1917-04-26 — Page 5

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I

THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS THURSDAY APRIL 26ru, 1917,

GREAT BRITISH THRUST.

BIG BATTLE IN PROGRESS.

FIERCEST FIGHTING OF THE WAR.

ACTIVITY IN MESOPOTAMIA.

EARLIER CABLES GREATEST BATTLE OF THE WAR

BIG BRITISH THRUSTS

ENEMYS WASTE OF MAN-POWER

EARLIER CABLES.

RUSSIAN STEAMER

TORPEDOED.

SOCIALISTS INCENSED.

LONDON, April 24th- A telegram from Petrograd states that the news of the submarining of the steamer Zara, with returning Russian exiles, was a thunderbolt to Russian Socialist extremists, who declare that the German rulers must pay for this blow at the Revolution.

AUSTRALIA AND CONSCRIP-

TION

BENDIGO, April 24th.

Mr. Hughes, an the course of a speech, said: If national disaster-threatens Australia and the Empire, I will cura tainly again propese conscription."

MR.

BONAR LAW'S SON WOUNDED AND MISSING.

LONDON, April 24th Lieutenant Law of the Borderers (second son of Mr. Bonur Law), is wound ed and missing in Palestine.

GERMAN EXCUSE,

LONDON, Aril 24th. Router's correspondent at Amsterdam

LONDON, April 25th. Reiter's currespondent at the Bri Headquarters, writing on the evening of April 9th, says: -The Germans have LONDON, April 24th.

Korekclently realised they are desperately try- Henter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, wiring on the evening of ing to counter the menance to their whole system of communications, lying in the April 23rd, ays Furious fighting is en zi

Franco British offensive. During progressing. The situation cati be suchs

the past thirty-six hours they have been med up by saying that we have taken that

ka ke thtowing in strategic reserves, wholesale over 1,500 prisoners, our guns have in

and recklessly rushing up guns and am- ficted most heavy casualties, and we have done well in some places but not as well unition as fast as possible. The enemy's in others. We are now confronted, not present tactics strongly contrast with his ENEMY SHIPS IN AMERICA. by regular trench system, but by recent pathods, when he manifested a

WASKI WASHINGTON, April 24th. numerable disconnected defensive patchesRGB

desire to conserve his man power. He

Bilis have been introduced in both. in the shape of small redoubts, travers is repeatedly attacking in mass formation, Houses cuabling the use of interned says it is officially announced from Ber _and_supe___Hence, while the Germans regardless of the appalling cost. Des

are indifferently sheltered and heavily vite the furious

Dus resistance wo are LONDON, April 25th. punished by shell fire, the drance is steadily gaining ground at various im- Field-Marshal Bir Douglas Haig re-low against the machine guns. It is a portant points forming the main objer- ports as follow:-Further information present our business, to clear out the tive East of Alouchy we crept towards regarding Monday's battle shows that the widely-burrowed enemy by

high ground across the Auberines gally pounding Bghting was exceptionally fierce. Seven every acre of the honey-combed ground thereby improving the hold on this koy German Divisions were engaged on the instead of assaulting the positions front-

HOLLAND ON THE ALERT.

Franco-Belgian Front

LATEST, CABLES. [THROUGH KIUTER'S AGENCY.)

GREAT BRITISH THRUST.

GERMAN ADMISSIONS.

LONDON, April 4th

standing on French territory, sesterday delivered

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTING

EXCEPTIONALLY HIERCE.

position

Austro-Getian ships, the rights involved to be determined after, the war

FRENCH PATROL BOAT'S ADVENTURE.

LONDON, April 24th. According to Beuter's correspondent at Paris, French patrol boat on the morn

in that the reason for felling fruit trees in the evocnated territory is to prevent the use of the leaves in summertime a enemy cover,

AMERICAN EXPORTS AND THE SUBMARINE BLOCKADE.

LONDON, April 24th.

A message from Washington states that, of the United States exports in March

The artillery appears to be graduallying of the 22nd entered the defended despite the submarine menace, the value subduing the most active eremy fire in the region of the Scarpe and is constant port of Beyrout and left without sustain was 551,278,000, which was only exceeded

ing damage, after firing twenty-four January, when the exports were un

precedented. shots and drawing the enemy fire.

BRITISH MISSION TO AMERICA, TORPEDOING OF HOSPITAL

OBJECT OF THE VISIT. SHIPS.

A German wireless message says:- On the Arro battlefeld the British troops,

second great thrust to break Croisilles-Gavrello front, and several ally. The Germans are bound desperately through the German lines. The hevicat points of tactical importance changed to resist tore, but the more they resist batteries have for days been hurling hands more than once. All remained in the heavier will be their losses.

“A STRUGGLE TO THE DEATH "keeping the Arras Douai Railway under. masses of shells of every description our hands except a few buildings

LONDON, April 24th.

fire, making the bringing ap of Hun against our positions, Early on the northward of Bacux. Our massed arül-

of the 23rd the artillery lery shattered frequent counter-attacks, is described by correspondents as the most severe in the Scarpe Valley. The second phase of the battle of Arras ammunition very difficult. The fighting morning

very while those penetrating our barrages most dificult of the war and as a strug- battle

increased to a Way

afterwards were cut down with rifle and machine-gle to the death The Germans, no strong drum-fire.

Soon

led gun arc. One British Corps took pri longer uncertain of the point of attack, the English thrusting troops, often by tanks. burst forward on a thirty soners belonging to four Divisions.

bave brought up many more guns, sod We advanced on the whole front. kilometre front, behind this wall of fire,

new field howitzer batteries are thickly Our destructive fire forced them in many

to places

As other points the battle swaye back-

The steadfastness of the British infantry

vas never more splendid, as is demon-

strited by the Homeric fighting proceed- ing at Croisilles and Gavrelle. It is impossible within reasonable space, to

ACTION BY FRENCH GOVERN-

DIENT.

WASHINGTON, April 24th. Mr. Balfour called at the State Depart ment and the White House and was every✦ where cheered, He lunched at the French Embassy and dined with President Wil son at the White House.

grouped between the Leus and Cambrai. tell of the heroism and dash displayed, ships will be torpedoed, the French Gov-eone asking for

There has been considerable fighting withdraw with heavy losses. to-day, though somewhat less fierce, at a number of points on the battle-front, wards and forwards and is being fought Progress has continued between Sensee due to the supporting artillery and River and Monchy de Preux, and the line was advanced to within a few hundred yards of Fontaine le Croisille and Cherisy.

with great bitterness.

Whenever the enemy gained ground cur brave and cager infantry drove him back. The Buburbs of Lens, Avion, Gavrelle, Rocux and Guemappe were the hottest places in the fieren struggle, and thisir names will be associated with deeds of heroism by regiments from almost every German, district between the sca and the Alps. A further attack of part cular intensity with new masses followed in the evening on both sides of the Scarpe. The strength of this attack also broke under our fire. There was hand to hand fighting.

A counter-attack by strong forces in the neighbourhood of Gavrelle this after- noon was broken up by our artillery and driven back in disorder.

Over 2,000 prisoners have been passed to the rear since Monday morning, and there are others yet uncounted There was a greater amount of air-fighting on Monday than on any one previous day. Aeroplanes attacked the enemy's machines wherever they were found, gelag for behind the lines bombing railways, dumps and aerodromes, and compelling the enemy to give battle Fifteen Ger- man machines were destroyed and 24 The Gernian soldier at the front knows | tiriven down, A large three-seater was that every man and woman at home is brought down in oar lines and the working unceasingly to support him in occupants made prisoners. Two of our the life and death battle

machines are missing.

The enemy gained a few hundred yards on the Cambrai Arras rond, and the ruins of Quemappe remained in his

hands.

WAR OFFICE COMMENT.

LONDON, April 25th.

A War Office comment on the great battle says:We did not attack the suburbs of Lens and Avion, which are a considerable distance from our line.

Our attack was made on a fourteen, not a thirty, kilometre front.

We captured Gavrelle Guemappe, on the outskirts of Roux, which village wa our sale objective.

DAY-LONG FIGHTING.

LONDON, April 5th. A wireless German official message says there has been day-long fighting for Gavrelle. There have been new English attacks along the Arras-Cambrai Road,

ARTILLERY ACTIONS. FRENCH CAPTUKES:

PARIS, April 25th.

A communiqué soys The day has been chiefly marked by artillery actinus on the whole front. We continued the

BRITISH AIR DOMINANCE.

LONDON, April 24th, It is officially announced that, after Mr. Lansing, in reply to enquir the German announcement that hospital cordial. The British Commission had said that the day's conferences were masti

enquiries

but for the sole Purpose of enlightening the Unit States on the mistakes of the Entente at the outset of the war, The French Com- kiission's visit would he ono of courtesy. Mr. Lansing did not expect anything in the nature of War Conferences. ENTENTE MINISTERS TO SPEAK.

ernment has intimated that German prisoners will he embarked thereon.

Arras roads. Wherever the German in-

We have progressed well to the south of fantry withstood assaults, it was wholly

the Cambrai road. Strong patrols are established upon the St. Quentin Canal machine-guns. Wherever the British got a Vendhaile, midway between St. Quen- The Near East. within striking distances of the enemy tin and Douai. This cutting off the position, the occupants ran to meet there, canal deprives the Germans of one of throwing up their hands, or bolted.

A Pomeranian Regiment south

their main means of communication.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT.

PARIS, April 24th communique states-Our artillery beat down some enemy batteries in the

So Quentin and the Use

LATEST CABLES [THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.] TURKS HOLDING ON, BRITISH GAIN

LONDON April 24th.

An official Egyptian message sve: Reinforced Turkish Torces hold the

Two-German, reconnaissances endea-strongly entrenched position from Gazu youring to reach our lines in the directo Beersheba. In the organization of tion of Hancourt were repulsed with positions we gained the fronting Turkish henry losses

main line and are proceeding satisfac We blew up anarimunition

SEMENEA There have been minor actions, enabling torily

us to advance, and improve our positions | dump at Gaza.

o the direction of Juvincourt, where we arried a German post.

Cambrai was demoralised by the appall ing shell fire and surrendered in batchet of five hundred, throwing up their finds immediately the British infantry appear ed. A battery of held guns was over ANASAN whelmed by the British and was captured in the same area. A stout resistance was made by the Third Bavarian Division around Cuemappe, where fortified houses and dug-outs had been bombed, by Eng ish, Welsh and Scottish troops. A on the plateau at Chemin des Dames and from the innumerable machine guns, the round was alive with snipers, and many British were hot from behind after entering the German lines,

FIERCEST BATTLE OF THE WAR LONDON, April esthe Reuter's correspondent at the British

LATEST CABLES. Headquarters, writing on the 24th inst, lisovUH BKUTEM SAGENDY.] saysI believe it is true that the battle now progressing on the British front is AEROPLANES ATTACK ENEMY the fiercest of the whole war. The Ger mans are throwing in large reserves and have brought up a great muber of fresh They probably realise that the

Wo successfully bombarded the enemy's fe lines of communication in Champagnė.

LONDON, April 26th Reuter's correspondent at headquarters says-One of the most striking features haa bean the sudden and emphatic re- battle now developing may assume a assertion of our air dominance, Yesterday decisive character and are

guns.

Naval Activities.

DESTROYERS,

PROBABLE RAID FRUSTRATED,

LONDON, Ap:11 24th,

Aduuralty announces : —Three therefore British naval aeroplanes attacked fiva

EARLIER. CABLES.

MESOPOTAMIA SUCCESSES. CAPTURE OF ROLLING STOCK.

LONDON, April 4th General Maude reports as follows: The battle on the right bank of the Tigris between Samarra and Istabulat was continued during the night of the 22nd inst. There was severe hand-to

hand fighting and numerous enemy

counter-attacks,și

We drove out the enemy from a stub bornly-defended position, which had been elaborately prepared with iron roofs and dug-outs.

At the invitation of the Vice-President, Mr Balfour and M. Viviani will address Ajoint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The date has not yet been fixed

SCENES FROM SHAKESPEARE. THE MATINEE PERFORMANCE. The scenes from Shakespeare, as arranged for St. George's Day celebra Royal at a matinee, yesterday, and they tions, were given again at the Theatre will be repeated for third time on Saturday evening. Yesterday there was a large attendance, the dress circle being filled with enthusiastic youngsters, and, judging from the booking office returns, there will be a full house" on Saturday also As the whole of the proceeds, with- out deduction for any cause whatever, are to go to War Charities, a very fine record in the shape of the financial result of a dramatic entertainment for charit able purposes, will be established for the serve as an encouragement to the English Colony. This is as it should be and will- members of the community to do homage the futam. In spite of the comparatively to their patron Saint more regularly in small period of time given to the work

of

in a remarkably effective manner. The preparation the scenes wore presented setting in practically every detail was perfect and the producers are to be warmly congratulated upon a very notable artistic success

we brought down forty aeroplanes, of resisting desperately. This is exactly destroyers which were steaming betw amarra station on the 22nd, the enemy Veronica Butterfield torched all heirts

afternoon.

which Afteen crashed to the ground what we most wanted. They are certa Blankenburg and Zeebruggo, on Monday Only two of ours are missing. The airly now accepting battle in the open. men are certainly justifying their ex- So far, we have gained much and lost pressed ability to drive the Hung from nothing. As I write, the guns niềm nà Thay leading machine dropped sixteen the sky in a week, given fine weather, of boisterous as a hurricane The great bomis, one obtaining a direct hit.

er straggle is going on with undiminished. The remaining destroyers altered, which we have had three days now.

intensity, under a deep blue sky, Every and were attacked by two machines which where I hear that The German casualties dropped 22 hombs. After this the lead- Ranges

ying destroyer listed to port, and was probably sunk, ng four stroyers were afterwards seen entering Zeebrugge,

A BLOW AT THE INVADER'S HEART

WHY SCARPE WAS CHOSEN.

LONDON, April 25th.

are very heavy,

NEW BRITISH GAINE

LONDON, April 24th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Hoig, in communiqué, saya The severe fighting continued on Monday evening and dar- Reuters correspondent at Headquaring the night on the whole front, from ters writes:-Bcarpe was chosen by Field Croisilles to the north of Gatrelle The Marshal Sir Douglas Haig for the prin enemy constantly repeated unsuccessful cipal attack as being the weakest point counter-attacks with great determination, in the German lines. Its valley, leads,

regardless of losses

We maintained the position gained no.

SPAIN AND SUBMARINISM.

GERMAN COMMENTS ON THE NOTE

General

everything

DATEST CABLES.

the scenes by the same standard. They It is, of coure, impossible to judge all make varying appeals. The scene from

A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the most charming by reason of its daintiness, We pursued the enemy had occupied the graceful dancing and the pretty gam

bols of the elves and fairica. Mies”

having hastily-destroyed

by her pathetic. appeals to Hubert in the scene from King John. The socne from possible

new Twelfth Night was the most emising. Our captures include sixteen focomo Northcote were excellent in their respec and Mr L N. Leefe and Mr. B NATU tives, 224 railway trucks and two barges, tive parts What better testimony to The enemy's casualties on the 21st and remark made by a young man of about their success could be desired than the and were heaTY

eight summers to Sir Toby Bolch after the performance. I should like to see Your see again. You did make me laugh. The scene from "The Merry Wives of Windsor," however, followed it TAROGON REUTER'S AGENOT.dlosely in the popular estimation. Mr. Sinclair was better as Hamlet than as FRENCH COMMISSION IN Henry V. A little more rebustness of

AMERICA

voice was required to make the secno before Harfleur fully effective Of the ladies Mre, 0. HP Hay and Mrs E by trenes Fage and Ford and Mr. Logun, Davidson were admirable as the is has both as Maria in Twelfth Night and in Rosalind's Epilogue from "As You Like It" proved that she is an accom- plished actress. Miss Reta Hareland as EARLIER CABLES:

Ophelia did not identify herself complate- HOLLAND ON THE ALERTailed to make the most of her oppor ly with her part, and, as a consequence,

THE COAST DEFENCES.

tunities Mr.CH P. Hay more than maintained his already established re LONDON, April 24th-

putation and he was equally good as Sir John Palstaff and the Teater, A tri According to Reuter's correspondent bute should also be paid to Mr JAE at The Hague, replying to questions, the anyone with a voice better suited to his Bullock It would be impossible to find

WASHINGTON, April 25th, The French Commission, headed MAVIYIRDI and General - Jofre,

arrived

destructive fire against enemy batteries

AMSTERDAM, April 26th, and organisations in the regions of St.

The Spanish Note relative to the tor Quentin, the Oise, Corbeny and Juvin-directly to Donai, the centre of the Monday and further progressed to the

redoing of the Fulgence has been pub- ourt and in Champagne Explosions German defences. It does not require east of Monchy le Preux, and also in

lished in Berlin It emphasises that were observed in a certain number of bat- great progress here to cause the evacuathe neighbourhood of Roeux 34

viðlenn Spain's existence is imperilled by im- teries. We brought back 405 millimetres tion of Lens, and then the main German.

We successfully beat and mortars captured during the fight position between Drogourt and Quest, soners taken exceed 1,500, and mang vites discussion with a view to mitiga War Minister gave assurances that, the parte, as Hubert and as the Ghost of

WWE counter-attack at Gavrelle. The prkplacable submarinism, and earnestly in- ing on the plateng at Chemin des Dames, which is the extension of the Hindenburg more are coming in which were hitherto uncounted gline, and which there as reason to believe Near Moron Villiers light troops pene unfinished, will be threatened and the on a wide front east of Epehy and reach Note was framed by the ex-Premie

We gained ground during the night The Germán press points out that the way open to the broad plaing of Belgium, ed the Bt. Quentin Canal, in the neigh

bourhood of Yeadhuile. We captured the Romanonce, and that it is noteworthy A Plgian communiqué says there has Thes Sir Douglas Haig is striking a villages of Villers Plonich and Heancamp that the Note is still unpublished been very heavy artillerying.

trated German trenches which were found full of corpsen

Blow at the invader's heart

further north,

tion of the eril·

Spain.

considered for a stricter, supervision of formed a fitting finale to the g He also stated that measures were being George, with a vision of St. George, Dutch anti-Zeppelin guns were efficient amlet's Father

The epilogue from the Banner of St.

foreigners and that the Government can armour, was a fine figu, of a man anit aders the completion of the coast do this scene is the one which ill

remain longest in the memory of Lom fences to be necessary,

present

Mr. & Mackintosh, in his shining.