1917-01-16 — Page 5

THE WAR.

BELGIUM AND

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JANUARY 16TH, 1917.

PEACE.

FULL REPARATION

AND

SECURITY.

GERMANY'S NOTE TO NEUTRALS.

General.

FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS.

LATEST CADLES. [TEDOUGH BRUTOR'S 'LOMROY.]

BELGIUM AND PEACE.

REPARATION AND SECURITY

ESSENTIAL.

LONDON, January 15th. The text of the Belgian reply to Pre sidont Wilson's peace proposals has been published. It says that President Wilson setus to believe that the objects of the belligerents are identical. The example of Belgium proves the contrary. Bel- gium never entertained desires for con- quest, and the barbarity with which Ger- many is treating the Belgians does not

THE PEACE MANŒUVRES,

BRITISH PRESS OPINION ON GERMAN NOTE.

LONDON, January 14th. The newspapers consider that the Ger

The Balkans.

LATEST CABLES.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGHIOT.] NEUTRAL REPRESENTATIVES. REQUESTED TO LEAVE BUKHAREST.

AMSTERDAM, January 16th,

OUR LONDON LETTER.

There was a

FAR EASTERN MEN AND THE WAR.

No less than 85 per cent, of Cliefoo School old boys have joined the army.

decisions taken, but in questions of transcendent importance no decision at all was taken until it was too late. That was the fundamental and unpardonable fault of the late Ministry. Nothing leas

Capt. D. Arthur, LM.S., who is well- than a sense of the purest patriotism on known in Hongkong,, where he served the part of the nation as a whole could with the 8th Rajputs just before the wat, a prisoner in have enabled the Coalition to hang toge-18, we understand, now

Baghdad.

noble forbearance. The last thing that Infantry, formerly a master in the Ellis Major Patrick Currie, Australian any man wanted was to say or do any Kadooria School, Hongkong, has been thing that would embarrass the leaders awarded the D.S.0, for consistent or hearten the enemy, though the sub-gallantry and good work during opera

Liona at Pozieres Ridge, notably on one ject was talked about in the way of can occasion, during an attack, when he versation. The war might have been won jumped over the parapet, exposed to heavy fire, in order to cheer on his men, at Gallipoli; or it might have been won

He was subaduently wounded, but hap at Salonika and the awful fate of Serbia pily recovered and has returned to duty averted. Then there was the blunder in In England. *> Mesopotamia, where defeat was courted by essaying a gigantic task with an in- adequate force, badly equipped.' · Later came the Roumanian disaster, brought

· (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]

LONDON, Desember 11th, 1936. AN UNPARALLELED POLITICAL UPHEAVAL

My last letter, written before the fall of the Asquith Ministry, was regarded as imminent, briefly set forth some of the principal reasons why a profound ther as long as it did. feeling of dissatisfaction had rapidly grown up in the country over the conduct of the war. I ́endeavoured to indicate why it was felt that there, would have to be a drastic change in the policy of the Government, whose methods were too slow and hesitating for the business we have on hand. Within the week since I wrote we have lived through a political upheaval without parallel in modern A telegram from Sofia states that history; indeed, if the stupendous conse Generalissimo Jekoff, in an Army Order,quences are taken into account it may announces the rejection of the Central be described as a revolution. While the

A Berlin official message states that the representatives of mentral countries have left Bukharest of the request of the Ger- man authorities, on the ground that there is no room for diplomatic activities.

GENERALISSIMO'S DECLARATION,

AMSTERDAM, January 18th.

事

may

|

NO MORE PHAYERS FOR KING CONSTANTINE.

nt

The following telegrams have been re man Nole only strengthens the good Powers' offer of peace by their "insati trinis lasted public anxiety was wider about by failure to make provision for

the onslaught which was inevitably to boceived by the Anglo-Hellenic League impressions made by the Entente's reply able enemies," and states that ho relies and deeper than anything which I can expected; and the same tale of indeci

from the Provisional Government recall; and now that it is happily oversion, delay, and "Wait and see'

Salonika:- on their bravery and endurance to accom- there is sincere relief. There is also now be told of Greece, where affairs have plish the holy task of the unification of another feeling-one of profound satis drifted from bad to worse. The evidence Bulgaria.

faction that the Coalition as hitherto constituted has ceased to exist, that Mr. Asquith has disappeared from office, and that Mr. Lloyd George reigns in his stead. CAUSE OF THE CRISIS.

to President Wilson,

AMERICAN VIEWS ON ALLIES' REPLY. WASHINGTON, January 13th. The Entente's reply has been discussed by the Cabinet,

Mr. Lansing afterwards conferred with President Wilson on the question.

It is understood that the President

greatly appreciates the kindness, frank- ness and courtesy of the Note. He still

BARLIER CABLES.

ROUMANIAN CAMPAIGN.

CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS.

LONDON, January 14th.

A wireless Russian official message says:-The enemy attacked from Kotumi

of Ministerial feeblences and wobbling in regard to great matters was apparent in all matters. Nothing was foreseen: every decision was postponed. There

Government) has addressed a letter to Salonika, December 9th.The Minister of Public Worship (of the Provisional the ecclesiastical authorities explaining that the moral responsibility before God. and man for the instigation of the blood ahed and civil war in Athens rests with. King Constantine, and that the national conscience insists that his name should no longer be cited in the Church service.

Canes, December 10th-At a large was unanimously passed declaring King Constantine dethroned and cursing him as a traitor to the nation and the Motherland. Soldiers who were present tore the Royal crowns off their uniforms, singing patriotic songs.

The story of the crisis is soon told. Was no strong direction of the war. The meeting which was held here a'resolution

It was

war was left to direct itself.

indicate that she will guarantee in the hopes that the Central Powers will | Khali, on the Sereth front, as far as Council of the Cabinet should be reduced were incapable dullards. They were, and

indicate their terms.

It is reported in diplomatic circles that the Germans are disappointed at the uncompromising tone of the Allies, as they expected concessions,

+

future the rights of weak nations, whom she has not consed to trample underfoot. Belgium welcomes, and relics on, the assurance of the United States to co operate in post-war measures to protect

The New Fork Times says the German small nations from violence and oppres Note to neutrals is another diplomatic aion. If a country was justified in saying | blunder, and was obviously timed for that it was fighting to defend its existence contemporaneous presentation with the it in Belgium, who was forced to fight or Allies' reply, the effect of which has been submit to disgrace. She passionately heightened by the inept and extravagant desired the precedented sufferings of German assertions. her population to be ended, but could only accept & peace assuring reparation, and security in the future. The generous assistance of the American people justi- for the hope that the United States will echo the demand of the Entente for the restoration of Belgium to her place among civilised nations,

PEACE MANŒŒŒUVRES.

RUSSIAN COMMENT.

PETROGRAD, January 15th. The frankness and dignity of the Allies' Reply to President Wilson is con- trasted with the Austro-German Note running amok among the facts. There is much amused comment on the German

are

reference to the Boers, as the Russians profoundly impressed with the aaccess of British policy in South Africa. GERMANY'S "RAPACIOUS

CLAWS."

The Novasvremya says:--" Paper guar- antces are useless in the case of Germany. Her rapacious claws must be cut."

RUSSIAN NEW YEAR.

CONFIDENT ANTICIPATION OF DECISIVE VICTORY IN 1917.

Petrograd, January 15th. On the Russian New Year's Day the newspapers are full of military and poli- tical reviews and greetings to the Allies. There is a general note of confident anti- cipation of decisive victory in 1917.

EARLIER CABLES.

TWO NEW Y.C.S.

PRIVATE KILLS TEN GERMANS.

Loxnos, January 14th.

The Gazette announces that the Victoria Cross has been awarded to the follow ing:-

a

Private John Cunningham, of the East Torka Regiment. When the rest of his bombing section were all wounded, he colfected bombs and, proceeding alone, returned for

fresh supply. Ho advanced again and met and killed ten Germans, He cleared the trench,

Private David Bass Lauder, of the Scots Fusiliers-He placed his foot on a fallen bomb. His foot was blown of, and his bombing party was saved;

RUSSIAN POLITICAL

CHANGES.

PETROGRAD, January 15th. The Reactionary ex-Minister of Justice, M. Staheglovitoff, has been appointed President of the Council of Empire.

A number of retirements and fresh ap pointments replaces a Progressiva by an Extreme Right majority.

Franco-Belgian Front,

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH BRUTER'S AGENOT.]

THE FRENCH.

CUSTOMARY CANNONADE.

PARIS, January 15th. There has been the customary can-

شور

Vodeni.

COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT WRONG.

Of course I am not suggesting that the men comprising Mr. Asquith's Cabinet

are, in fact able wen, some of whom will continue to serve the country in high office under Mr. Lloyd George. But their ineffectiveness was in large measure due to circumstances,

though it is sure to fill any pages in the histories of the future. brought about by the action of Mr. Lloyd George. He proposed that the War

to four, but that Mr. Asquith should not be one of the four, though at the samo time he was to have an ultimate velo on its decisions, as well as supreme control of the Government. At first the Prime Minister was disposed to consider the idea favourably. He admitted as much himself at a meeting of the Liberal Party We repulsed an advance on the Beretb, last Friday. But, after due considera that the Cabinet was chosen on the old office as Greek Minister in London, wrote

A. German official message, sent by wireless, states:We stormed and cap- tured a summit to the south of the Oituz

road.

Unfavourable weather has restricted General von Mackensen.

to the north-west of Braila.

Hostile attacks between Vardar Lake Doiran were unsuccessful.

tion and consultation with some of his and chief supporters, he came to the conclu sion that the proposal was one which he could not entertain. Thereupon Mr. Lloyd George resigned, and with him Mr. Boner Law and the other Unionist mem- bera of the Cabinet. In these circum-. stances, Mr. Asquith had no alternative except to place his resignation in the

A wireless German official message By: We have captured Vadeni, on the Braila-Galats Railway.

THE GREEK ORISIS.

BRITISH COLONY REACHES. ENGLAND.

LONDON, January 14th. The British colony at Athens han arrived in England after being one month on board ship in the Piraeus. They estimate that the Greeks, though suffer ing from the blockade, have food for thres months, the surplus of the harvest being hidden in cavES,

A GERMÁN HIGH OFFICER

APPEARS,

SALONIKA, January. 14th. The arrival is reported at Athens of Major von Falkenhausen, former Mili conade south of the Summe, in the region tary Attache of the German Legation in of Verdun.

Athens. He is doubtless bringing a message from the Kaiser, and has travel led vit Southern Albania and Janis.

Russian Front,

Entry reconnaissances south of Berry.

aubes were repulsed.

BARLIER CABLES,

BRITISH FRONT,

· SUCCESSFUL PATROL ENTER-

PRISES.

LONDON, January 14th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- porta:We drove off a raid to the north- west of Guedecourt and carried out successful patrol enterprises at Neuvo Chapelle and Armentières,

FRENCH FRONT.

SOME ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

LONDON, January 14th.

A French communiqué, saya:-There has been some artillery activity to the south of the Bomme and on the right bank

of the Menso.

Africa,

EARLIER CABLES.

(THROUGH REUTER'S - AGENCY,]

| EAST, AFRICAN OPERATIONS.

·ARMOURED · ÇARS DO GREAT

EXECUTION.

LONDON, January 14th. Avording to Reuter's correspondent in East Africa, light armoured cars came in contact with the enemy on January 3rd, and, though plastered with machine- gun ballets, did great execution. silenced the enemy's fire, but were eventu radiator and boiling in the tanks. There ally forced to retire, owing to a wrecked

were no casualties amongst the crews.

They

BARLIER CABLES;

(THROUGH REUTERʼO ADENOT.]

RUSSIANS STAND FAST.

LONDON, January 14th.

A wireless Russian official message says:-We repulsed & German denso attack south of Babit Lake

A GERMAN REPORT,

LONDON, January 14th.

A German official message, sent by wire less, states--German grenadiers entered a Russian position several points to the north of Goldenbystritza, inflicting severe losses.

Naval Activities.

EARLIER CABLES, (THROUGH REUTER'S 'AGENDY,]

ITALIAN NAVAL SUCCESS.

TWO AUSTRIAN SUBMARINES

CAPTURED.

hands of the King.

AN IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSAL,

The composition of

the Government was wrong. A Coalition is not a satisfactory instrument for waging war. Besides, it is fairly evident

party lines. From beginning to end the Coalition was a party deal; and when Mr. Asquith had got it together the re- sulting Ministry was no more w War Ministry than the Liberal Ministry which preceded it.

CONFIDENCE RESTORED.

Having had bitter experience of mud-

A largely attended meeting of the Hellenic community of London, as well Liverpool, and Cardiff, was held last aa of representatives from Manchester, month in the crypt of the Greek Church, Bayswater, at which resolutions were passed deprecating the attacks in Athena on the troops of the Allied Powers, de- claring King Constanting to be unworthy occupy the Throne, and calling on the Protecting Powers to depose him.

to

M. Gennadius, who recently resigned expressing his sympathy with the object of the meeting..

At a meeting the Greek community in London decided to omit Ling Constan- tine from their prayers.

A similar announcement was made in the Greek church at Paris, before a large Prince congregation, which included George of Greece.

FOR RECRUITS.

"BRITAIN FIGHTS THAT FRANCE MAY LIVE."

dle and delay where there ought to have SIR W. LAURIER'S APPEAL been a clean-out policy and efficient or- ganisation and control, the country wel- It is clear from the foregoing that, there comes Mr. Lloyd George. Public confi- dence in him is unbounded. He has proved was a definite isane between the two statesmen. Mr. Lloyd George did not that he is a man who can get things done. want the Prime Minister to serve on the He is starting well by reducing the size of War Council; but the Prime Minister the Cabinet. Mr. Asquith's Cabinet of could not accept the condition without, in 23 was the largest in our political hir Following the example of Chat- point of fact, abrogating his respon- tury.

Premier has sibility and playing second fiddle to his ham and Pitt, the new younger and more energetic colleague. selected Ministers to asist him who can While on the terms submitted to him he be counted on one hand. The old party was to be allowed to retain the semblance | inbels mean nothing to him. It is under-humanity. He had heard it argued in

of power, for all practical purposes he stood that this small Cabinet will tako would have had no power at all over the over the functions of the War Council. supreme direction of the war. It was in the absolute direction of the war, and role which no man who had wielded will sit daily. Altogether things are unfettered authority could accept. Apart shaping well, public opinion is satisfied, from that aspect of the case, the plan public confidence is restored, and the was impracticable. We should have had fatum, which had become dark and a Cabinet presided over by one Minister, ominous, is again filled with hopefulness and the War Council, invested with commensurate with the determination of power to carry out momentous decisions, the nation.

to

presided over by another Minister. Such, however, was the plan for what it was worth. To the man in the club and the man in the street it did not seem to be worth a great deal, even as a political expedient; but, as the evant proved, it was invaluable as a means of breaking up the Coalition Cabinet under Mr Asquith-and that, after all, was what everybody regarded as urgently essential in the national interest if we are realise the triumph of our cause. REFLEX ACTION OF THE CR1818 IN THE WAR.

There is no harm in saying now that for some time past matters had reached a stage in the war when it was recognised that something would have to be done on our site to force the pace. The crisis in the Ministry was in reality only the reflex action of the crisis in the war. And the crisis in the war simply amounted to this that the course of events had made it plain that we were not winning the war, and that with the present methods

we never should win it. The determinion LONDON, January 14th. tion of the country is stronger than ever, An Italina naval communiqué says but the Inte Administration was lacking. Two Austrian submarines have been cap. The country responded to every demand tured, one of which has been incorporated made upon it, sacrificing its best and bravest, pouring out money as water runs in the Italian Navy,

Italian and French seaplanes raided through a mill sluice, yielding up in dividual liberties, breaking away from Pola on January 12th and bombed the age-long traditions, maintaining a most aeroplanes and returned safely, Austrian fleet. They drove off enemy splendid spirit of patriotism and unity. The power at the disposal of the Govern- Enemy aeroplanes unsuccessfully bombment was colossal. It was the use made ed Italian torpedo boats.

of it which failed. Not only were wrong

The Cabinet changes are

hailed with satisfaction in the Allied capitals, and it is significant that dur- ing the past few days the British politi- cal situation has completely overshadow- ed Roumanian news in Germany, despite the ringing of joy-bells and the public holiday ordered by the Kaiser to cele brate the fall of Bucharest.

** WAIT AND SER"

Bir Wilfrid Laurier had an thusias- tic reception at a great mectin

held at Quebec at which he spoke argi- Cana- dians to ealist. He said:

I ark you, with all the sincerity and earnestness of which I am capable, to take up the great cause of duty and right for the love you have to God, truth, and justice."

Sir Wilfrid declared that if he were 20 years younger he would enlist to fight in the grandest cause ever presented to

Quebec that Canadians need not fight for Great Britain, But it was not for Bri- tain that Britain was at war, It was because of the atrocious attack by the Germans through Belgium on the heart of France, and because she stood true to her Ally. Many were wounded, many cited, but it was not for Britain that they fought. They gave their lives freely and loyally that France, as part of the comity of nations, might live and continue her role at the head of civilization. He had heard it argued that even if England and France should perish Canada might still expression of the feeling of Canada or go on her way; but that was not the real of that of Quebec.

THE WAR FILMS, living pictures of the dead, O songs without a sound,

O fellowship whose phantom tread Hallows a phantom ground How in a gleam have there revealed

The faith we had not found.

We have sought God in a cloudy Heaven, We have passed by God on earth; His seven sins and his sorrows seven,

His wayworn mood and mirth, Like a ragged cloak have hid from us

The secret of his birth.

Brother of inen, when now I see

Many reasons are being assigned for the supercession of Mr. Asquith; but I venture to think that the real one may be discovered in his inability to make up his mind. It was always "Wait and see." He was apparently never able to grasp the fact that he had the country absolutely solid behind him. Nor did he seem to realise that he had the House of Commons at his back, irrespective of party, and that all that Assembly de manded was reasonable proof that every thing possible was being done to prose cute the war with the whole strength of the Empire's illimitable resources. But for a long time there was good reason to know that everything possible was not being done. On the contrary, the Gov- SIR crament was marked

The lads go forth in line. Thou knowest my heart is hungry

in me

Thou knowest my heart is bowed in me

As for thy bread and wine:

To take their death for mine.

HENRY NEWBOLr in The Times,

DOUGLAS HAIG THANKS OLD

CLIFTONIANS.

has

of plan, hesitation in pit by bleness force, and a fatal facility for being too In a letter to Colonel Sir Francis late Mr. Asquith is not by training or Younghusband Sir Douglas, Haig, him- He has self an old Cliftonian, expresses grati- temperament a man of action. in exceptional degree the ability of the fication at the work done by old boys of clever lawyer to state a case well; and Clifton College towards assisting the he is also a great Parliamentarian, up education at that school of the sons of to every move in the party game. But fallen officers. the power to coin words or turn a phrase already been secured to provide seventeen,

Enough money will not win a war; and the habit of exhibitions of 250 ac vide a compromise, so dear to the party man at

purpose. Westminster, is not of the slightest use as

It is only right, adds the Commander- weapon against the Germany. If Mr. have sacrificed everything for their coun- in-Chief, that the sons of those who Asquith had been less diligent to keep the try should be given the chance of an loosely-jointed Coalition together and education such as their fathers would more concerned to drive ahead against have wished for them, and the knowledge have come to a sudden and dramatic comfort to the minds of many who are the enemy his official career would not that the chance will be given will bring close.

Fet serving.