1917-01-04 — Page 3

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THE

WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,

PEACE MANEUVRES.

AMERICAN VIEW.

FIERCE FIGHTING IN BALKANS.

ATROCITIES IN ARMENIA.

The Balkans.

EARLIER CABLES, (THAOTUH ESUTERʼa AGWHOY.] FIERCE FIGHTING,

ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED.

PETROGRAD, January 2nd.

A Russian wireless official message says:-Enemy groups, advancing after herce rife and machine-gun fire south- west of Brody, were driven back.

The enemy offensive on the Moldavia frontier has been dispersed.

All enemy attacks north and south of Oituz Valley wert repulsed.

A Roumanian counter-attack regaine positions on the River Kazina, despite continuous and force attacks,

Our Dobrudja detachments withdrew to new positions.

VALIANT ROUMANIA.

Italian Bront,

EARLIER CABLES. {THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.)

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

ROME, January 1st.

An official announcement states : --Re- plying to the enemy's artillery, we heavily shellod trenches and lines of communica

BELGIUM'S GRATITUDE. KING OF BELGIUM AND PRE- SIDENT WILSON

WASHINGTON, January 3rd. The King of Belgium has cabled Pre sident Wilson conveying Belgian, grati- tade to Amerien for generous assistance and sympathy, and hoping that America will always remain a strong protector of Belgium,

ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. SICKENING DETAILS.

Five hundred

women,

and

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH, 1917.

THE BOY SCOUTS OF BUCHAREST.

THEIR WORK. DURING THE BOMBARDMENT,

[BY HAMILTON FYPE} -

I have never seen Boy Scouts so numer- ous or so busy. The whole boy popula tion of the town seems to have been en rolled. Their ages tun up to fifteen; some look older than that.

They have added a national and at the same time a theatrical touch to the scout uniform by wearing a broad red sash round the waist. This gives them an air Buffalo Billish or piratical. They most ly wear caps, too, instead of the wide brimmed, upturned scout hat.

But, although they have not the trim, sober appearance of our Boy Scouts in Baden-Powell's heart by their activity in England, they would gladden Sir Robert all kinds of employments which have been found for them by the authorities since. Roumania came into the war.

I first made the acquaintance of a Roumanian Boy Scout at a railway station between the frontier und the capi- tal. In despair of getting any food in the buffet, filled by a raging throng, I was trying to extract nourishment from an automatic," Up came an urchin in khaki and, with the polite magnificence of a shop-walker in a fashionable depart ment store, told me that the machine which I was angrily shaking had been closed as a German enterprise, and led me off to another, still yielding up tablets of gritty chocolate and sweet biscuits that He and turned to dust in the mouth. his comrades appeared to be in charge of the railway station, and very capably they managed the job.

LONDON, January t Trustworthy Turkish ex-officials have given to the Times an appalling account of what they witnessed in the Armenian massacres. They saw numerous bodies of men, women and children at Mush, all horribly mutilated, the women being mostly naked.

girls children were herded in a camp at Bitlis awaiting the arrival of bands of Kurds and criminale, who were ordered to "deal with them in your own way."

The informants saw 15,000 bodies piled The enemy persistently shelled Gorizia, up in ravines, one being filled with corpsea of children. They say Armenians

Here in Bucharest one sees them all committed suicide in order to escape a day long, tearing up and down the nar- row streets on bicyclee with messages; Government nameless fate..

officials riding in cabs beside mountains of all sorts of hospital necessaries which they selected the best-looking women, whom have been commissioned to buy; mounted they outraged and murdered.

on motor-lorries with soldiers to whom they are acting as guidea. Numbers of NEW BRITISH WAR LOAN them are employed by the Red Cross.

tions on the whole front.

We exploded an artillery ammunition store near Castagnavizza.

causing material damage only.

Naval Activities,

EARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH HEUTER'S AGENCY.]

SINKINGS.

LONDON, January 1st. Beuter's correspondent at Ferrol says the Danish steamer Danmarck has been torpedoed

Jassy, January Žad;

LONDON, January 2nd. Speaking in the Chamber, M. Jonescu, The following steamere have been concluding a stirring speech, said:-saak:-Apaley Hall (British), Tuckar "Confident of victory, we accept all prios (Russian), Eddo Eva Flora (Norwegian), and all sufferings, since it will be given Demetrios Inglessis (Greek), and two us to write the epic of Roumania."

sailing vessels,

General.

GERMAN CLAIMS.

AMSTERDAM, January end.

A wireless German oficial message says:---We stormed several hill positions

in the Oitur Valley, and General von Mackensen forced the Russians to further retreat, and is sharply pursuing and de- feating the rearguard.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH ESUTRE'S AGENCY.] THE ALLIES' REPLY TO AMERICAN NOTE.

LONDON, January 3rd. Reuter learns that the Allied reply to President Wilson has been drafted and

IMMINENT.

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LONDON, January 1st. An official announcement, states that further applications for six per cent. Exchequer Bonds, or War Expenditure Certificates, will be accepted. The an nouncement indicates that the issue of New War Loan is imminent.

SEAT FOR SOLICITOR GENERAL.

B

LONDON, January 3rd. Mr. T. B. Morrison, K.C., Solicitor- General for Scotland, has been elected for Inverness-shire, in succession to Bir J. A. Dewar, Bart..

PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM.

LONDON, January 2nd

It is officially announced that Baron

eyes,

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'TO PEACE AND VICTORY,

CIVILIAN SERVICE BILL IN REICHSTAG.

On the occasion of the Imperial Chan- cellor's 61st birthday his place at the Federal Council table in the Beichstag was decorated with flowers. This Presi- dent congratulated the Chancellor in the pante of the House, and the Chancellor replied. The debate on the first reading of the Bill for Compulsory Civilian Ser vice was then begun. The Chancellor introduced the Bill, saying:

WAR AND POPULATION.

A PROBLEM OF THE NEAR FUTURE.

more The

In other than economic directions there will be a very interesting competition between the nations at the end of the war. Trade is important, but even important than trade is men. primary problem for both parties to the present conflict will be which can most speedily repair the ravages of the war on their human stock (says, the Frening Standard).

The insatiable war is still raging. Our enemies desire it. They hail Inst summer

The urgency of the question becomes as a victorious one, but can they impose

mote apparent as we realise that the only their will on us? Our lines are still un- broken. Roumania, which was to have

sure way of conquering Germany is by the primitive argument of slaughter. brought about a revolutionary change, is pope teneity. (Brave) God has there, is going to be no short sut to

us hitherto and will continue to

We are not likely to see any of car troops, for which no thanks can anddenly open the way to the Rhine and The almost superhuman deeds spectacular breaking through which will help us. to adequate (Very right! Very true! across. Changes in the line there will be, and cheers), and our clear conscience as but we can only rely on winning the any the first and unly one of the belligerents by placing mure men in the field than who were and are ready to terminate the Germany and wearing her down by kill- war by a peace safeguarding our existing at least unit for unit. ence and our future justify this con-

That process will leave Europe deploted fidence.

Arc

much

In spite of this confidence we must not of men by millions on both sides. The the customary surplusage of women. neglect our duty. Cur enemies do not result will be an enormous increase, in

They desire peace yet. superior numerically. Almost the entire Tens of thousands will have lost bus- bands, hundreds of thousands will have world supplies them with war material.

If the conven- The result of this is shown by the Somme lost potential husbands. highting. Every day the war is prolong- tional standards are maintained, that means that not only will the birthrato ed organization of industry becomes a more decisive factor. Every hand at be diminished owing to the greater home which produces guns and shells re-

economic difficulties of the near future, places a man and protects young life in

but that it will be diminished also

the the trenches. Every idle hand at home through

smaller proportion of supports the enemy. This is the warning marriages. Both the family and the com- taught us by every communiqué, which munity will be less prolife. In that impresses it upon our heart and mind.

dilemma, common to all the great Euro- peau nations, what measures will bo taken to remedy the depletion i

The reasons for this Bill, for the adoption of which wo ask, were not thought out at the study desk, but at were forged under incessant fire the front. We discussed and considered the fundamental principle of the Bill and the organization in question, first with representatives of all classes, and later with the Main Committee of the Reichsteg.

WILL GERMANY - ADOIT DIGAMY, We must remember that of the principat combatants France has of late years been the least prolific. Great Britain (apart from the Colonics), came next, and then Germany and Russia in order. Germany will probably loso twice as many men as any of the opposing he the most pressing, nations, so that with her the problem. especially as her total population is less

BONTSER FOR BABIES.

Others not as orderlies for the War De partment and other Government offices, taking the place of mabilised men. At

For the preliminary work we are in- their headquarters, which are in a pro-debted to the energetic and devoted minent position close to the British Loga labours of the Main Committee, which

than that of either Russia or the British ion and the motor transport branch, may enable us to come to a speedy and Empire. She also stands to lose a greater

termination. there is a continual coming and going, auccessful

The more number of her inhabitants in the ibovit- an atmosphere of strenuous and fiery throughly we discussed the subject, the able rush of emigration to America, after moveront A bomb fell close by, broke more clearly appeared the greatness of the war. So for her the question is one frames. This only made the Boy Scouts of the whole nation for the prosecution tage of a patient and well-drilled [all the windows, smashed the window- the task of organizing the entire energy

of life or death; and she has the advan-

mero energetic. One of their number was of the war. Gigantic as are the inronds population, who are accustomed to obey blown to pieces in another part of the on our economic life, are they not small

the word of command in the home as town? Not a whit was their energy compared with the magnitude of the well as in the field. It may be counted Blackened. They went about their hus war (Very true!) The possibility of a point in her favour in the race that she ness furiously, an angry light in their compulsion had to be provided for." Ex-

has a lower ethical standard-se shown in treme necessity demands an iron will. her statistics of crime and morality-than The possibility of coercion will provide any of the Allies, and that, in any case, An important duty laid upon them is the firm ground upon which we must her ethical standards have always been that of helping to warn the population stand in order to build up behind our subject to the national convenience. It when to expect death from the air. As fighting front an organized army of is, therefore, no surprise to find that on as word is received that airships or labour. The work can only succeed if voices have already been raised among her aeroplanes have crossed the frontier the it represents, when in operation, not professoras in favour of bigamy na a deep-toned bell of the cathedral is tolled, the result of coercion but of the volun-jeans of meeting the national emergency. other church bella in different quarterstary decision of the entire people (Very of the town sound a quicker, more alarm true!), and if our industry and our But there is a powerful deterrent to ing note, all the policemen on point duty agriculture, our workmen, our contracthe adoption of bigamy-or polygamy of blow their whistles, and Boy Scouts are bors, and their organizations give their any kind as a national policy in Europe despatched in all directions on bicycles, services in willing devotion. That this in the twentieth century. Many authori- whistling and shouting to everyone to will be so we can expect with confidence. ticä have always hold that the motives

In the day-time these

This confidence is justified by the spirit which led to the establishment of take cover, precautions are of value are neces- in which the German people since the monogamy were not so much social and sury. At night they seeni to increase the arst days of the war has aversioned itself moral, ne economic-test, in fact, the apprehensions of the timid and to try to the war, and by the great achievements one wife system survived because it was the nerves even of the more phlegmatic. which this spirit has hitherto created. cheaper. Germany will not have so many Last night, after sixty hours of inter- The spirit with which every one in the rich men left at the close of the war that mittent bombarding, we had an alarm country has been filled since the outbreak they can afford to keep a harem in the about nine o'clock. This is the hour at of the war has been one of determina national interest. We should, therefore, which most people go to bed in these tion to assist and co-operate in every pos- expect a policy of national bigamy to be times of dark and empty streets. Accus sible way.. This spirit is again roused, accompanied by such a sliding-scale of tomed to a night, life which gave their and every one knows that he must not bonuses and remissions of taxes as to capital the title of the Gayest City in refuse to follow the calf while on the

make it, as we BBY worth while" from the World, they now complain that there battlefield hundreds of thousands bleed the standpoint of the individual,, If is nothing else to do. Hearing the clang to death in defending the Fatherland.

Germany retains in peace the unscrupu- of what Othello called the "frightful" Nobody at home will be able to say that lousness of her war methods, wo may even or was it "fear-full"-bells, and the he has done his utmost, unless he bears find a nation in ber desperate straits lugubrious high wail of the whistles, without grumbling the burden which the offering rewards for babies, without quite distinct from the sharp, arresting state of war imposes upon him. From inquiry as to parentage' or antecedenta. The female population of Germany will sound of our police calls, they could not his sonse of duty towards the Fatherland, decide what to do, whether to undress, as towards our warriors and our dead not, of course, be appreciably diminished LONDON, January 3rds usual, or to wait until the attack was heroes, he will give his strength where by the hardships of war, so that, if the moral standards of civilised Eighteen survivors, have landed at over. If your house is hit you cut a poor it is most useful for the purpose of the usual

figure escaping in your night clothes. war.

nations are thrown overboard with the Queenstown from the wreck of the 3,000 On the other hand, sit, and the inhuma, may differ. On one or another point it all the decencies of civilised warfare up waiting for Opinions about the details of the Billsamme ease with which she has abandoned ton steamer Alondra, which was wrecked threatening beat-beat-beat of the airship may be condemned or found lacking by there is no physical reason why the birth.

the noise of the guns, on the coast of Cork. They willing bomb, and the earth and air-war-time, and will be a testimony that normal height.

This Bill is created for motor, and the savage "which" of the some people. rescued from a barrenrock. Beveral shaking explosion which follows-this is we will for ever cling to the spirit of died from exposure. Twenty-eight are not so comforting as lying in bed with reciprocal confidence and readiness in the clothes pulled well over your head help which brought us together in the missing.

and the possibility of falling off to sleep most serious need of our people, and on and forgetting all about it.

which alone our future can be built up strong against the outer world and free

The Austro-Germans are approaching will probably be presented in a few days. Cowdray stipulates that he shall be paid the Focsany and Fundent bridgehead It is not expected that the Netherlands no salary in accepting the Chairmanship positions and have taken 1,300 prisoners. will associate itself with the United

of the Air Board. The Bulgaro-Germans have captured States, while attempts to Rccare, the stubbornly-defonded Russian positions to co-operation of South America have not. the cast of Braila, and have driven back met with much success. Certainly, the the enemy towards Macin.

Argentine, Brazil and several smaller. States will not take action.

AUSTRIANS CLAIM SUCCESSES

VIENNA, January 2nd.

An official announcement, received by wireless, states:-The Austro-Germans

are before the defensive lines at Brails and Foesany,

The Archduke Joseph's Army has pro

EARLIER CABLES.

THE ALLIES' REPLY.

VIEWS FROM AMERICA,

New Youk, January 2nd,

Inpartial newspapers generally praise greased in the Pouleaci and Soveja the Entente's reply to the German Peace

regions.

We stormed several positions to the Bouth-east of Harja.

Franco-Belgian Front.

EARLIER CABLES. (TAROPOK REUTER'S AGENCY.]

BRITISH FRONT.

ENEMY TATROLS DRIVEN OFF.

LONDON, January 3rd. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in & communiqué, snys:-A small hostile patrol, which reached our trenches to the cast of Vermelles, was driven back, losing half their number.

We ejected & portion of a strong patrol où entering our trenches on the north of Ypres. Their losses were heavy.

FRENCH FRONT.

LIVELY ARTILLERY EXCHANGES.

LONDON, January 3rd.

A French communiqué says:—There has

been a somewhat lively artillery duel be.

tween Hardamount and Bezonvaux.

There have been intermittent artillery exchanges elsewhere.

GERMAN MESSAGE.

AMSTERDAM, January 2nd.

Note as being straightforward and lucid. The New York Herald is of opinion that its positivenes, on reflection, will prove to be a step towards peace by re vealing the truth to the German people, and thus marking the beginning of the end of Prussianism.

The Tribune says the answer definitely ends attempted intervention on the part of the United States

The Times thinks that the door is left open for peace, and anticipates a fresh German bid for it shortly, in view of

threatened exhaustion..

The Washington Post gays the reply erals the doom of Germany, but before yielding she will fight desperately in new

COLONIAL CONFERENCE, LONDON, January 3rd. It is understood that Mr. Walter Long (Colonial Secretary) will attend the Imperial Colonial Premiers' Con

ference.

SAD SEA STORY.

- THE SILVER MARKET,

LONDON, January 3rd. Messrs. Mocafta & Goldsmid's view of the silver market for last year states that the huge demand exceeded

Probably the production,

coinage orders for the present year will exceed the available production.

at home,

rate should not continue at nearly its

What solution we ourselves shall find to a tremendous difficulty it would be premature to. guess But the frot remains that one cannot look forward with equanimity to so huge and unpre- cedented a disproportion between the numbers of the two sexes of marriageable age. Two things may be foreseen with some certainty-that there will be

aided emigration of women 10 greatly increased and probably State the Dominions; and, second, that the un- married man will be looked upon, socially and politically, with increasing diz favour. Within the next decade husbands will be as urgently required-and almost

impressed "as recruits are to-day.

The Roumanians, for an excitable. volatile people, always at one extreme or the other, are standing the ordeal by bombardment wonderfully calmly. Many shops have kept open all the time. In business in the sunny streets. The first the intervals the streets have been almost day the aeroplanes cans they were gated as crowded as usual.

at with curiosity. It was three o'clock It is amusing to

in the afternoon. The streets were full. see how quickly they are emptied when

Discussions went 03: were they our the alarm is. given. One goes into any

Tho teply came door that stands open.

In the hotel machines or German?

Sixty patsons blown to bits, At night quickly. the scene is comical. Men in pyjamas

twice as many injured-all in people assemble in the hall.

& low minutes. and dressing gowns sit and chat or walk up and down with ladies in the filmiest

What angers one most is the imbecile LORD CURZON WEDDED.

"On such a lovely day, attire. There is only a glitomer of light, futility of it all. It is impossible to get anything to drink too," said an English woman, locking A LONDON, January 3rd.

Yet one finds that the two o'clock ini

sadly up at the sky without a cloud in it, Lord Curzon was married to Mrs. the morning courage, of which Napo after reflecting upon the massacre just recounted to her. That is how I feel. Duggan in the Private Chapel at Lam-leon deplored the rarity in a conversa

tion with Las Casas, is not so rare after God's good gift of life, to stain the What sacrilege, what bestial waste of all. The hum of talk is subdued, certainly,

[Mrs. Duggan is the widowed daughter of Mr. Hinds, formerly American Minister to Rio de Janiero.]

directions. Neutrals are almost certain beth Palace.

to be involved in the struggle. MALAY STATES AND THE WAR. HANDSOME CONTRIBUTION.

SINGAPORE, January 1st.

In the Federal Council, the Sultans of

Selangor and Perak moved and seconded, respectively, an annual war contribution | of ball a million pounds sterling, which, with the proposed contribution from the Straits Settlements, makes a million from the Malay States.

The meeting was presided over by the

KING OF HEDJAZ.

LONDON, January 2nd. The Grand Shereef of Mecca has been notified that his assumption of the title of King of Hedjaz is definitely recognised by Britain, France and Italy.

OBITUARY.

SIR CHARLES HOBHOUSE!

LONDON, January 3rd. The death is announced of Sir Charles Parry Hobhouse, J.P.

[Decenser, who was the third son of the A German wireless official message Governor, who reported that the contrilate Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, was a mem her of the Bengal Civil Service from 1844- Bays:-We repulsed English Land-bation from the Straits Settlements on

71; member of the Bengal Council and grenade attacks at Ypres, and raided "Our Day" was £50,000, and that many Judge of High Court, Calcutta. He was Imperial Legislative Council, East Indies; trendies in Argonne and on the Meuse. Asiatics generously contributed,

also a large property owner.]

It stops abruptly when a bomb is heard beauty of these glorious days, the peace explode. But it goes on again at once ful splendour of these nights, with blood after the Mon Dieu's" and the "Oh,apilt so vainly, bodies maimed and torn I là's" have subsided, with ripples of to no purpose whatever. Never let us or stiffed laughter from dark corners, and a

our descendants forget that it was the resolve on almost everybody's part to be

German idea to make murder part of War. Let us think of it whenever we are as cheerful as may be under difficult con-

tempted to do business with a German or ditions.

to shake one by the hand, and let us turn from him in loathing and contempt.

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It is nothing new, of course. cities have suffered in the same way. We have just had telegrama rolating a rajd over London by three Zeppelins, We culy suffer from one. And yet there is

difference. Three into six millions of

two million people.. Here we have ono

**TIMES "

CORRESPONDENT'S

CALLANTRY.

The Times correspondent at Petrograd, Mr. Robert Wilton, has received the St. George's Cross, which has been conferred in recognition of gallantry displayed in the field. While visiting General Evert's arinies Mr. Wilton accompanied one of the Russian regiments in an attack on the German treaches near Baranoviecs. He carried out a wounded officer from under the barrage fire and rallied the men by his example.

Hitherto ao civilian has received this I think the Boy Scouts of Bucharest may decoration, which can be conferred only be trusted to remember. I bave heard by the Emperor, Mr. Wilton had pre- mauy say here, "The Germans, who bad viously been awarded the St. George the greater part of the trade of Rou-Medal, the highest gift which it is within mania in their hands, are sure to come the power of an army commander to be back We Roumanians are too disdain-

of direct personal propaganda among the

Londoners: result, one airship to eachful of trade to do our own, business. We stow. He early realised the importance to three hundred thousand people. This cannot keep them out." That is what i troops, and a year ago while visiting the tired, middle-aged men say, shrugging their shoulders. But young Roumania And then we have aeroplanes in the day will use a word to say, I think and the danger of an advanced position i time as well as the airship at night. Aeroplane bombs are not so powerful as hope. It is not possible that the zeal and those which are dropped from Zeppelins energy of those Boy Scouts can fade en- But they are powerful enough to have kill-tirely away when they come to man's ed and wounded several hundreds of men have seen the horrors of the bombard, They will remember, for they women, and children going about their rent. Their word to the Germans will

(Continued at foot of next column.) be, “Nover again.”—Daily Mail. ;

estate.

order to talk to the men about the work: of the Allies.

Mr. Wilton won the coveted decoration at almost the same spot where his son, a lieutenant in the Grenadier- Guards, led his meu futo action during the retreat from Vilna.

Dow