1917-01-15 — Page 7

FRANCE BEHIND THE LINE. Is is perhaps in the post office that you find yourself nearest to the heart of * Franco behind the lines.”

One morning I endeavoured to send a Farco to a French soldior; I took my place in a long line of waiting women bound on the same orrand. A white

haired woman before me gave the Poet Office clerk infinite trouble. They are Bob renewed for this patiense and I marvelled at his gentleness, until he ex- plained Her son died five works ago, but she still continues to sond him parcels.'

To another old lady he pointed out that sho had written two numbers on the parool.

"You don't want two numbers, Mother. Which is your boy's number. tall me and I will strike out the other?" "Leave them both," sho answered, "Who knows whether my dear lad will be there to receive the parool? If he is not, I want it to go to some other

Mother's son." *

+

There are but few lonely soldiers now, since those who have no families to write to them receive letters and parcels from the Godmothers who have adopted them. I remember seeing one man writing page after page. I suggested to him that he must have a particularly charming godmother. "Madernoiselle," he plied, "I have no time for a godmother since I myself am a godfather. He then explained that for away in his village thero was a young assistant in his shop, and God knows the boy loves France. but both his lungs are touched, so they won't take him, but I writo and tell him that the good God has given me strength for two, that I fight for him and my self, and that we are both doing well for France.' I went back in imagination to the village, I could see the glint in the boy's eyes, roalise how the blood pulsed quicker through his yoing at the sight of, not the personal pronoun "I" in the singular, but the plural "We are doing well for France." for one glorious moment he was part of the hosts of France and in spirit serving his Mother- land. It is that spirit, of the French nation that their enemies will over understand.

THE HONGKONG DAIL, PRESS,

A MAINSTAY OF FRANCE. THE PEASANTRY AND THE WAR

[FROM A CONNBEFINDENT TO " TOR TIMES."')

France has confidence in ber pensanta. and her peasants have confidence in France. The three essentials of victory are mon, munitions, and money. The last is only a means of estimating and mobilizing wealth, and the foundation of the wealth of France is agriculture, After making a general study of French agriculture as affected by the war and visiting typical departments in Anjou, Touraine, and Normandy, I am satisfied that there is no cause for alarm, To maintain the value of agricoltural pro- duction while nine-tenths of the agricul turists of military age were mobilized was a nearly impossible task. The im- possible has been achieved, thanks to the devotion of those remaining in the fielda, and thanks also to the activity of the various administrative services which have co-operated with one another and with them to organies their voluntary efforts and to give them whatever extra assistance was possible

The peasant population of France is necessarily bearing a double share of the burden of the war. That is not to say that the other classes are shirking far from it--but the growing importance of the munitions question has caused the withdrawal of thousands of workmen to the factories, with the result that the proportion of agriculturists remaining with the colours is much greater than their proportion to the total population. At the same time, their wives, children, and aged fathers carry on in the fielda with inadequate labour resources a work which is equally necessary for victory, while profits continue to diminish with the increasing cost of manures and other raw materiale. But they bave confidence in the future, and a wise Administration has done its best to lesson their difficulties and add to the efficiency of their efforts

till the goil they love so well.

CO-OPERATIVE MACHINES.

Mechanical cultivation is rapidly spreading. Where the forms are too small for individuals to buy tractors the On one occasion a young Gorman Ministry of Agriculture encourages the oficer, covered with mud From head to tormation of co-operativo societies for foot, was brought before one of the their collective purchase and use, and French Generals. He had been taken grants by way of subsidy one-third of the fighting cleanly, and the General was cost of the outfit purchased. Occasionally anxious to show him kindness. He asked a commune assisted by a similar subsidy, him if he would not prefer to cleanss or a loan from the Council-General of the himself before examination. The young department, or boib, buys a tractor and German drew himself up and replied: plough and hires them out to the local **Look at me, Gonoral, I am covered farmers, who pay, perhaps, £1 por azze from head to foot with mud, and that for the work done, while the commune mud is the soil of France-you will never provides the skilled labour and pays all possess as much soil in Germany. The running expenses.

in the case of one General turned to him with that gentle such municipal tractor that I saw, the courtesy which marks the higher com-skilled labour consisted of one man who mands in France and answered: Mon- had lost a leg at the ankle in the war, sieur, we may never possess as much soil With the help of his machine this in Germany, but there is something that mutilated man was doing the work of you will never possess, and, until you four men and six horses.*** conquer it, you cannot vangatah Franco. it is the spirit of French people."

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VICTORY AT ALL COSTS. RUSSIAN PREMIER'S STATEMENT,

MONDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 1917.

FUTURE OF BELGIUM. ANNEXATION PARTY GROWING BOLDER.

Articles in the inspired Presa appear to indicate that the German Government has now made up its mind to refuse the restoration of the Belgian Kingdom and of the French districts of Longwy and Briey (says The Times correspondent at Amsterdam).

BOSPHORUS AND POLAND. When the Duma reopened on December and (says The Times Petrograd cores pondent) M. Rodzianko, the President faced crowded beaches and packed public galleries. The Ducal Box was occupied. and in the Diplomatic Box appeared Bir George Buchanan and the other Ambas anders. All the members of the Cabines,

All parties except the Socialists and save M. Ignatieff, the Minister of Edaca thu Extremas Hanicals appear now agreed tion, were also present. When M. Pro- at eigum must remain deer German. topopoff, the Minister of the Interior, unitary, poutical, and conomic contrui, entered the Ministerial Box somewhat walle the whole Henish rress or Eu later than his colleagues, a stir was persuade demands the retention or Longwy coptible among the Deputies and some

and Briey, owing to these industr uncomplimentary eties arose from the portance ranks of the Socialists and Labour mem- bors.

"The Cologne Gazette says that when the Chancellor declared toar Germany's The ascension of M. Trepoff, the new object was to ensure the free development Prime Minister, to the tribune was the of all nations, neding adi, nations, signal for a noisy demonstration, evi-

this cannot, and naturally does nos, dently prearranged and confined to the mean that we intend the restoration of Socialists and Labour members, who Skates that have been opposed to us, as loudly banged the desks, evidently rebelgium, Serbia, Montenegro, and hus814 long as the Prime Minister remained at nationalities that have been triendly to solved to continue obstruction tactics so have been. I can Only Wern that the tribune.

us and which incime towards us in the future are assured of our assistance.

M. Rodzianko invited M. Trepoff to retire and then moved the exclusion of the four ringleaders, MM. Chelde Kerenski, Skobeleff, and Haustoff. The majority of the House accepted the motion.

ing to Herr Maximilian Harden, the It is interesting to observe that, accord-

question of the occupied provinces was the stone over which Herr von Jagow, the German Foreign Secretary, ultimately teil. Herr Harden says Twice the neat little gentleman showed that civilian courage which has unfortunately become Avoid a breaen with the United States as He determined to

long as the honour of the country per- mitted, and to sacrifice his office rather than his convictions. Once more, when certain questions from countries occupied by German troops had to be answered, bo resisted the military point of view, and now, weary of uninterrupted labour, be has gone."

Nevertheless, thrice in succession the hostile demonstrations were renewed on M. Trepoff's reappearance, and only after four more obstructionists had been tain a hearing. Explaining the motives suspended could the Prime Minister obo rare amongst us.

tended that the majority of the Duma of either conduct, the obstructionists con- themselves declared that joint labour with the Government was impossible; . Staermer's retiremout and the appoint ment of M. Trepoff really changed nothing; M. Stuermer's successor was chosen from his former colleagues, all, of whom remained, and the previous sys- Herr Harden appears to mean that tem of administration was preserved. Herr von Jagow resisted the deportation The most dramatic interruption proof Belgings and Serbians insisted on by oooded from the Labour member, M. the military triamvirate. Subanoffs who, rising in his place, per- sittently shouted, "Down with the Primp Minister," and refused to obey the ruling of the majority when the President sus pruded him for the wee of unduly strong language descriptive of the Cabinet. M Nodzinnko was compelled to declare a recess, during which he personally, toge ther with M. Miliukoff and other lead ing members, remonstrated with Sabanoff, who finally, out of rospect to the President of the Duma, left the hall.

M. TREPOFF'S RECEPTION. The Prime Minister was then per aitted to read the declaration, which lasted 25 minutes. It is impossible to deny that the overwhelming majority of the House accorded the same a very cold reception. Occasional applause emanated solely from the Extreme Right and the Nation aliste, and perhaps a handful of Progres sive Nationaliste.

The declaration really contains

FRENCH AND BELGIANS TAKEN AS HOSTAGES.

The Telegraafa frontier correspondent gives the names of a number of pro minent citizens taken as houtages to Holzminden Camp from Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, and other towns. Among them are M. Delory, Delegate of Lille the Mayors of Bava, Yerchia, Houdain, and Caudry, four priests and thred ters of Cambrai, and notaries, bankers, barristers of Valenciennes, three barris- &c. One of the hostages taken from Lille is an old man of 29, sicle and deaf. Among the deported women are the wife of the Mayor of Verchin and two widows from Valenciennes. The Gazette des Ardennes gives a list of the names of Prisoners of war have been placed."at nothing new. The most important pass to Halzminden,

70 men and 30 women taken as hostages the disposal of the rural communes, age were undoubtedly the emphatic re

It may be added that Holzminded whose mayors distribute them among the alarmation that Russia will not lay down I have spokor much of the men of different farmers who require their sex-union with the Allies, and the first of ition. I am able (says The Timer Aras till complete victory is attained in Camp is dotorious logite insanitary France, but the women have also earned vices. In one department I found 600 cial announcement that an agreement correspondent at Amsterdam) to state on OBT respect those

splendid pensat thus employed, in another 800, had been concluded between Russia, the ground of first-hand and repeatedly women, who even in times of pesce other 700, and so on. In busy seasons the Great Britain, and Italy in 1816 esta confirmed information that the women's worked and now carry a double burden military authorities send a large number lishing for Russia a right to Constantin-section is pestilent with vermin, and their shoulders the middle class of soldiers to take part in agricultural ople and the Dardanelles. The existence that there are collected there, not only women endeavouring to keep together operations. In one department alone, of the agreement was already generally these French and Belgian ladies of high the little business built up by the men from October 1st, 1916, to August 10th, known, and this knowledge probably standing, but in the same draughty, with years of toil, stinting themselves to 1916, 303,880 days' work was thus given helped to weaken the impression which dirty barracks women of the lowest typo save five francs to send a parcel to the to agriculture, and if we reckon at 5f.otherwise the public announcement would from the low quarters of German eftics, man at the front that he may not suspect | (46.) per day the wealth this produced certainly have made. As it was it I have spoken to persons from Holzmin that there is not still every comfort in we can see that it amounts to a cou- evoked virtually no open enthusiasm, bat den Camp whose headth had actually the little homestead--the noble women ofsiderable sum. That this policy has not the cries from the Opposition benches of broken down, les owing to privations France, who in past years could not be impaired military efficiency the battle-Bravo, Sazanoff," Where's Sazonoff than to conditions of sheer filth seen before noon, since my lady was at fields of Verdun and the Somme bear plainly indicated that members of the her toilette and who can be seen now. eloquent testimony.

Dura were fully aware as to whose brit their hands scratched and bleeding, The principle that everything must be liant diplomacy Russia owes the prospec kaveling on the floors of the hospitals subordinated to the general interest has Live gift. scrubbing, proud and happy to take their been applied in every department of part in national service. The men owe the national life, and has been accepted much of their courage to the attitude.

as a matter of course by the people. If of the women who stand behind them, soldiers unload railway trucks or thresh tarning their tears to smiles to urge corn the Minister of War does not have their men to even greater deeda of to beg pardon from an irate trade union boroismi.

deputation.

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NOTICES TO CONSIGNEES

NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES,

“THE P. & 0. 5. N. Co.'s Bior

THE

*NYANZA.”

FROM BOMBAY," COLOMBO ARB STRAITS. Consignes af Oirgo by the above-named veel are hereby informed that their goods avë boing landed and plased AT THEIR BIEX in the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company's Godowns at Kowloon, where ston Comigament will be sorbed out Mark by Mark and delivery com to obtained as the Goods sae: Inde

This vantel brings on Cargo p

Froes London, do, en za "! Karmala,* From Fordan Geif, ex xa. B, LEN.

and B. & P. B. N. On's Stanmorn, vete Optional Goods will be landed her unions Instructions are given to the contrary within 6 hours

Goods not pleared within 8 days including date of arrival'will be subject to rent.

ד

No Fire Inenzoo will be effected by me say esse whatever.

Dainaged packages must be left in the Go- downs for examination by the Consiguses, und & Dose, at 10 AM, on Momware and The Company's Surrason, Alors, Godward THURA DATO. All Claim must be pressted within ten days of the steamer's arrival here, after which date they cannot be recognised, No Clans will be admitted after the Good's have left ite Godowns.

3. T. D.. PAKE,

· Superintende Mongkong, blh January, 1917

AMERICAN AND MANCHURIAK LINE.

NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES,

FROX NEW YORK

The Prime Minister, dwelling on the desire of the Government to work in

Australian wounded emphasise the dif harmony with the Duma, emphasized the mportance of the role played by the ficulties of the present ighting, and may Zenstvo urban institutions, which, he that the mud is indescribable. Wounded assured the House, the Government web men are conveyed in sledges. One coped as a pledge of the resuscitation of battalion was knee deep in mud for five the country and its emancipation from days, and when it came out there were In one of our hospitals was a young

Germanic domination. Ho declared that noiserous cases of trench foot. The lad of 17 who had managed to enlist

Gne of the chief tasks of his programme Germans had laid barbed wire along the # engage volontaire ·

by lying as

Committees of agricultural action, was the liberation of Russia from both bottom of deep trenches, thereby multi- to his age. His old mother came to visit containing all that is left of the more the material and intellectual yoke of the plying the dificulties of capturing them, elected and highest ingredients harmoniously 2-It is a product of the most exrefully hitn, and abe told me he was the last intelligent and enterprising farmers, ubiquitous Teutonic influence. Regard. Experts from the front agree that thed, the remull of many years' experience.

f her three sone; the two elder had died have been constituted in each rural com- ing the Polish problem, he reasserted tanks by reducing machine gun positions the first week of the war al Pont-amane to direct its whole agricultural Russia's resolve to restore a free united and other strong points have saved at Mousson, and her little home had been policy. A law as practically been passed Poland

proper ethnographic burned to the ground. The boy had and will shortly be promulgated giving boundaries in indissoluble union with least 20,000 men, spent his time inventing now and terrible to the municipalities the right to reussia.

Few speeches delivered in the Duma methods of dealing with the enemy, but quisition, if necessary, uncultivated land with his mother he became a child again and have it cultivated under the super- have created a deeper impression than when every car was needed for the trans

Its full that of the well-known Kursk Depaty, port of provisions. and tenderly patted the old face. Seeing vision of these committees. the lad in his mother's arms, and for rigour will only be directed against the Purishkevich, formerly a notorious re Retting for one moment the spirit of the infinitesimal minority who have failed sctionary but now devoting all his time that this General obtained a loan of a French nation, I asked for if she would to do their duty in this raatter, and to work for the Army. The orator, while million roubles from the same depart not be glad if her boy was so wounded solitary women or the mobilized owe the Right, declined to shut his eyes to entire series of faste showed that there still avowing himself the most Right of sent for the construction of s railway from the mineral wader factory, The that ane might take him home. She was of deserted farms, where such exist, will the dangerous malady from which son was some malignant will, some strong only an old peasant woman, but her be only too glad to have their land culti stituted authority was suffering or to hand pulling the strings on behalf of eyes finabad, her cheeks flushed with vated on these or any conditions; but the fact that the overwhelming majority Germana, despite the efforts of the Ita anger, and

even if very few attempts at compulsory of the country was on the side of the perial Headquarters to defeat the foo. Mademoing to me she said;"

how dare you say such cultivation are actually made, the moral majority of the Duma, together with a thing to me! If all the mothers, wives effect of such a law will be most salutary, which it condemns the policy of the Casing to where the Ministers sat, adjured In conclusion, M. Puzishkevitch, turn- and sweethearts thought as you what would happen to the country Gustave for the immediate future of French

The Ministry of Agriculture is anxious arment.

The speech took nearly two hours in throw themselves at the feet of the Tear, them to hasten to Imperial Headquarters, has only one thing to do, get well quickly agriculture; it is precisely because it delivery, and contained zany startling and implore him to open his eyes to the and fight for Mother France.

realizes at once the difficulties and the facts and accusations, which were all the Because these women of Franco have enormous importance of its taak, and weightier because the good faith of the terrible actuality and not to hermit the Bent their men forth to dio, eyes dry, because it has hitherto been active, in source was not open to the smallest loght destinies of the country to be guided by

in German pay The only other speech, that of Count think that they do not mourn for them. the difficulties that the present writer or likened the members of the Cabine to Bobrinski, was almost wholly a fierce at When night casts her kindly mantle of regards the prospect with equanimity. the twelve sleeping virgins. He assailed tack on M. Protopopoff, who during its darkness over all, when they are hidden If the cost of living had increased very specificially and mercilessly M. Proto delivery ant alongside M. Ehyostoff, the from the eyes of the world, it is then that seriously, it would have been reflected in

popoff, the food speculators, the cemorex Home Minister. At the close of the

Ho con- the prond heads droop and are bent upon [my hótel bill, and I have fared sumptu:anded that the newspaper with which #peech M. Protopopoli, obviously labour- THROUGH Bras or LáDING ISSUED FOR EXPENSE,

ship, and Germanic influence, their arms, as the womon ery out in the ously in the provinces on less than the Minister of the Interior was stillasteaed to the Presidential tribune with bitterness of their souls for the men who 6d. a day en pension.

ing under great excitement, rose In the wheat- have gone from, them. Yet they realise growing districts of France I have seen which German capital predominatod; and a paper supposed to contain a request to

connected was supported by the banks in that behind them stands the greatest lots of stubble and ploughed land, but although the newspaper could not openly be allowed to speak, but M. Rodzianko, iTHE Honiowed: Mail Stemmer, carrying 10 AMS V Mother of all-Mather France, who sees scarcely any land lying fallow. French defend the German interests, it mig uld be likely to provoke, anticipated from this port as rual, taking Passengers DAT of the steamer's arrival here, after which coming towards her, fram all frontiers. wheat was sold in Bordeaux on August easily insinuate that in paralysing G

previously apprised of the reception he is Majesty's Kails, will be despatch.

line on line of ambulances with their 29th last for 344. (278, 24d.) a quintal, man domination Russia would substituí," the movement by announcing that the "and Carro for the shore. Poria. Passengers' date they canot be recognized. burden of suffering humanity, yet and on the same day the price of an for it English or French. The

accommodation in the connecting vetsel secured Bession was closed till the evening, watches along other routes her sons going equal amount of wheat on the London asked why so many German prisoners Fremgin this morning declares that so

It is symptomatic that even the Nover. Infore departure from Hongkong. forth in thousands, laughter in their market was the equivalent of 41.12f. were sent to places Ice Archangel and long as M. Protopopoli remains in the Haly Franco and London (under arrangement) to rot, the 17th inst, will be subject

Bilk and Valuables and Tea and Cargo för eyes, songs on their lips, ready and will (nearly one-fourth of which was repre- Turkestan, where they were acting as in Cabinet it is hopeless to hiicipate har will be conveyed by this Steamer proceeding ing to die for her.

sented by freight charges). Normally the structors f Why Germans everywhere Franco draws around her her tattered Freach grow nearly enough wheat to and bloodstained robs, vet what matters feed themselves, and production has Why the German firm of Kunstbelieving that M. Trepoff himself is re-

were employed in munition factorious co-operation with the Duma, vis Bombay to Marsailles and London.

while there are the best grounds for Fazoals will be recsired as the Offee until 1 the outer raiment 1. Behind it shines Eallen off very little even during the war,

Albers still existed? He further definite-

F.M. the day before sailing. The contain and forth her glorious exultant soul, and yet the yield of wheat per acre is roughly ly charged the Department of Csolutely opposed to the Home Minister's velas of all packages are required. claims to the world that when she in Ireland as in France This is a General for the conveyance of mine she lifts up her head rejoicing and pro- [wice as grest in Great Britain and munications under A Tropu with pie continuguos in offgegang has sent to a further partinalars, milling dates, che, ing cars at the disposed of a certain pealed man, woman, and child-the facie evidence that our neglect of whole of the French nation answered agriculture in the past was not only water which be manufactured at * line to her call.

bad statesmanship, but bad business. (Continued at Joof of meal Column)

ly

and

the agreement as to the Dardanelles and The Progressive Bloe has sent to M Bazosoft a telegram thanking him fo Constantinople, achieved thanks to talent and patriotism.

ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION CO.

SEAM FOR STRAFT'S, GEYBON, AUSTRALIA, BOMBAY, BOYPT, MEDITERRANEAN PORTS AND LONDON,

BATAVIA, AMERIDAN, CONTINENZAK, AND SOUTH AFRICA Forss,

For

E. V. D. PARB

Superintendant

The Stormship

CITY OF MADRAS,”

| | Captivis Wno. Gray, having arrived from the above Port, Coraignees of Cargo sro hereby informed that their goods are being landed st their rink into the Godowns of the Hongking and Kowkson Wharf and Godown Co., Ltd. Kowloon, and stored at Consignees risk and

All brcken, ehsted, and damaged goods are to be left in the Godowns, where they will be sanmined on TUZSDAY, the 16th inst., at

All claims must be presented within FERTERK

No Claims will be schmitted after fle. Goode have left the Gedowns, and all goods remaining undailed

Consignses of cargo are hereby notified that they tawat produce an Import permit signed by Ale Experintendent of Imports and Exports, Hongkong, before Bill of Lading can enantanigmad

No Fire Insuranus has been affected. Bills of Lading will be counterzigned be

SHEWAN, TOKES & Co.,

Hongkong, 10th January, 1917. [17%