1917-04-19 — Page 5

Page

THE WAR.

BRITISH

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, APRIL 19TH, 1917.

STILL ADVANCING.

LABOUR TROUBLES IN GERMANY. THOUSANDS ON STRIKE.

BLOCKADE OF AMERICAN PORTS

COMMENCED.

GERMANY AND HER DEAD.

Franco-Belgian Bron

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH RAUTRE'S AGENOT.)

THE FRENCH OFFENSIVE,

MORE GERMAN POSITIONS TAKEN.

PARIS, April 18th.

A communique states:-We have ex- tended our action east of Rheims, and attacked the German lines between Pranay and the St. Hilaire and St. Soapplet road. Notwithstanding violent squalls of rain and snow, our troops ndvanend with irresistible ardour and carried, on a front of fifteen kilometres, sad despite the enemy's resistance, tha whole of the first German position.

Our men, pushing beyond this posi tion to the south of Moronvilliers, bril Tantly conquered, for an extent of eleven kilometres. a line of solidly organised. heights from Mount Cornillet to cast of Waudivin Court. Further east, a spirit- ed action resulted in our capturing the village of Auberine and a powerfully fortified salient formed by the German line around the village on a front of

three kilometres.

ENEMY RESISTANCE.

LONG AND BITTER BATTLE.

LONDON, April 18th.

Houter's correspondent at the French

Beadquarters, writes:--The enemy are

resisting our counter-attacking in the

>most determined manner. There in every indication that the battle will be long and bitter, and will continue until

BRITISH CONTINUE TO PRESS ENEMY.

The artillerying continued today, Naval Activities. levelling the positions and rendering en ubstinate defence no longer possible. righting was no longer against alline but over a deep and irregular fortified zone, The battle swayed backwards and forwards around the foremost positions, our ohjeet being, even if war material were lost to spare the lives of our forces and to faflet losses on the enemy. This was achieved, thanks to our' kerges, French attempt to break through failed We inflicted sanguinary losses and took over 2.100 prisoners. Where the enemy pentrated, the hghting continues. Fresh attacks are expected, Fighting between Prunay and Auberive has developed, the battle-line therefore extending from the Oise into Champagne. We have entire confidence in the coming heavy

fighting.

LATEST CABLES. {THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

BLOCKADE OF AMERICAN

PORTS BEGUN,

GERMAN SUBMARINE ACTIVITY.

WAINGTON, April 18th.

A German submarine fired on an American destroyer 100 miles south of

New York Thas a German submarine

A

LONDON, April 17th..

COSTLY GERMAN FAILURES. Fiold-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-

LONDON, April 17th. ports:We have made further progress Reuter's correspondent at Headquar northward of Gouzeaucourt, near Havers remarks: When the Germans make rincourt Wood.

up their minde to ceass attacking. Mon Encounters have occurred throughoutchy-le-Preux their casualties will amount the day westward, and north-western of to an appalling total. The lure is still Lens, where we continue to press the strong upon them, despite their very eseny.

costly failures, and prisoners' state that, Hostile attempts to drive back the ad- if the attack in which they were euptured vanced troops failed,

was unsuccessful, other attempts will bo made,

There was much useful aeroplano work on Monday, despite the exceeding- We need not complain of the enemy's ly unfavourable weather. Three Ger- continuing to give us opportunities to man machines were driven down. damag-punish him. The heaviest and most de ed. In most cases the enemy avoided

Five of our machines are miss

combat.

ing.

EARLIER CABLES.

THE GREAT ADVANCE.

100,000 GERMANS OUT OF ACTION,

LONDON, April 17th,

A semi-official message issued in Paris states:-The Germans have maseed at least twenty Divisions and all their available batteries: on

Kheims front.

blockade of American ports has begun. GenePAL.

LATEST CABLES.

{THROUGH MIUTIN'S AGENIT.]

LABOUR DISCONTENT IN GERMANY.

A GREAT STRIKE.

LONDON, April 17th. for some days past news has been arriving of grave industrial discontent in Germany.

A great strike of metal, wood, and transport workers broke out at the week end in Berlin, the first serious labour trouble since the munitions workers strike, after the conviction of Herr Lieb- knecht. Well over 100,000 workers are out, due apparently to the reduction of the broad ration. No disturbances have broken out, the men, either have not ap peared at work at all, or left after break fast. Some of the munition workers have also

truck

The papers gloss over the incidenta, declaring that work at some of the large munition factories is being carried on by almost all hands.

There have been street gatherings and street processions, and pacifist leaflets have been distributed by the strikers.

A procession in Greater Berlin cu deavoured to penetrate a part of the

termined German effort to retake the key position was made on April 14th, at Roeux, which lies on the north bank of the Scarpe, two miles from Monchy This harboured many German batteries which were able to sweep the intervening. valley.

The country is most favourable to openalty, but they found access barred by the bodies succeeded in fighting and affords good cover for the police, though some, concentration of troops. Sare Wood lies entering the interior of the city.

The Trades Union leaders are doing north-wast of Vert Wood and south-cost, at no great distance, we lay along this their utmost to pacify the men.

KING REVIEWS AUSTRALIAN

TROOPS.

GALLIPOLI HERO.

LONDON, April 16th. The King reviewed the Australians on Salisbury Plain, where he was welcomed by a distinguished company, including the High Commissioner, the Agent Generals, the American Attache, and General Turner, commanding the Cona- dians

His Majesty minutely inspected the lines, and then the troops marched past, clicting hearty cheers from the hundreds of spectators on the hillside,

The troops were commanded by General Newton Moore..

His Majesty said he was more than delighted' with the troops and all he had secu

Before leaving His Majesty decorated a number of Australian officers, includ- ing Captain Moore, who, at Gallipoli, captured two machine-guns and killed five Turks single-handed.

PEACE MOVEMENT. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA ANXIOUS.

LONDON, April 17th,

It is apparent from various indications in the German papers that the peaco movement is being followed with closest interest. The comings and goings of the Socialista from the different countries in the Senndinavian cities demonstrate, despite numerous denials, and despito German- affectation of indifference, that Germany and Austria are equally anxions to establish a bridge for communicating with the Russian pacifists. The latent suggestion from German publicists is that they must not arouse the suspicions of the Russians by over-eagerness. They must leave them time to reflect where their real interests lie, namely, in friend- ship with their neighbour Germany.

AERIAL

GERMAN TOWN BOMBED.

REPRISALS!!

* Lonnon, April 17th. A Berlin official message states

The King, in a message to General Twenty-three neroplanes attacked Frei- Newton Moore at the conclusion of the burg-in-Breisgau on Saturday, 11 people review, expressed his satisfaction at the appearance of the fine body of men. He added:--"I know you will all acquit yourselves with credit when you rein force the splendid Australian divisions at the front."

being killed, and 27 injured. The Uni- versity was considerably damaged, and · the Municipal Theatre, institutes and infirmaries attacked.

EARLIER CABLES.

GERMANY'S DEAD. GRUESOME TREATMENT.

LONDON, April 17th.

A sensation has been created by the publication of some of the details of the revolting treatment to which the Ger- mans subject their dead soldiers in con- vorting their bodies into pigs' food and.

manure.

Three British acroplanes were brought down, and the fader of the attack, a British Lieutenant Colonel, taken prí- soner. According to his statements and a fly-sheet thrown down, the attack was a reprisal for the torpedoing of the Gloucester Castle. The statement vigorously contests such justification andt declares that Britain must take the con- sequences of despising Germany's warn ing against the misuse of hospital ships. it adds that a revengeful attack on an open town in which there are no mi tarily important objects is cheap, glory

FOOD PRICES. GENERAL INCREASE.

LONDON, April 17th. The newspaper La Belgique, of Food prices in Canada have increased Leyden, contains a full version of by forty per cent, in the United States the ghoulish process. It says: Ger.seventy per cent, ut in Viento by ono by wey-ve per centy in Italy by hundred and seventy-one per cnt, since They in scient is responsible for the iden July 1914

the Scissons ground on april 14th, with other forces, described the negotiation with the of the formation of the German Offal

Our advance has reached a depth of between three and four kilometres at certain points,

Altogether, the Allies Save rendered hore de combat 100,000 Germans during

the past eight days.

BRITISH CAPTURE.

LONDON, April 17th. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports --In the neighbourhood of Epchy,

along the spur to the north-east of Epeby station. We took a few prisoners.

The weather is stormy.

NEW FRENCH POSITION.

PARIS, April 17th.

A communiqué states --We organised the position won between Soissons and

to the north of Monchy, preparing for a Ant-cracker advance. The Huns could not have timed the effort to retake the village more opportunely, for it was at the very moment that we were ready to advance. The Germans massing in the two Woods were hotly bumbarded. The enemy advance from the south was beaten back before reaching within 150 yards of our position.

The Huns, energing from Vert and

with

Government on the food question the result that the movement was kept. within bounds in Berlin, but probably it is more serious in other labour centres, such as Chemnitz, from which place no

reports have yet been received. A

cant telegram was allowed to leave Cer many this evening stating that the great majority of works were idle yesterday but work was resumed to-day.

A German wireless message to-night

struck

German

most devastatingly. We subsegmently the statement isshed by the learned that they were picked troops. Agricultural Society that

the severe They gamed our front trenches before winter and protracted frosts have con- the village, after fierce hand-to-hand siderably damaged the winter wheat fighting. The British were ordered to Farmers have been urged to sow all the allow the Boches to enter the long trench summer wheat possible, especially as thickly as they pleased; then, terribly barley is most scarce. enfiladed, these withered and fled in dis-. order. The enemy lost 2,500 killed along, One officer claims to have shot forty he

DS

Utilisation Company, Limited, which is a dividend-earning Company with a capital of a quarter of a million, the first factory of which has been constructed at St. Vith for dealing specially with the dead from the Western Front. If the results are as good as the Company hopes,

second factory will be established to deal with corpses from the Eastern Front.

The factory is invisible from the

country with a specially thick growth of trees around. Live wires surround it. In the north-west corner, the discharge of trains takes place

There

decision is reached. The correspondent'l wo captured Tombois Wood, on the Lem- Bart Woods, were caught by the bomirily remarks that only 125,000 men have railway. It is placed deep in forest watched the ensirelement of one of the pire-Fendhuile road, and progressed bardment and the shells tore their ranks The situation is not rendered easier by most powerfully organised villages, which was a new work. It was machine gunned, bad eaves and callars, and was protected frontally by fortified quarrics" and a fire swept valloy, the whole being impregnable to a frontal attack. The zupidity of the fire of the 75's preceding attack, was most amazing, the batteries belching scores of shells per minute for several minutes continuously. The in- fantry did not attempt

lage, which was objective was the plateau beyond,

¿THE " BAGDAD MENDICANT " also failed.

Rheims.

A strong. German counter-attack on our new line in the region of Ailles was

HEAVY FIGHTING.

to take the vil broken by our curtain of fire and fore the latter bolted,

their machine-gun fire, which inflected heavy pirated,

losses on the enemy.

Other enemy counter-attacks in the sector of Courey

28

SOME GERMAN CLAIMS EXPLAINED.

The weather continues very bad, There is a lull in the artillery firing in the sectors west of Auberive and in Champagne.

LONDON, April 18th. A German official wireless message states-Alter their failure, with heavy losses, to break through our lines on the Aisne, the French have not renewed their attacks.

There has been bitter day-long fighting Nine onomy aeroplanes were brought on both sides of the Auberive in Cham down, including Captain Juynemer's pagne. thirty-sixth.

LONDON, April 18th. Renter's correspondent at Headquar \ters, referring to the capture of 22 guns at Lagni Court, claimed by a German

GERMAN VIEWS, casage on the 16th inst., says the com

LONDON, April 17th. uniques are a sham and the most florid A German official message states-6 efforts the Baghdad Mendicant has ad- of the greatest battles of the mighty war vanced. The German wave admittedly and therefore one of the greatest in the reached a number of our guns which bad world's history, has been progressing on been punishing them, and began placing the Alabe since the sun inst. The artil- dynamite in the breech-blocks. Owing|lery fring and mine-throwing are un- to the swiftness of our counter-attacks, precedented in daration, · MIRÁS and

however, only four eighteen pounders and intensity,

The Near East.

EARLIER CABLES. {THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

BRITISH STILL ADVANCING.

LONDON, April 17th.

A Mesopotanie official message, sent by General Maude yesterday, reports an advance by night on the right bank of

-one light howitzer were disabled. Then Yesterday morning, the French, in the Tigris to within a mile and a half the Germans were driven back to their deep column, attacked from Soupir to of the position occupied by the 19th own wire, where they were simply mowed Betheny. During the afternoon, the Turkish Army Corps covering Istabulat down. Not a single gun was removed French threw in fresh masses, carrying Station, on the Bagdad Bamarra Rail from the spot where it stood previous to out lateral attacks between the Oise and way. The enemy fell back without offer the German attack.

Conde-sur-Aine.

ing any opposition.

COUNSELS OF EMPIRE.

OVERSEAS STATESMEN

ENTERTAINED.

LONDON, April 18th. There was a reception this afternoon at the Imperial Institute in honour of the Dominions and Indian representa tires who are attending the war can fereno. The reception was organised by the British Imperial League, the British Empire Club and other bodies. There

were 2,600 quests.

Mr. Lloyd George sent a message re gretting his inability to attend, and, în an address of welcome to the organisers, said that many a battlefied had proved to the world that in fighting and in death the sons of the Empire were not divided. "Your presence in London at such a critical time as Statesmen and Imperial advisers, equally proves how undivided Are the counsels of Empire"

SHIPPING CONTROLLER IN-

VITES INFORMATION, ⠀

LONDON, April 17th.

in a laboratory. The chief chemist in charge of the works has two assistants and seventy-eight men-all soldiers, of the Eighth Army Corps. There is a sana torium near the works. No man is per- mitted to leave the latter, they being guarded as prisoners at their appalling

work"

ALLIED LABOURITES, CONGRESS IN RUSSIA.

PETROGRAD, April 17th.. The Anglo-French Labour deputationa were given in most enthusiastic reception: at the Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers delegates.

M. Tchcidio, the President, warmly welcomed the deputations, and Mr. O'Grady replied saying that henceforth side for the destruction of the oppressor Britain and Kussia would fight side t of the world, William Hohenzollern.

Finally, the British, French and Russian delegates joined hands and sang the ** Internationale "

AMERICA AND WAR. BRITISH PARLIAMENT'S CON- GRATULATIONS.

LONDON, April 16th. The following resolution, relating to the intervention of the United States,

will be moved on the 18th inst., being Proposed by Mr. Lloyd George and seconded by Mr. Asquith in the Ilousa of Commons, and moved by Lord Curzon Lords: This House desires to express seconded by Lord Crewe in the House of to the Government and people of the United States its profound appreciation at the action of the Government in join in the Allies, thus defending the high. cause of freeder for the rights of humanity against the gravest menace by which it has ever been imperilled." PROLONGATION OF PARLIA~

MENT

GENERAL ELECTION NOT

WANTED

The Daily Mail, commenting on (the subject, says:–“ Civilised races have always regarded dishonouring, their dead as cannibalism, That the Hobenzollerns should, after using their subjecte as guin. fodder, treat their bodies as offal, more

LONDON, April 17th. In the House of Commons, in moving than outrages all our ideals of faith,''' the second reading of the Bill prolong- [Much of this message has been deleted, is the life of Parliament until Novem owing to its revolting nature.ED. I be a misfortune if an election were forced ber 30th, Mr. Bonar Law said it would D.P.1.

at present, when we were in the crucial. phase of the war and when our troops. were engaged in the greatest operation sines the war, in which they had successful beyond expectations.

FOOD SUPPLY QUESTION,

RECIPROCAL SCHEME FOR

ALLIES.

OTTAWA, April 17th The Government has put on the free list wheat, wheat flour, and semolina, in accordance with the reciprocal agreement with the United States to send provisions to the Allies

FRANCE AND AMERICA,

PARIS, April 17th. The distinguished political writer, and

The Prees Bureau announces that the Deputy, M. Kardien, is proceeding us Shipping Controller invites information High Commissioner of the French He shipbuilding yards and also seeks to ex- trusted with plenary powers to co- regarding any projects to establish new public to the United States, being en-

pedite the construction of Marine en ordinate all technical measures of or gines

operation.

Mr. Asquith expressed the opinion that an election at present would not trustworthily indicate the feeling of the country.

of the Bill as protest against the non-settle ment of the Irish question.

Mr. Dillon moved the rejection o

Mr. Bonar Law, replying to complaints that the Government had not indicated its intentions regarding Ireland, said lie hoped that it would be possible, early next week, to indicate the Government a policy. The Government was devoting earnest attention to the problem,

Mr. Bonar Law reformed to the pre- vailing atmosphere of goodwill, and there was no need absolutely to despair of arriving at some solution. He added that be hoped the House which had seen the beginning of the war would also sea the end,

LATER. The Parliament Prolongation Bill was read a second time by 280 votes to 52, the minority being composed wholly of Nationaliste.