vaux.

progressed in Caurieres Wood and cap-

bands of fire and flying steel moved steadily up the great shoulder of the bill, violent German attack at Pepper Hill at

unchecked by the Boches. Where one line

The Royal Navy shelled hostile entrenchments to the east of. Neohori,

General. A

the close of yesterday was decisively

LATEST CABLES, (THROUGH ZEUTER'S AGENCY.] ́

GERMANY SURPRISED AND MENACING.

PANTO IN TOKIŰ,

TOKIO, December 17th. Germay's peace proposals have been received with surprise. There was panic on the Stock Exchange. Shipping skarca tumbled and others followed. The Stock Exchange was closed until the 16th instant. It is not believed in authorita- tive circles that the Allies will consider the proposals..

SUNDAY GOLF.

REV. J. K. MACONACHIE'S VIEWS.

The Rev. J. K. Maconachia preached on" The Sunday Question " at the

Union Church yesterday morning, his remarks being based on the text-" I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day" (Rev. i,, 10).

The rev. gentleman said that where the "Beat Day" (Sunday) was misspeut and dissipated its purpose of fitting us for six days' work could not be attained. Monday morning had an unfortunate reputation in too many circles. The "Rest Day" was meant to be spent quietly, sacredly, happily, remembering that man does not live by work alone nor for it alone.

THE "BOOTCH SUNDAY.

The old-fashioned Bunday, as it is called (proceeded the preacher), was too

But

BRITISH TRADE WITH

PORTUGAL.

SENHOR GOMES VISIT,

Senhor Carlos Gomes, President of the Lisbon Chamber of Commerce and a re- presentative of Portugal at the late In- ternational Conference in Paris, returned

Lisbon on November 14th, on the con clusion of a visit to Great Britain, the primary object of which (says Reuter) was to bring about a closer commercial understanding between England and Portugal.

During his stay in London he placed the Chambers of Commerce. As a result a detailed statement of his views before of his efforts it has been decided to form a committee with a view to uniting the work of existing institutions and to en- courage a closer study of prevailing con- in England and also British trade with ditions, both as regarde Portuguese trade Portugal, and thus to bring into practi- cal effect the recommendations of the Paris Conference.

Sir A. K. Rollit, presiding at; a fare- well luncheon given to Senhor Gomes by the Angio Portuguese Chamber of Com merce at Claridge's Hotel, recalled the AMSTERDAM, December 17th. priced at the coolness of the Allies to a remember it can testify to that.

The latest German newspapers are sur-often a day of gloom. Those of us who long alliance between Portugal and Eng- land, and expressed satisfaction that Portuguese forces were ready again to coward movement. They are blaming still I do not suppose any of us likes to 5ght shoulder to shoulder with us on the Britain and adopting a menacing tone.

battlefields of Europe. If our trade hear it caricatured, as it very often is, supremacy in Portugal had been struck especially when it is called the "Scotch at by Germany it must be remembered Sunday," which it is not exclusively by which differential treatment was favour- that a state of things had existed in any means. Well do I remember those able to Germany. Now, thanks to work Sundays in early days. They were strict, representatives on both sides, among them Senhor Gonies, a commercial treaty though not in my own home the very had been framed which substituted justice strictest. The children were very much and opportunity for privilege. kept in and kept quiet; reading was said that in the carly part of the 19th Senhor Gomes, who spoke in Freneit, restricted; play forbidden. There were century, English commerce was establish-

ed at Lisbon in all its strength. (a good many dull hours, and we did not

recent years. Great Britain had been pre- see the reason of a good many things occupied with the extension of her

Colonial Empire.. which had to be done or left undone.

The friendship be tween Great Britain and Portugal had. Bat when I look back on those days and boon kept up, but there was now much room for the development of both the try to estimate the real effect of them I

economic and intellectual relations of the cannot say with any conviction that it two countries

In the war they were would have been well had they been working together. Portugal was not only GERMANY CANNOT BE TRUSTED. greatly different. I remember how it was glad to have the honour of appearing prepared to make sacrifices in Africa, but NEW YORK, December 17th. was in the little kirk at the top of the in the European theatre of war at the The World says that the great obstacle to peace is the deep conviction in bellbrae, where my father ministered inside of her ancient Ally. (Cheers) gerente and neutrals alike that Germany bleak Aberdeenshire.. cannot be trusted.

JAPAN'S VIEW.

LONDON, December 17th. Replying to Mr. Lloyd George's official notification of the new Cabinet, the Premier of Japan has telegraphed that he is confident the new Government will prosecute the war with constant deter- mination to secure complete and lasting victory. Ho rejoices that Lloyd George shares this feeling."

THE NOTES DESPATCHED.

WASHINGTON, December 17th. The Austro-German and Turkish Peace Notes have been despatched to the stente capitals unaccompanied by any United States expression of opinion. THREATENED RAILWAY

STRIKES AVERTED.

GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER IRISH RAILWAYS.

LONDON, December 17th. Threatened stirkes on Irish railways have been averted through an announce ment by Mr. Redmond that the Govern ment had decided to take over the Irish railways similarly to those in Britain, DUTCH STATE LOAN.

THE HAGUE, December 17th. The First Chamber has unanimously passed a Bill authorising the issue of a 4 per cent. State loan of 125 million

florins.

NEW PAYMASTER-GENERAL.

LONDON, December 17th. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Compton Rickett has been appointed Paymaster General.

PRINCE ALBERT'S BIRTHDAY.

CREATED A K.C.G.

LONDON, December 17th. Prince Albert has been created a Knight Companion of the Garter on the occasion of his twenty-first birthday.

Bloven o'clock

FIGHTING GERMAN INTRIGUE

IN RUSSIA

In

Speaking at a great gathering in the Town Hall at Petrograd on November 9th, under the auspices of the Society of the British Flag, which has been re- named the Russo-British Society, Sir George Buchanan, the British Ambas sader, said:-

The mission of the society is to pro-

drew near and old Mary Anderson--who could remember every head of the longest sermon, and would have thought a ser- mon without heads as odd as a -comet without a tail--appeared and opened the door. The "soular" and the smith strolled op from the near-by hamlet; crofters made their ways across the fields, and from far and near drove in the farmera gigs and dog-carts, carrying father and mother and a handsome over- load of sturdy Inds and sonsy Inases, Acattered, many of them, over the wide te a lasting friendship between the face of the world to-day, but, whereever wo Bations by removing any falso they are, living out the habits of self-conceptions which either may have forth- they learned in no small degree from and policy. It would, however, be na reliance, perseverance and prebity which ed of the other's national idiosyncrusiej the discipline of the very" Scottish easy task, for Germany has friends in Nabbath, which every thirsty tourist, both countries, and in Russia moro es- vexed because he find the public housespecially her agents are over endeavouring closed to him, anathematises. We do not to poison the mind of the public against they were; but we will not anathe agents are saying that she might already ask to have the old customs back just Great Britain, In Russia the German matise them. And when we hear them have made peace on advantageous terms they had not better results on human that she has absolutely nothing to gain ancered at we may sak for proof that had not Great Britain prevented it, and character than the average modern Sun in prolonging the war or sacrificing more day.

of her children's lives if Great Britain alone is to profit from it. Such senseless I cannot lay down the law in detail as lies might be treated with the contempt to other people's lives and do not pre- they deserve were they not circulated for sume to coerce their corsciences, but I the purpose of undermining the Anglo- will venture to give some suggestions as Russian Alliance and paving the way for to how a Christian Sunday may be wisely spent. For one thing, people should go » premature poace.”” to church. I know as well as anybody that church-going is not everything

CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

that some people who do not go to church asked for and those who arranged theso. may be better than some who do I kuow early services; but that is the impression that and all the other things that are generally given. No doubt the plan is a said on the subject. But if you believe well-meant effort to meet people on their sion of it, and if you are any sort off that kind we must see they don't in- in God you should make public confes own ground, but when we make efforts Christian you have no right to weaken volve a lowering of the flag. There are the general Christian teatimony by a great objections to sectional worship as 8 senting yourself from its public mani-

regular thing. All classes and ages the day be spent quietly? I do not mean there are no distinctions. Have those dumbly and glumly, but I do mean with

repulsed. Wo maintained the whole of INDIA AND COTTON. THE FATE OF CAPTAIN festation. After that may I advise that should worship in common, for in Christ

was smoke-blocked another crept up on the left or right, and soon the whole line our new front. The prisoners flowing in up till now exceed 9,000, including 250 would be reprogressing. In an hour the

officers. The material which fell into our German barrage bad retreated to the far hands is still uncounted, but si guns wore aide of the crest, and in less than two hours the whole position was captured.

captured or destroyed. By midnight 1,200 prisoners and a num Narat Activities. her of guns had been taken bere.

LATEST CABLES. (TUROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

AEROPLANES,

EFFECTIVE BOMB WORK IN SERBIA.

Already other lines of smoke were launched from Douaumont, which was continuously smoking like a volcano NAVAL under German shell-bursts, and from Foideterre. Climbing up the face of the Louvemont Height by a similar swoop the "French troops captured Bezonvaux Work. It was a glorious day for the aviators, nho, flying low over the advancing lines, aeroplanes effectively bombed Razlovei, were returning with exact information to the oust of Istip in Serbia. of the progress of the attack, and pur-

The

LONDON, December 16th. An Admiralty report states that naval

LATEST CABLES.

Bing and machine-gunning the fleeing The Near East. Boches at a height of 600 feet. German air service was apparently paralyzed. Router's correspondent was four hours in the field and did not see a single enemy aeroplane. The victory is strategically important, depriving the enemy of most valuable observation posts. ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY,1

BRITISH ADVANCE IN

MESOPOTAMIA.

OUTPOST ESTABLISHED.

LONDON, December 17th. Professor Todd, of Nottingham Univer sity, in a paper read to the Society of Arts, on the Cotton Shortage, said that India was the only country from which there was any hope of obtaining an early increase of a million bafes yearly of new cotton. There was every reason to believe that India could maintain such an. increase cumulatively till the present crop was at least doubled.

A RISING IN PORTUGAL. PROMPTLY STAMPED OUT."

BLAIKIE.

STATEMENT DY SIR EDWARD CARSON.

LONDON, December 17th. Many representations are being made to the Government urging them to take steps to prevent Captain Blaikie sharing the fate of Captain Fryaft.

Sir Edward Carson has telegraphed the Navy League expressing entire sympathy question must be faced with earnestness with their views, and stating that the

and determination.

DRAFTS

O.N LIBBON, December 18th The Government have promptly stamp ed out a small rising in four places in the provinces without firing & shot. The ringleaders at Michede, and Santos have been arrested. Lisbon is undisturbed.

INDIA. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

LIVERPOOL BOILERMARKERS.

- DECIDE TO RESUME WORK.

LONDON, December 16th. In response to Mr. Hodge's telegram the Liverpool boilermakers to-day decided to resume work on Monday.

LORD RONALDSHAY'S

APPOINTMENT.

QUESTION IN COMMONS.

LONDON, December 17th...! In the House of Commons, in reply to Mr. Ginnell, Mr. Chamberlain stated that 29 & Traveller, as an Indian Public Ser LONDON, December 16th.

vice Commissioner, as a student of Indian affairs, and as a Member of the House PARIS, December 17th. An official report from Mesopotamia of Commons, Lord Bonaldshay had shown An Eye-Witness of the fighting at states:Our forces, advancing north-qualifications for the post to which he had himself possessed of quite exceptional Verdun says that the ground won on the wards on both banks of the river Hai, been appointed. The Government were much gratified that he would be able to 24th October was so broken that it had have established an outpost within

accept the post, and were completely, to be transformed into a workshop to three-quarters of a mile of the Tigris, confident he would increase therein the high reputation he had already made in construct 30 miles of road necessary for to the south of Kut.

other spheres.

SUGGESTED.

out excitement. That is good both for who want the special facilities considered body and soul, and it is due in part to the loss and discouragement their absenvo ones neighbours, whose principles and from the general worship occasions to even prejudices should be respected. I the cause of Christ? Have they con- think organised amusements should be sidered the effect in general lowering of avoided tournaments, partica, expeditions involving long jour-hour in a fortnight at a time which will regattas, large tone which this demand for a basty half-

neys and protracted absenice from home. Such affairs entail work both before and shout is bound to occasion

not interfere with what they really care after, their effect on the community is that they themselves are in danger of Do they see

is one in which your souls, if you have nothing, serving him just according to not good, and their general atmosphere offering to God that which costs them any regard for them, are pretty certain their own convenience I have heard & to be drawn away from higher things great deal of derision poured out on their and to lose any mered impressions they action-and that by people who make very may have received earlier in life.

SPECIAL SERVICES FOR GOLFERS.

little religions profession themselves. I do not echo that, but I do hope that the devotees of the game will consider a little demand is quite worthy. more closely and broadly whether their

>

I suppose anyone speaking on this sub- Ject at the present time will be expected LONDON, December 17th. The Times states that in view of the specially held for golfers, I do so with to say something about early services and in consequence of heavy imports and done by our neighbours, and part of our recent great demand for drafta on India, reluctance, because it touches something

BIT OF EMLIQIOUS FIDGIN, There is nothing new about the ides restricted exports, restriction of the safes duty to our neighbour is to AKSUIDO

that a bit of religious pidgin may be got of drafts will be felt very severely, and ordinarily that he knows his own bagi- over early in the morning, and the rest it is feared buyers will offer fancy prices. ness best. Still, it is everybody's busi of the day be go-as-you-please. It has It is therefore hoped that the India ness, for it concerns the whole status of always been in favour in sacerdotal Conneil will allot a stipulated amount of the Lord's Day amongst us. Besides churches. They must go their way, of drafts among the tenderers in proportion that direct invitations to attend these course; but thats no reason why wo to their requirements.

services have been sent to golf players who think differently should suppress our who belong to this congregation, which, views. And I must say it seems to me THE SILVER MARKET. of course, is an indirect invitation to

a desecration of Christian worship, and forsake their own Church. That must be especially of the Communion Service, to` LONDON, December 17th. somebody's blunder, but it is one that make it the passport to a day of mere Montagu's Report on the Silver Market should not have been made, neither should pleasure-taking. attributes the strength of the Market to an advertisement of such services be soul's day in any such way. The deplor Aou do not make it a the fall of 218 lakhs in the holding of the displayed in elab hooses, which are Indian Treasury, the greater use of silver not denominational property. But now, little wish to make the day the soul's in able thing is that there should be so currency, the approach of the Chinese don't you think we are losing our scuse New Year preventing sales from Chine of proportion about this game, importedbe so evident a desire to let ourselven off any serious sense, and that there should and making possible Chinese purchases in from the country of the Scotch Sab America, the unlikelihood of supplies bath and now playing a large part in out of the way, over and done with for as eseily as may be to get our religioa from China after the New Year, and the the destruction of the very idea of the day; put frat in time because it is production owing to difficulties in con possibility of a decreas in the world's Banbath It seems to rule our Colony. third or tenth in our interest. That is nection with Mexican mines.

After bread and butter it is the main all as un-Christian as can be. It is consideration. Public worship may essentially Judaism of the Rabbinical [Telegrams received on Saturday and but the game mual. The game's the kind: working by stint, asking how on Sunday morning and published in an thing I want to be fair. I do not sup-mach and meaning how little. Seek the on Sunday, will be found on pose that is in the mind of those who Lord's spirit if you would seep the Lord's page 6]

(Continued ut foot of neat Column.) day.

"Bziro