THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH,
KEY TO PEACE PROPOSALS:
GERMAN FOOD SHORTAGE.
THE SITUATION IN GREECE:
WARRANT FOR ARREST OF VENÉZELOS.
ECHOES OF THE VERDUN VICTORY:
OVER 11,000 PRISONERS.
Franco-Belgian Front,
EARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY,]
BRITISH ENTER GERMAN
TRENCH.
LONDON, December 17th. General Sir Douglas Baig reports:
trenches We successfully raided Renhart, inflicting casualties and bomb: ing deg-outs.
at
We entered trenches south-west of Wythaete, and destroyed a machine gun emplacement.".
BRITISH AVIATORS' GOOD WORK,
LONDON, December 18th.
The Air Board describeg successful bombing raids in France on Gerain artillory. Prisoners admit that large numbers of guns were directly hit as the result of the accurate observation of British aviators.
The Balkans.
BARLIER CABLES: (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
GRAVE NEWS FROM GREECE.
The enemy, blew a camouflet to the east BRITISH OFFICERS HAULED FROM of Ypres.
ANOTHER TRENCH RAID.
LONDON, December 19th. General Sir Douglas Haig, in a com- muniqué, "says:--We successfully entered onemy trenches to the south of Armen- a number of the tieres last night, killing occupants.
GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.
AMSTERDAM, December 18th.
A German evening communiqué saya:- There is moderate fighting in the west.
NEW FRENCH POSITIONS BOMBARDED.
PARIS, December 18th. An official message says:-On the right of the Mouse, our new lines from Vache-
raavills to Bezonyaux, and particularly the Chambrettes Farmi sector, were boin- barded. We replied.
THE VERDUN VICTORY.
GLORIOUS FRENCH ASSAULTS.
PARIS, December 18th.
The capture of Pepper Hill was the decisive event leading to the Verdun victory. The Germans were elinging. desperately to the Hill, when they were unexpectedly attacked in the rear. A debacle followed, and the enemy fled, casting away armis, munitions and equip ment. Our contingents cus off his retreat, and the enemy surrendered by the hund- red,
which
Further to the east, the powerfully fortílie Chambrettes Farm, on were found sixty machine guus, was gloriously assaulted by a weak force. A battery of eight-inch guns was found at ap adjacent point intret, and the gun
dead alongside, Big captures of munitions further testified to the
napleteness of the victory.
VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS.
FRENCH TAKE MANY PRISONERS:
PARIS, December 18th.
ners
A communiqué announces:-The Ger mans violently counter-attacked our new positions on the right bank of the Meuse, but did not succeed in gaining a foot ing, except at the farm at Chiambrettes, the immediate approaches to which we continue to hold. We have so far counted
11,387 prisoners at Verdun since Decem- ber 15th, including 294 officers. We cap tured or destroyed 115 guus, forty-four mine-throwers, and 107 machine-guns.
LIVELY ARTILLERY.
PARIS, December 19th. A communiqué says:-South the Somme there was fairly lively reciprocal artillery activity in the La Maisonette sector,
On the right of the Meuse, after s sharp fight, we ejected the enemy from Chambrettes Farm, the whole of which we have rocccupied. Two, machine guns have been captured.
STEAMER
ATHENS, December 18th.
The Allies have demanded reparation for the murdered soldiers, in the shape of È salute to their flag, the re-establish ment of Allied control of the services, an indemnity atid an amnesty for the Venizeliste.
It is expected that the blockade will be maintained till the conditions are ful-
filled..
The price of necessaries has risen thirty per cent, in consequence of the blockade
VENEZELISTS SHOT.
The Daily Chronicle correspondent at Athens says that three thousand Vene wists are in prison, and that three hand- red have been shot.
FRENCH SOLDIERS KILLED,
The Daily Mail correspondent at Syra, wiring on December 11th, reports gravo happenings in the provinces.
Greek officers seized guns and ammuni, tion under Allied control at Volo and Larissa.
At Trikkala, they expelled the con- trollers, who were insulted by crowds.
At Volo, a gang hauled British officers. from the steamer and throw the furniture for the British Control Offices into the
They also killed two French soldiers. and a Greek interpreter.
ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES.
ROUMANIAN ARMIES COM- PLETELY SAVED.
The Roumanian armies are completely saved, and are at present on the other side of the Sereth, where they are re
organising.
The Russians are holding the ground on all fronts, except that between Him
BLIND HEROES.
APPEAL BY SIR ARTHUR
PEARSON,
LONDON, December 18th. Sir Arthur Pearson makes the follow-
PARIS December 16th. Advices from Petrograd speak, of the onemy having suffered enomous lossing appeal to the Press of the world. He Wallachia.
begins with the request :-"Will you ask your readers to send New Year's gifts to help men blinded in the war? The num bers are increasing very rapidly, and we
blind workers. Nearly two hundred more. have nearly three hundred learning to be
are coming shortly from hospital. A ready one hundred and sixty have been taught to read by the Braille system, and to typewrite, and are settled in useful and profitable occupations. A large pet- manent fund is needed to ensure adequate manian plan has been carried out, and supervision and assistance for these and important fighting is impending,
SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS,
nicu Sarat and the Trotus region, where however, General Averesco is standing
firm.
General Brusillof bas moved to the
south
In South Moldavia, a vast Russo-Rou
LONDON, December 18th.
A British message from Salonika“ re- ports two successful raids on the Struma
front and at Lake Doiran,
Our aeroplanes have bombed Tumba station and drinaged a transport on the Ghevgli-Cherniste road.
RUSSIAN SUCCESSES.
PETROGRAD, December 18th
A communique says:-We have "eap tured a number of heights in the Car pathians, and have taken two, hundred prisoners.
We have repulsed enemy, counter- attacks there and in the regions of Fili. pesci and Dibbatogu, in Roamania.
GERMAN AIR ATTACKS.
AMSTERDAM, December 18th.
A German communiqué says:-Our air equadrons attacked the enemy retreating to Brails, with visible effeci.
Naval Activities.
BARLIER CABLES.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AORNOY.] GERMANS BOMB RUSSIAN WARSHIPS.
AMSTERDAM, December 18th
others who are following. Their courage, determination and rapidity in overcom- ing the handicap ure shown to be beyond all praise, We trust that those possessing the inestimable gift of sight will send a New Year thank-offering for the benfit cf those who have given their eyes for the Empire."
The above message is sent through the courtesy of the Eastern Extension Tele- graph Company from Sir Arthur Pear- son, St. Dunstan's, Regent's Park, Lon don.
WAR
ITALIANS DEMAND
COMMITTEE.
LOME, December 18th. A number of Members of Parliament are urging Signor Boselli to appoint a War Committee similar to that of the
to that of t British and the French
PEACE PROPOSALS.
GERMAN FOOD SHORTAGE,
LONDON, December 18th.
It is reported from Amsterdam that food shortage is the key to the German
Herr Batochi, twenty, four hours pre viously, told his auditors that the potato crop is only twenty million tons, as com A German evening communiqué repared with fifty million tons last year. ports:--German seaplanes boinbed RusThe grain crop is one-and-a-half million sion warships at Sulina and felled a hostile seaplane by machine-gun fire..
HORSE TRANSPORT SUNK.
SEVENTEEN AMERICAN MULETEERS KILLED,
LONDON, December 18th.
The Admiralty reports that an empty- west-bound British horse transport, the! Ruesian, waz submarined and sunk in the Mediterranean on the 14th instant.
Eleven, of the crew and seventeen:
American muleteers were killed. FRENCH TROOPSHIP SUNK.
PANIC ON STOCK EXCHANGE. According to Reuter's correspondent at Athens, there is a panic on the Stock Exchange in consequence of the blockade. TRANSPORT OF GREEK TROOPS.
According to Reuter's correspondent at Athens, the transport of Greek troops to Morea began on Saturday. The pas sage of trains was checked at Elusis station.. Allied officers and French war- ships at Patras and Corinth are super-ho vising.
WARRANT TO ARREST M. VENEZELOS.
CHARGE OF HIGH TREASON.
ATHENS, December 18th. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of M. Venerelos on a charge of high treason.
STRONG ENEMY ATTACKS.
PETROGRAD, December
th
NO LIVES LOST,
AMSTERDAM, December 18th..
A Berlin message reports the torpedo ing of the French troopship Magelasi (0,000 tous) with 1,000 on board.
A Marseilles telegram states that every-
was rescue:d.
OTHER SINKINGS,
LONDON, December 18th The following steumers have: heun sunk :--Westminster
Brack (British); (Norwegian), Michailoutchouhof (Dan- ish); Fala (Swedish); and the sailing Naind and Constance Mury vessels (British).
General.
LATEST CAELES..
[THROUGH REUTER'S ́AUENCY.]
A Russian communiqué saye ;—A strong enemy attack was repelled in the region CANADA'S SPLENDID RECORD, of Walerutna, at the point of the bayIN MANUFACTURE OF MUNITIONS. onet. We pursued the enemy and secured
s height.
Orawa, December 19th. " Canada has 600 munition works, on
On the Romaanium front, our cavalry which she is expending two and a half twice rushed to attack the enemy cavalry times the normal expenditure of the whole which was attempting to attack our retir-Dominion. ing troops in the region of Buzeu. The enemy did not accept battle, and retired behind the infantry.
GERMAN CLAIM.
AMSTERDAM, December 18th,
A German evening communiqué saga In the east, our army in the Dobradja gained ground northwards.
EARLIER CABLES.
SAFE CONDUCT FOR AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR.
LONDON, December 18th. The Foreign Office has granted Count Tarnowski, Austro-Hungarian Ambara dor at Washington, safe conduct to the United States.
tons short of the estimate, and the ex pectation of supplies from Roumania will "not be realised, as Hungary and Austria
aro already quarrelling over it.
The Koelnische Zeitung hints that Herr Koerber's fall is due to a quarrel with Count Tisza in connection with the cap- tures of Boumanian food.
JAPAN AGAIN NORMAL
TORXO, December 18th. The excitement due to the announce- ntent of the German peace proposals is now allayed.
PLIGHT OF SERBIAN PRISONERS.
LONDON, December 18th. The Serbian Legation reports that an escaped Russian priest describes the Ber bian prisoners in Austria as weak and They go in search of roots emaciated.
and sometimes beg. He never saw a more wistebød set of nien,
BRITISH NEARING KUT.
LONDON, December 18th. An official messago says that Colonel Maude has extended his hold on the Hai River, and has bombarded the Turkish positious with good results.
Cavalry discovered Turks constructing a bridge on the Tigris, six miles to the west of Kut-el-Amar. Our casualties were inconsiderable.
USEFUL CONSCIENTIOUS:
OBJECTOR
1910.
BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
AT NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB.
{THROUGH NEUTER'B AGENOT.]
LONDON, December 19th. Two championships were decided at the National Sporting Club.
In
. BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP..
20 round contest for
PLOTS
AGAINST THE ALLIES IN GREECE.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES.
Mr. J. M. N. Jeffries telegraphed to the Daily Mail from Athens on Novem- ber 7th:→→
The Venizelist Free Press publishes. 15 interview with an Allied "mili- tary officer whose name is not stated but who is understood to be French. The interview is practically a recapitulation the of the causes which have led to the pre-
the official Greek State..
heavyweight championship of Britain sent severe attitude of the Allies towards
met Sergeant- Staff Sergeant Wells Major Voyles. In the first round Voyles was sent
is sent down thrice, taking the count to eight on each occasion. In the second round Voyles was sent down other three times, and took the count to seven and nine. He was hardly able to raise himself and the referee intervened and declured Wells the winner. WORLD'S FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION
SHIP,
In the contest for the world's flyweight championship Wilde knocked out Zuia Kid, of America, in the eleventh round.
GERMAN TRADE NOT NEEDED.
Is it impossible to do without German trado? M. Sazonoff, the Russian atales man, does not think so; M. Poincaire, the French statesman, does not think so; Baron Beyers, the Belgian statesman, does not think so; Mr. Hughes, the Australian statesman, does not think so; the Germans do not think so. Early in this year the Basler Nachrichten, “dis- cussing the American demand for a cessation of submarine piracy, said:---
The first accusation this officer brings is that Greece by her equivocal attitude ruined Servin, not merely, as it is gene- rally thought, by rofusing her aid, but also by persuading Servia not to attack at an earlier date when she was ready. When Servia was attacked on two fronts, Greece, as is known, not only refused aid bat also, what porhaps is not known, M. Gounaris entreated Servia to make peace with Germany immediately.
Continuing his accusations, the officer spoke of the use for a long period by the Germans of the official Græk military despatch bags in Macedonia.
Do you know," he said, that ten Greek-apeaking German officers used to pass back and forth in Greece wearing the Greck uniforin, and, by orders of the Government, getting every convenience accorded them? Thus several times they traversed the Allied lines in Macedonia, one of them who used the pseudonym of Michailides actually coming into our camp, and when information arrived escaping arrest only in the nick of time by some jugglery with the official Greek
motorcars.
"Do you know that there exists a secret treaty between Greece and Ger many, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey 1 The signature of this treaty took place in Athens on the occasion of the last. German doctors Krausse and von Eisels- journey thither on January 1st of the
berg, who came to treat with the King, but apparently not for that only. Do you know that these physicians in the course of their most secret return journey remained hidden for four days in the house of a Greek officer of high rank at The threatened trade war after the war | Drama? By the terms of this treaty, is such a serious prospect that the main- whenever certain conditions were fulälled tenance of the last overseas market, by Germany the Greek forces both en America, is sufficiently important to out land and sea were simultaneously to weigh the advantages of a ruthless pur-attack us. We have the proofs in oar.
hands. suance of the submarine campaign,
Also there is the suggestive and obvious fast that we have done without German trade for the past two years. But of this more anon. At present I confine myself to resenting the insult which the Union of Democratic Control has offered by suggesting that we shall trade with mur- derers and enemies because it pays.
I do not admit that it pays, I do not care a dump whether it pays or not, Which of us would like to buy a nice cheap washleather from the gentleman who shot Nurse Cavell? Or to make au extra penny a ton on a consignment of coals to the gentlemen who triod Captain Frystt?
No. We will not export our honour, nor import slavery whether or not it pays. We will not import spies and traitora how cheap socver this may be. We are not "City owls," but human beings. To prate to us about the figures of German trade! To the devil with German imports; and exports; and the Hans.
Besides, Mr. Hobson and gentlemen, it is a case of Hobson's choice. If we don't send the Hum to Coventry they will send us to a more unpleasant place. To express the situation lyrically:-
I loved that cook like a brother, I did,
An' that cook he worshipped me; But we'd both be blowed if either'd be
slowed
In the other chap's hold, you see,
The Germany which is anxious to for give and forget, which is ready to repent and make amends, and never be naughty again, is an imaginary Germany, like the Germany which had no quarrel with Britain and no idea of going to war. Those amiable, harmless busy Germaans have no existence, they are off the map. The people we have to deal with are the Buas. Blatchford.
MILITARY TERMS,
There are a few common military terma which everybody in or soon to be in khaki ought to understand, and which are use ful to anybody who wants to follow the war.
As a matter of fact, a proper understanding of their meaning curries with it an understanding of the principles of a modern army's organisation.. The unit of an army is the section of 16 men. A section is commanded by a nun-m missioned officer, probably & corporal or Lance corporal; it is never aplit up unless that becomes absolutely necessary, nor is its commander separated from it.
The next uuita is the platoon, whien contains four sections or 64 men.. It has a commander of its own, who is usually a lieutenant or sub-lieutenant, and there is also a platoon sorgeant,
WAS THE KAISER IN GREECE We hold an order of the Greek Gene ral Staff by which it is enjoined that the Allied forces at Salonika were to be surrounded by Greek forces. When we investigated this we found that at the time we were actually surrounded.
"We have another order in which directions are given that the Allied camp shall be commanded by Greek artillery and machine guns. We have in our possession a photograph of the German Prince of Lippe on your western front in company with Colonel George Strale- gus an cuissary of the Greek General Staff taken when they were arranging together the route of the German KTHY and the point of its junction with the Greek forces.
"The Kaiser after his celebrated journey to Nish, also made an excursion into Greek territory, where he met im- portant personages.
A MAN TO FACE THE GERMANS.
LONDON SCOTTISH PRIVATE'S PASSAGE WITH COUNSEL.
Private Branley, of the London Scottish, who was a witness in a case in Mr. Justice Darling's Court, created some amusement by his replies to counsel.
The action was brought by his sister, Miss Isabella Bramley, who had a large boarding-house at Shareabrook, Essex, against Messre, Norton Bros., furnishers, of Highbury, for the return of furniture with which they supplied her under a hire-purchase agreement, and which, it was alleged, they subsequently seized without obtaining the permission of the Court under the Courts Emergency Powers Act. She alternatively claimed the value of the furniture and damages for alleged illegal trespass when the de- fendants' men called with their vans and took the goods away. Defendante plded moval of the things. that Misa Bramley consented to the re-
her when war broke out Miss Brambley Owing to any of her boarders leaving. was unable to pay the instalments re- gularly. Defendants sent a Mr. Chisholm to see her and afterwards men with vana,
Private Bramley, in his evidence, stated that Mr. Chisholm said witness and Miss: Brasley would both be committed to Prison if they did not consent to the goods being removed.
What did you say? asked Mr. Vacholl, K.C.
I'd better not tell you," replied the chance of being thrown out. We'll leave witness. He stood & pretty good it at that."
After further questions Private Bram- ley said counsel was inclined to be rude.
Mr. Justice Darling: Remember, Mr. Vachell, what nearly happened to Ühis- holm.
Counsel said he was obliged to his lord- ship and asked witness if he was violent when the furniture men started to mové, the goods?
Plaintiff No, I would not soil my hands by touching such microbes.
Counsel: It's nice to think the Ger-. mans have to face such mon as you.
The bearing was adjourned..
Next comes the company, which consists of four platoons, or, in round numbers, 30 men, and which has a couple of extra non-coms of its own, and is supposed to be commanded by a major or at least a captain. But many a lieutenant or sub-lieutenant has commanded what was left of his company, for lack of other officers, and had sergeants or evea corporals in command of his platoons.
Four companies, or 1,000 men, make up the next unit, battalion, which ia com- manded by a lieutenant colonel.
And then comes a brigade-these are all infantry units-which consists of four
WHERE I GO BILL GOES." **Have you any conscientious objectors battalions, is commanded by a brigadier in your battalion?" I asked an officer general, and has a headquarters staff and with whom I was talking, says the Lea administrative service of its own, and a There were two fellows on the roadside, dan correspondent of the Sheffield Daily growing number of soachine guns. There says Mr. Phillip Gibbs in the Daily Telegraph. We have one, The replied, used to be only eight of these to a brigad", | Chronicle, an English soldier and a Ger
and he's a treasure. I shall be very but that number proved far below what man, trudging side by side to a field annoyed if he's taken away from nais nevessary.
dressing station. Both heads were hand- Your see, he has a conscientious objection Next comes a division, which contains aged, and ona man could see out of one to drilling, to drawing his pay, to re- from 18,000 to more tha 20,000 men, age and one out of the other. Said the Eng.. cognising authority by making.com under a major-general. A division is a lishman"This chap tried to gouge out plaints to it and to applying for leave, kind of small army on its own, for it my eye with his fist, and I did the same But he holds fatigue duties to be works includes, besides infantry, cavalry and to his with my elbow, and now we get ou of charity and necessity, and be works artillery elements.
famously together." To other men came like a Trojan at any sort of dirty ch
in-enemies an hour before.
This is from six in the morning to ten at night.
old Bill," said the English soldier, point- ing to a wounded Gurr-an. Where I He's equal to three ordinary men, and when he's finished a fatigue he always comes and asks for another.">
Two, or sometimes three, divisions form an army corps which with "details" may number 45,000 men,
And finally an army is usually made up of several any corpa,
go Bill goes. I wounded him and took laim Come on, Bill, old son.!!
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