1917-02-28 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 281, 1017.

IMPORTANT BRITISH ADVANCES ON WESTERN FRONT AND IN MESOPOTAMIA.

PRESIDENT WILSON ON SUBMARINISM.

BRITISH BREAD REGULATIONS.

CUNARD LINER SUNK

Franco-Helgian Fronu,

LATEST CABLES.

(THROUGH RAYTHE'S AGENCY.] IMPORTANT GERMAN

RETIREMENT. ENEMY RETREAT TWO MILES.

LONDON, February 26th,

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in a communique, : says:- Our advance host been maintained and now extends to an eleven mile front, from the east of Guedecourt to the south of Gommecourt, with a depth of two miles. We occupy Butte de Warlencourt and the villages of Warlencourt. Eaucourt, Fys, Misaumont, and have reached the outskirts of Le Barque, Iries, and Puisieux Aumont.

We repulsed with loss to the enemy, au attack on a British post on the south bank of the Somme, and successfully raided the neighbourhoods of Arrus, Monchy-au Bois, and Lens.

EARLIER CABLES. LONDON, February 20th. Beater's correspondent at Headquar- ters telegraphs-A patrol on Saturday morning first discovered the retirement of the German ling in the Ancre Valley, This is unquestionably due to the recent British intolerable pressure. The first intimation that anything unwonted had curred was early on February 23rd, when a number of fires were observed to break out in the enemy a lines in front of Pys due to the deliberate Bring of

budeš dom chig-outa.

The dorrespondent compares the vance movements in the afternoon with

Naval Activities.

LATEST CABLES:

ĮTAKOVUN LEUTER'S AGENCY.] ANOTHER ATTACK ON ENGLISH COAST. WOMAN AND CHILD KIELED.

LONDON, February 20th

CUNARD LINER SUNK.

270 PERSONS SAVED.

LONDON, February 2th.

The Card liner Laconia, 18,000 tons, bound from New York to Liverpool, has been sunk.

LATER.

The Laconie was torpedoed without

In the House of Commons, Sir Edward | warning. Carson announced that Germán destroyers Two hundred and saventy persons, in bombarded Broadstairs and Margater including passengers were saved from the the early morning. A woman and a child Laconia,

A

were killed, two persons injured, and two. [The Lacoma vas built in 1911 at New- castle, by Swan and Hunter. Her regis Troises d'anged.

tered tonnage was 38,160,3-

ADOZEN SHELLS.

LONDON, February 20th. Unioficial details show that in the Bom- bardment a dozen shells fell on the coast. All the casualties were in a village -

shell also dropped ja, a town four miles

away.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

"THE “U 30" INTERNED.

FLUSHING, February 20th The U 30-has been disarmed and is to be înterncd.

GERMANY'S ADVICE TO

BRAZIL.

RUSSIAN SUCCESSES,

TURKS DISPERSED

LONDON, February 26th.

A Russian official wireless message. states: Reconnoitring parties pentrated the enemy's trencher to the west Jablonitza

Scouts dispersed Turks on the western bask of Lake Van, inflicting heavy losses.

General.

LATEST CABLES,

{TEMDUGA MIUTER'S AGENCY. |

LATEST CABLEA.

THE WAR LOAN, INTERESTING DETAILS.

LONDON, February 26th,

Mr. Bonar Law, in the course of his statement on the War Loan said the ton verted Treasury bills amounted to £1,000,000 He pointed out that the number of subscribers was, approximate ly, 5.299,000, and emphasised that while the German Loong muccessively decreaser ours increased. The cast of floating" the Loan, including advertising was only 575,000. The success of the Loun was due to the patriotism of the people, evidenced in the will and financial ability of the country to win the war.

BARLIER CABLES.

THE FINAL FIGURES.

THE BRITISH ADVANCE.

PRESENT POSITION DESCRIBED,

LONDON, February 26th. Reuter's correspondent at Headquar ters describes the German obstructive tactic-the posting of machine guns and

LONDON, February 28th teams of snipers at various vantage In the House of Commons, Sir Laxard pints of our line of pursuit but saya Carsou stated thas a patrol of our des there was definite resistance at one point troyers, between 11 and 19 o'clova Inst the Brazilian Minister in Berlin, that They urge Americans to join the move odced that the total of new money, in-

only, namely, the hill commanding the Boom ravine, in the direction of Minu

mont:

The

capture of Serre gives the British a most important dominating position for further operations. The famous Butte de Warlencourt is also occupied. This is a sort of German field Gibraltar, having been fought over inch by inch, lost and re-taken. Round it are the bones of more soldiers that are to be found in almost any outlying position.

Owing to the mist, the general advance was made only after the patrols had established touch with the enemy. These were aurprised at the usual quiet, and thought the enemy was practising a trap, but, realising the real situation, they swept forward most exultingly.

night encountered various enemy des troyers and was engaged for some time, being under heavy fire from guns and tor- pedoes. Our destroyers were undamaged. The effect on the cucany could not he ascertained, owing to the darkness

Another force of destroyers bombarded, for a quarter of an hour, the undefended towns of Broadstairs and Margate. As soon as the firing was heard, our forces in the vicinity closed in on the enemy who

had withdrawn before our men arrived.

"AMERICAN STEAMER'S-

ACHIEVEMENT.

PARIS, February 27th The American steamer Orleans, from New York, has entered the Gironde.

BABLIER CABLES.

THE DUTCH SINKINGS PUTTING BLAME ON BRITAIN,

AMBTERDAM, February 25th According to Reuter's correspondent at Amsterdam. the German Legation's ex

The fog was most advantageous to the enemy in shielding his retirement from our aeroplanes, while the frost of the preceding days had enabled him to withdraw most of the gaps. Hy left a few to make a show of firing, and an unplanation of the recent torpedoing of wonted fuantity of ammunition, for the Dutch ships blames Britain for the simple renson that there was no time to ability of Dutch ships to utilise the opportunity to depart from England as move the shells,

British patrols are still out in every the busiest days of the great Somme direction, and, until they have reported, push. The extreme depth to which the it is impossible to say where the Gor- mans will make their stand; but undoubt Cortas retreat has been carried is re- ported to be three miles. We have occu-edly they have many carefully-prepared pied Miraumont, Miraumont le Petit, Pys and Borre, without meeting obstinate -resistance The 7 Germans. employed obstructive tactics, but there was no fighting: NEW GROUND SECURED WITHOUT

LOSS OF LIFE.

In rearguard actions yesterday even. ing we advanced from Warlencourt and Irles towards Miraumont, on the enemy 'e heela This line has now been established. We gained a large tract of country without loss of life and the new ground has not been ploughed up by shell-hre for the resumption of the battle.

BAPAUME NEXT There is an unconfirmed report to the effect that the enemy is evacuating tha great strategic port at Bapaume, where explosions and fires were observed to be taking place.

FRENCH FRONT.

EFFECTIVE ARTILLERY FIRE.

positions in their rear, and the Rapaune ridge is the most probable. The fact that the enemy is strategically retreating from strongholds which we expected to win only by tghting heavily, roseals a new phase of his defensive weakneare

The Boom ravino was the scans of desperate fighting on February - 17th, when the British attacked in the darkness. and fog. One battalion was especially tried. It loat all its officers, but the sergeant major led the men Finding a gap in the uncut wire, they captured the Grandoourt trench and entered a deep ravine, which presented an awful sight of smashed trees and mangled dead, the result of the British canonade,

GERMAN REPORT.

sime limit to midnight of February 10th,

BRITAIN BLAMELESS

AMERICA AND GERMANY.

THE REAL AMERICAN SPIRIT.

Ex-President Taft, Mr. J. H Choate and numerous other prominens Americans have issued a manifesto stating that the majority of Americans who favour action at present are lent, not wishing to Lowper,* February th

embarrass President Wilson, therefore, the Reuter's correspondent, at Rio de small number of Pacifists are creating Janeko says that Germany has informed wrong impression of the nation's spirit.

the decision to maintain the submarine blockade is unalterable. He suggests that Brazil should have recourse to diplomacy if Brazilian ships are sunk. The Balkans.

MARLIER CABLES.

{THROUGH REUTZZ'S 40INOY.]

GERMAN BEFORT.

LONDON, February 28th, A wireless Geroran official message sayFrench attacks were usuccessful south of Cernay. The enemy yesterday lost eight aeroplanes.

CONCESSION TO GREECE.

LONDON, February 26th. Reuter learns that the Allies are permit ting certain cargoes of grain to enter Greek ports in order to relieve the more pressing necessities of the Creeks, but the blockade will not be raised till General Barrail's flank is completely secure The Near Bast,

BARLIER CABLES. THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY J BRITISH SUCCESS IN MESOPOTAMIA.

LONDON, February 20th,

ment for immediate action, instead of

waiting for the murder of more Ameri- cats before entering on war

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT WILSON

WASHINGTON, February 26th. In the C In the Congress President Wilson

armed asked authority to establish neutrality. He stated that the Govern bient had made full plans to protect American ships in the German war zone, and pointed out that while they desired peace there was something greater than peace, humsly protection of the rights of Americas, and the upholding of the rights of American ships to sail the seas unmolested.

LONDON, February 20th. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law made a final statement as to receipts in connection with the Loan he an-

Bills

converted,

£1,000,312,950.

(Loud

Treasury cluding amounted

cheers.)

to

LATEST UABLES."

TRISH AFFAIRS.

REVIVAL OF CONSPIRACY.

LONDON, February 27th. Mr. Duke, K.O in the House of Commons, speaking on the Motion for Adjournment of the House, said the great majority of those arrested during the late rebellion in Ire land and keptas prisoners had, site their release, busied themselves in reviving the conspiracy. He declared that it was inadvisable to enter into details. Inspector-General Bryan-Mahon. of the Irish Constabulary, had sccepted responsibility for what had been done.

EARLIER CABLES.

LONDON, February 20th.

In the course of his weighty and out spoken revica of the submarine situation, President Wilson aid he feared that none of the neutral nations who had been asked to co-operate to prevent submarine depre dations thought it wise to join in common. action, American commerce was suffering more in apprehension than in fact, ships | Mr. John Dillon, Mr. Duke stated that timidly keeping it home ports. He dwelt twenty-eight persons had been arrested

in Ireland Nuder the Defence of the Rom Act, on suspicion of acting pro judicially to the public safety. It was

on the most sozions and growing conges tion arising from this policy, which in

offered by the Germans, extending the UT EVACUATED BY THE TURKS itself might gocomplish the German aim

LONDON, February 26th. He characterised the king of the A Turkish communiqué admite the Lymanly as disclosing a rathlessness of evacuation of Kut," according to a pre-method deserving great condemnation. arranged plan and in order to effect He laid stress on the Indications and expression of purpose by the German junction with reinforcements,”

Press and authorities, which increased the impression that the future sparing of American ships and people was likely to be more due to unexpected discretion and restraint on the part of submarino.com- manders or fortunate circumstances than the carrying out of instructions, DEFENSIVE ARMS FOR AMERICAN

LONDON, February 25th, The Rotterdam correspondent of the Handelsblad states that the Gorman Naval Attaches at The Hague communi- cated the offer to the Dutch shipowngra at seven in the evening of February 10th, when it was too late to give the necessary instructions to Dutch ships England. Thus the concession was useless, and

Britain was blameless

NARROW ESCAPES.

AMSIKETAN, February bath

Berlin official

message, capitulating the excuses mentioned on February 25th, mention, that the owners

A

In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law announced that, as a result of opera tions in Mesopotamia, the whole enemy position between Bonsaiyat and Kut el Amara has been secured, and that Kut el Amara passes automatically into our hands, he ca

ENEMY IN TULL RETREAT

LONDON, February 26th

SHIPS.

WASHINGTON, February 27th A Mesopotamia official message states: President Wilson has requested Con Early on Baturday, we captured agress to authorise the supply of merchant

of thirty-three Dutch ships, including ridge across the nock of the Bhumnah ships with defensive arms and also twenty leden with corn for the Dutch Peninsula and it became evident that the adequate menus of protection, including Government, asked Germany for permis-enemy was in full retreat in the direction war risks and insurance.

sion to leave Falmouth and Dartmouth Eighteen andertook to sail, but ap- parently only eight took the risk ---

THE SUBMARINE PIRATE

LONDON, February th According to Reuter, it is stated in Dutch circle, that it was the US which attacked the Dutch steamers, torpedoing and sinking three and placing boribs on

LONDON, February 20th. A Berlin official message says: Our anti-aircraft guns brought down French airship ablaze, near Metz, on the night of the twenty-third. Her cargo of bombs exploded when she touched the LONDON, February 26th.

ground, and her crew of fourteen was French communiqué states-Our killed. The details of the construction others: artillery was effectively active in the region of Morthomme. There was inter mittent artillery firing in Lorraine and in the Vosges

SUCCESSFUL RAID ON GERMAN LINES,

LONDON. February 26th.

A French communiqué saya-We raid- ed the German line near Ville-mr-Tourbe, destroyed many dug-outs and brought back prisoners and' material.

Au cuemy coup de man, north-east of Soissons and west of Avocourt, failed. We made prisoners.

of the airship are crally recognisable front the remnants.

Italian Front.

LATEST CABLES;

{THROUGH REUTER'S AUREOX.)

ITALIAN OPERATIONS.

BUCCESSFUL AERIAL BOMBARD-

SMENT.

LONDON, February 26th. An Italian official report states:We drove back and dispersed enemy dotach ments south-east of Gorizis.

The Menada was rescued by a British trawler and towed. into harbour. The whereabouts of the others is unknown The crews were towed to the Scilly Isles, it being thought that their ships had been sunk

of Baghailah To the west of Kut el Amara, many Turkish depots and stores were afre. A strong force of infantry and cavalry was heavily engaged all day long, inflicting severe casualties.

In the meantime, we pursued our suc

BARLIER CABLES.

THE PROPOSAL TO USE U.S. ARMED FORCES.

LONDON, February 26th,

A message from Washington states that

In the House of Commons, in reply to

not proposed to try them, but they had been prohibited from residing in Ireland. Mr. Dillion gave notice that he would move the adjournment, thoreanent.

LATEST CABLES,

WAR MEDIATION.

REPORTED PROPOSAL FROM ARGENTINAT

BUENOS AIRES, February 20th.

It is reported that Argentina har initiated negotiation with the Latin- American Republics with a view to jointly

offering mediation.

BRITISH BREAD.

REGULATIONS AS TO WEIGHT, QUALITY AND AGE.

LONDON, February 28th.

The Prese Bureau reports that Lord

Davenport has notified that bread maESA.

be sold in loaves weighing one pound or an eres number of pounds; must be twelve hours old and not exchanged for old bread previously sold) must not co- sees on the Sannaiyat position and the Republican resolution in the Senate, tain currants, sultanas, milk or sugar. captured the Bih Turkish line, the Nak authorising President Wilson to use the Inspectors are authorised to weigh on the baila and Burrada positions, and reached armed forces of the United States in premises or in course of delivery. Rolls the Ahe marsh and Magasis line. order to protect the commerce, property must weigh two ounces. Aeroplanes co-operated invaluably by and lives of Americans, was not adopted, bombing and machine-gunning at mini- but was referred to the Foreign Hele tions Committee, thus being shelved, mum altitude.

In two days we took 1,730 prisoners, after a furious debate in which the He The whole of the enemy's positions from publicam attacked the President for Bannalyst to Kut el Amara aro" thus hesitation to net.

The Republicans are apparently try

EARLIER CABLES.

RATIONS OF GERMAN

* PRISONERS.

NEW SCALE ADOPTED.

LONDON, February 26th. Elever other Dutch ships were ordered | scored--Eut passing automatically into

Lord Devonport has approved a new by their owners to set sail simultane our hands. The full Turkish losses are ing to force an extra Fession of the scale of-rations to German prisoners of ously, but fortunately they had not as yet unknows,

Senste in order to prevent Presidend war, and those interned, involving a re- cleared.

AN OFFICER'S ACCOUNT.

LONDON, February 25th.

A Dutch officer, interviewed in London said the submarine fired an aerial torpedo Two of our airships successfully drop and then fired shells till the ships stop

Three enemy aeroplanes were brought down and our air squadrons heavily pod tous of high explosives on the railed. She then ordered the crews to their

bombed bivouses and a munitions depot "near Spincourt (where there were many

way station at Rifemberga and an

boats within five minutes, saying she would sink the steamers because they were We made progress on the worth of in British waters. They barely had time Trieste

to escape,

explosions), and also airsheds at Buzancy aviation ground. and railway stations in the region of Wissembourg

Russian front,

EARLIER CABLES.

PIEROVOM NEUTER'S AGENOT.], GERMAN REPORT.

LONDON, February 26th. We repulsed the Russians to westward of the Aa and south of Braczany, Strong Russian attacks north of the Tartar Pass failed

Watson from fully controlling the situa tion as regards Germany

INDIAN PRINCE VISITS CAIRO.

PORT SAID, February 25th,

The Maharaja of Bikanir arrived here and proceeded to Cairo, where he pro pases to stay for a week.

duction to the proportions recently on- joined on the British public,

OBITUARY.

MR. JONATHAN SAMUEL, M.P

TONDON, February 27th,

The death is announced of Mr. Jonathan Samuel, MP for Blockton-o88-