1917-04-27 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE BATTLE OF SCARPE VALLEY.

THOUSANDS OF GERMANS SHELLED TO

DEATH.

BRITISH WAR OFFICE AND GERMAN

METHODS.

DETAILS OF DESTROYER BATTLE

STRAITS OF DOVER.

Franco-Belgian Front,

LATEST CABLES. {THROUGH HAUTER'S AGEEGY.}

·BRITISH AGAIN ADVANCE.

LONDON, April 25th

IN

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH, 1917.

EARLIER CABLES.

FIGHTING FOR GAVRELLE CONTINUES.

LONDON, April 5th.

A German official report transmitted Fiold Marshal Sir Dougins Haig reports by wireless states:-The fighting for We slightly advanced our line fo-day south- Gavrelle has continued since yesterday ward of the Scarpe river, where two Germanorning. Southward of the Scarpe, a British attack on a wide front on fieldguns were captured on Tuesday. Many thousands of German dead lie on the battle-both sides of the Arras-Cambrai ros field we now occupy.

The fine weather on Tuesday facilitated many successful air-raids, bombing railway Junctions, aerodromes, billets, and dumps A large bombatruck the engine of a moving train. The engine was blown off the line and the train was wrecked. Hostile troops And transport were also successfully engaged by our machine-guns. There was much air fighting, soven German machines being brough own, eight driven down, and two. balloo lestroyed.

Sit

our machines are missing.

EARLIER CABLES.

BRITISH PROGRESS

MAINTAINED. REE THOUSAND PRISONERS.

LONDON, April 26th. eld-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re -We captured the hamlet of Bil north-eastward of Trescault, during

night.

broke down, after violent hand-to-hand fighting, with heavy losses.

PRODIGAL USE OF GERMAN INFANTRY

Gavello has been the objective of nude violent counterattacks during t

g the past twenty- four hours, all of which our artillery repulsed The German fosses in these were trablo, because they had to cover a considerable

expense of open ground. Their prodigal use of infantry is without parallel The ratio of our infantry losses is much lighter than in the earlier Somme battles.

Naval Activities.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH RAUTER'S AGEROY.] DETAILS OF DESTROYER FIGHT

LONDON, April 28th. The Press Barcadhna published the details. of the ection reported on the 21st inst

The number of German destroyers was si not five.

The British destroyer leaders Swift-and Broke were night patrolling in the Channel on n westerly course. They sighted the enemy flotille on the port bow at 12.40 in the morning proceeding at high-speed in the opposite direction,

The night was calm and it was intensely dark. The enemy were within 600 yards range when they were first sighted. Simul. We captured 080 prisoners on Monday taneously with the German firegongs which and destroyed several Tanks.

rippled down the line, the Germans opened fire with a blaze of flashes The Suit

ARRIAL LOSSEB,

The British and French on Monday and stantly replied, and Commander Peck, with out hesitation, decided to ram the leading Tuesday lost 39 aeroplanes,

destroyer. The whool was wrenched round, and the St, with every occupant on the bridge blinded by the flashes, drove straight at the enemy.

FOUR THOUSAND GERMANS SHELLED TO DEATH-

LONDON, April 25th.

The lesson of the great battle is that the main German Armies, obeying the Allied initiative, have been brought to a stand. The flower of their troops, mostly Pomeranians and Bavarians, were engaged. The prisoners are of a superior physique to those of the earlier engage

ments.

Four thousand Germans who were mass king in a certain wood for a counter- attack were observed by our nirmen, and were shelled to death, the British batteries filling the wood with gas shells.'

fighting occurred in the early morning along our front between the Cojeul and Scarpe rivers.

The English troops at many points on red

mercy. Regardless of the danger from the General. enemy's magazmes explexling, the Broke moved slowly towards her. The cries "Suve:l Save were redoubled, when the German destroyer unexpectedly opened fire,

The Broke now uncontrollable, was unable to manmuvre or extricate herself, silenced

LATEST CADLES,

{THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.) BRITISH SHIPPING.

LONDON, April 5th.

Twenty-sored vessels were unsuccessfully attacked and nine fishing boats were sunk

EARL OF SUFFOLK KILLED.

LONDON, April 26th- Major the Earl of Suffolk, Field Artillery, lins been killed.

The Admiralty reports arrivala during the week were 3,583; sailings, 2,631. Forty vassals their treachery with four rounds, then ringver 1,000 tons and 15 under were sank,

torpedo which hit the destroyer amidshipe

canwhile the Swift, unable to maintain full-speed, owing to a slight injury received earliorinthoangagement, abandoned the chase, and presently she sighted an outlying station ary destroyer from which wore heard con- fused voices. She warily approached with her guns trained on the stranger. The latter was the sinking destroyer rantned by tho Broke. The enemy craw bellowed in unison, We surrender Suspecting treachery, the Sirift awaited developments. The German destroyer's crew stopped shouting, she heelál slowly over, and sank stern furanost, the crow taking to the water.

The Sztu directed her searchlight on and reaoned the survivors. The crews of the Swift and Broke cheered each other out in the darkness till they were boarse.

The British casualties were comparatively light..

The spirit of the wounded can be epito- Tied in the conduct of the Broke's helmsman Rowles, who was hit four times by sbell fragments, bus remained at the wheel through out the action. He only betrayed he was wounded by reporting to the Captain, I am going off now, sir," and then fainting.

The Broke was commanded by Commander Evans, an Antarctic hero.

BABLIER CABLES,

RUSSIAN SEA SUCCESSES

LONDON, April 25th.

A Russian official report states:- One of our cruisers destroyed the har hour works at Kerusund.

A torpedo-boat destroyed three Turkish sehooners.

The Balkans.

BARLIER CABLES.

BRITISH WAR OFFICE EXPOSES GERMAN METHODS.

BRITAINREFUSES TO DESTROY COLOGNE CATHEDRAL.

The

that

Government

LONDON, April 28th.

of opinion adopt

the

they cannot suggestion that the Germans should be in- formed that unless Laon Cathedral is spared the Cologne Cathedral will be destroyed. RUSSIAN MILITARY AFFOINT,

MENT:

PETROGRAD, April 25th,

The distinguished Russian, General: Tscherbatcheff, has been appointed Second-in-Command at the Romanian Front, where the King of Roumenia is Generalesimo

LIEUT. ROBINSON V.CM

BELIEVED ALIVE.

LONDON, April 28th..

LONDON, April 25th, The War Office statement commenting In the House of Commons, Mr. J. L. upon the German wireless report Baird stated there was reason to believe cabled yesterday, which cathingly ex that the missing airman Licut. Robinson,

poses the new.

German methods, V.C., is alive.

attributing to ts designs we have

UNITED KINGDOM.

never entertained, in order to prove they MOTOR-CAR CENSUS IN THE had completly failed, closely examines and aimultaneously explodes the claims of German successca, some of which are alleged at places where no attacks were made, others, we won and retained our objectives with moderate losses

The statement concludes: can safely be suit this German document the most encouraging indication we have yet had of the state of mind of the German army and people, and of the anxiety with which the German Head quarters regard the situation.

GERMANY'S WAR AIMS.

AMSTERDAM, April 201

HEAVY DECREASE SINCE WAR BEGAN

A census of automobilism in Great Britain since the war began shows that in 1914 there were 536,747 motor vehicles of all kinds registered in Great Britain and Ireland, of these 471,585 were re- gistered in England and Wales, 40,961 in Scotland, and 24,201 in Ireland. It is probable that the marked decrease in the to a number of registered motor vehicles

for the following year was due to the Wholesale commandeering for Govern- inent purposes which went on in the latter part of 1914, to the action of any owners who laid up their ears for the duration of the war," and to the volun- tory offering of vehicles by their ovUCTE

፡፡

A Berlin telegram states, with reference to the urgent demand for the Government to declare its War aims, it is semi- for national service, whether in England

or abroad.

red by prassure

NEUTRALS AND SUBMARINISM

Our sabmarine mnk two schooners in officially announced that the Government

has nothing to add to its previous commani-The total number registered for 1916- the region of the Bosphorus.

cations. It will continue its policy undeter as 300,620, thus distributed-England and Wales, 948,418; Scotland, 33,743, Ire- land, 18,465 The summary given below shows the heavy falling off in all classes of vehicles; thelicences of 144,109 motor- cara, of 80,477 motor cycles, and of 8,635 commercial motors were not renewed a total decrease as compared with 1914, of 236,121. A slight increase took place in 1016, when 150,249 motor cars, 164,290 motorcycles, and 21,338 commercial motors were registered; the number of the last-named being only a few hundreds below that in 1914

LATEST CABLEN

(TUROUGH REUTER'S 4GENOT.]

REPEL COUNTER- ATTACKS.

BRITISH

le must be realised that the ramming of one of a line of destroyers dashing through in pitch darkness at between twenty and thirty knots is an exceedingly delicate opera tion. An initial miscalenlation of a few degrees of the helm or a few revolutions mere or less of the propellers opell failure, which probably means being rammed by the next enemy boat The Swift missed her object, but traversed the lie unscathed Bha turned like a hawk upon, ber quarty, and, while turning, neatly torpedoed another

LONDON, April 25th. boat. Again she dashed at the leading beat,

The German Ministers to neutral States which again eluded her, and without bring: another shot the enemy boat full-spoode into

have been called to Berlin for a confer

the darkness, with the Swiff in pursuit..............

ence on the subinarite question, probably When sighting the enemy the Broke, Com

owing to the growing neutral indigna mander Evans, was steaming aster of the A British official report from Salonika tion at submarinism, Meanwhile all the

On the whole, the number in the coun- Soft. On the latter altering her course to ram states: After three days bombardment wareutrals of Europe continue to suffer

try districts shows a falling off, but in the leader, the Broke torpedoed thesecond boat attacked last night on a two-and-a-half miles scutely from the food shortage.

the new munition arena and the man- on the line and opened fire with every gun, frost between the southern end of Lake There has been further great workmen's facturing towns big increases have taken place In Birmingham, for example, The dull glow frost every funnel of the gix Doiran and a point north-westward of demonstrations in this connection in 4,059 new vehicles were registered in We advanced northward of Sweden, which has suffered exceptionally 1915, and a further 3,648 in 1916. De- A communique states:-We made pro- BATTLE OF SCARPE VALLEY enemy bouts stoking furiously for full-speed Doldreli.

tailed investigations have brought to gress south-east of Cerny-en-Laonnais, in

lis ap their upper works, enabling Com Doldzali 500 yards on a mile front. We from submarinism.

light the fact that a great number of mander Evans to decide his tactics Gather repelled four counterattacks, and consolidated OOD POSITION IN GREAT et being meant any number above four

people are owners of fleets of cars-by a the region of the Alene, and took

LONDON, April 25th.

BRITAIN. prisoners..

Router's Correspondent of British Heading speed for a blow he swung to port and our position. We penetrated the enemy's Our fire stopped dead a German attack, quarters reports to-day-The Harpe rammed the third boat, full epled fair and trenches further eastward, bat we were after a violent bombardment, in the Valley continues to be the centre of fierce square, abreast of the aft funnel. Thus locked unable of retain the ground. Fighting reighbourhood of Hurtubise and Vauclerc fighting, which is going on the whole both boats fought desperately ina hand to hand plateau.

length of our advance between Lens and confict. The Broke swept the enemy's decks: at point-blank range with every gun from bor

We made further progress and secured Monday went into battle wearing the ground gained.

We have captured 3,029 prisoners, in cluding 56 officers, since the 23rd inst

FRENCH ADVANCE.

PARIS, April 25th.

We captured prisoners and one gun. Enemy raida near Tahure and Maisons de Champagne failed, leaving many dead

on our wire,

LATEST CABLES..

GERMANS THROWN BACK.

Pagia, April 25th,

and white favours in honour of Sh George's Day,

The tiny river Scarpe is outrivalling the Yser, the Somme, and other rivers as

the scene of historic carnage.

+ this

innes.

LONDON, April 25th.

EAKLIER CABLES.

LONDON, April 25th The House of Lords debated the Food Limitation BL,

Lord Devonport impressed upon the

main armament to a pompom, maxim, rife BRITISH ATTACK BULGARS. House the recessity for the reduction in the and pistole

Doiran

LONDON, April 26th,

We also advanced near Mont Sans Nom, Bt. Quentin. It is generally believed that in Champagne.g

the enemy suffered heavier in this battle in proportion to the numbers employed than in any battle on the Western Front.

The two remaining destroyers of the Ger As an example, take the counterattack mau line poured in a devastating are apo upon Gavrelle. Four battlions were seen the Broke, whose foremost guns crease advancing at a distance of four thousand reduced from eighteen to six, Midshipmún, yards. Our field batteries trained their Gyles, in charge of the forecastle, though guns upon them and waited. Then at short wounded in the eye, kept all the foremost The Near East, range bhrapnel was poured in on the ad-guns in action and assisted the depleteda Pancing waves is fiercely as the gunners crews to load. Meanwhile a number of frent could serve their wespons. It was like led Germans swarmed up the Trike's fore- wheat mowing. The battalion seemed castle from the rammed destroyer, and, acid to welt away into a bluish huze, and when this cleared on cease fire" the ground was very thickly strewn with grey figures

▲ communique states Artillarying con- sinned all along the front,, north of Vaux Saillon Machine-gun and artillery fire frustrated an attack against our trenches

It is confirmed that the Germans this morning were bloodily defeated in an at tempt against Hurtebise Farm. Stopped at first by our fire, they renewed the seasult shortly afterwards.

A vigorous counterattack threw them back on their own lines. During this action our artillery caught and dispersed Large German oncentrations in the region north of the

Vauclers plateau.

BELGIANS REPORT ARTILLERY DUEL.

PARI, April 26th.

A Belgian communique states:-Artillery 'duels were resumed at different points,

especially near Dixi

and that the great majority of the motor vehicles in the country are now employed in dome form or other of national sex vice Certainly not more than 20 per cent, are used for purely private and non-essential Purposes. Typical cases are a Susax owner who has two Rolls Royce cars, one 20-30 hp. Enzhard, one Set in ambulance work, and a Southampton 15-20-h.p. Panhard, all being employed consumption of bread to four pounds per owner who has lent a 35-h.p. Renault and head weekly. The meat consumption had 12-15 hp. Motobloe toe Hants Automo- bile Club, while for his own and house- A German official report transmitted by been considerably reduced, and the sugar hold us he is using a car of cheap wireless states:-The Bulgarians repulsed allowance must be reduced to half a pound a American make. British attacks between Vardar and Lake week. It would depend upon the people's consumption of bread and other foodstuffs

HELFFERICH'S BOAST. within the next two months as to

EFFECT OF GERMAN “BLOCKADE." whether ompulsory rationing would be

**The German nation stands,or falls necessary. He warned the House that in

In making this de- the meantime the machinery for compulsory claration to a rationing was being organised. He declared Helfferich, the Home Secretary, said Ger- man agriculture had had this decisive that if the diminution was not accomplished role imposed upon it. He h

by we would not get through to the next In this life and death struggle

hunger war England, the protector of harvast, except with severe privation. civilization and humanity, when she pro- claimed a hunger war against us, believed A vast amount of tonnage is locked up in hozell far hayond the reach of any military transport and our shipping resources anxiety about food. The British Minis

ter of Agriculture said. The war will be are in nowise assured. Our shipping is daily decided by British noren. To those wasting. Although our existence depended werde with which was now bound up

significant change in events, we hold fast Remember, this is only one of many

on shipping, there is no immediate prospect A rear ago it was supposed that Eng of the release of the locked up shipping, but land would be able to use the acres of examples of recklesanose with which the

he was not despondent. The situation could the whole world, bidding with them

against the Gorman enemy flung themselves upon us. More

acres To-day Eng- The Broke two minutes after rasming

situation un- An official message says that, ind would be faced, but only by a dimmu- land se herself

paralleled in ber history Her acre over, our artillery sometimes catches

the rolling-stock mention in consumption wrenched, free from her making adversary, addition to

LOTGEN EEN SEBEppear. him before he can advance. For instance, attempted to ram the last boat on the toned

Toport, Oar and

Bed line.

MANY EXAMPLES OF ENEMY

RECKLESSNESS.

the blinding flashes of the forecastle xuns, rushed aft Midshipman Gyles, half-blinded by blood, met their rush single-handed with his revolver, which German attempted to seize, but Seamen Ingleson promptly bayonetted him.

The remainder, excepting two feigning death who were made prisoner, were driveD

overboard.

HABLIER CABLES. THROUGH REDITEL'S" "AGENCY"]

COSSACKS REPEL KURDS,

LONDON, April 26th.

A Russian official report transmitted by-wireless states that the Cossacka re pelled the Kurds on the night of lat April bear Seiger, in the Caucasus

MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN.

LONDON, April 25th.

the Germans continued to mass in the She failed, however, but hit the latter's captures at Istabulat include Vert and Bart woods ja east of consort on the stem with a torpedo. The officers, 607 men, one

6.9 gun, 14 Monohy. Throughout yesterday and last

Broze hotly engaged with these and the two Krupp'a 1,240 rifles, and a great quan- night our batteries maintained a search fleeing destroyers, followed by the Swift, but tity of ammunition. ing fire on the woods, and it is pretty cor- _ Ahell struck the Broke's boiler-room, dissh- LONDON, April 26th. tain that these smoking places are now

HERMAN WIRELESS REPORT

A German official report transmitted by wireless states that three English attacke northward of Manchy were repulsed with heavy losses.

littered with enemy dead

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

LONDON, April 5th. Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Com mons, stated that the Imperial War Cabinet

with its agricult of agrarions, Dr.

Cermanng the yield of the harvests of

and the United Kingdom. Dr. Helfferich said that the normal German harvest produced 230 kilogrammes (5081b) of bread corn per head of the popula- tion, and the United Kingdom a little over 30 (alb) For potatoes the figures

lb), United Kingdom, 160 (330lb).- more Corey 650 lelogramm) (

General Maude, after a night march, yesterday considered the resolutions of

the Burleigh Committee in favour many had 320 cattle to every 1,000 inha- ng her main engines. The enemy vanished attacked a Turkish division on the west

in the darkness, The Broke next headed bank at Bhattel Adham, compelling it to of Imperial preference, and he promised Wo putammber the enemy in the supply of towards a destroyer which was heavily on fall back ten miles to the northward. machine guns, as in of her weapons,

fire and whose crow sent up loud appeals for We captured 131 prisoners.

to make a statement on Friday regard ing the master

only 250 He added that, though there bitants, while the United Kingdom: baik was a long, hard road before them the were certain of sufficient foodstuffs. everybody exercised the strictest economy