1917-05-14 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 14TH, 1017.

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH OPERATIONS ON WEST.

TURKISH POSITIONS CAPTURED.

SITUATION IN RUSSIA.

BALFOUR MISSION IN AMERICA.

Franco-Belgian Front,

LATEST CABLES,

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.)

BRITISH SUCCESS CONFIRMED

LONDON, May 13th.

The Near East.

EARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH EBUTER'S AGENCY,] MESOPOTAMIA:

LONDON, May 12th. An official report states: Our mobile Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-

columns operating in the basins of the ports:Further details of last night's Shatt-el-Adhaim and Diula Rivers pressed attacks confirm the success of the oporabuck the enemy into the Jebel Hamrin tions.

range, eighty miles distant from Bagdad. TURKISH POSITIONS

Considerable enemy forces were observ- ed last evening massing for a counter attack in the neighbourhood of Bulle Bourt. They wore effectively dealt with by our artillery. Their attack was not, developed.

CAPTURED...

PETROGRAD, May 12th.

A Russian report tranmitted by wire less states:-The enemy made a gaz attack at Stahovce, southwards of Lake

We attacked later and after nightlong fighting we

ourselves in Nurocz established Bullecourt village. Fighting continues. The enemy's attack upon our new posi tious was scattered by our artillery.

We captured astrido Arras-Cambrai road twelve hundred yards of trench including a strong cavalry farm position. FRENCH PENETRATE GERMAN

LINE

PARIS, May 12th.

A communiqué states: Our batteries carried out destructive fire against the German organisations. They blew up a munitione depot north-east of Wuvin court on the left bank of the Mouse

An artillery dual was violent all night. Detachments penetrated the German line north of Bezonvaux at various points in Alsace, and took' prisoners.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.

AMSTERDAM, May 19th.

Three companies of Turks and Kurds attacked on Thursday on both sides of the Euphrates, south-westward of Erzin-

Their offensive was arrested gan and in the region of Kelerkari Pass

We captured on Tuesday part of the positions between Senna and Pendgeniu in the region of the Gerran Pass,

Later we captured several more post tions, but Turkish reinforcements at night-time compelled us to fall back on

our trenches.

We crossed the Diala River on the 3rd inst. near Meidan and advanced in the direction of Kifri. ̈*

Our troops on Thursday forced a pre- he Diała Bivor between Jumar sage of the and Omaraga

General.

LATEST CABLES. THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] RUSSIAN DETERMINATION.

PETROGRAD, May 12th.

A Berlin official reports states -The strong British · attacks on the Western Front last night were mostly repulsed

M. Skobeloff, the leading member of by our curtain fire. Our counter-attacks threw back the enemy where he had sue-

the Executive Committee of the Work- ceeded in penetrating our lines. The men's and Soldiers Delegates, roundly fight continues at the Roeux railway declared at a sitting of the Council that station. The fighting at new points every Russian protetrarch (1 proletarian) developed in the morning.

'.

LATEST CABLES.

GERMANY'S WAR AIMS.

LONDON, May 12th.

Berlin semi-oficially announces that the Chancellor will speak on the war aims. on Tuesday.

MARLIER CABLES.

BRITISH MISSION IN NEW

YORK

UNFORGETTABLE BANQUET

SCENES.

NEW YORK, May 12th. Enormous enthusiasm marked the arrival of the Balfour Mission. The streets were packed with cheering crowda The Mayor, receiving the fission at the City Hall, expressed admiration of and thanks to the British Navy for keep- ing open the seas to American commerce, and he also thanked the armies of Great Britain, Canada and other Colonies.

Mr. Balfour, who was greatly moved by the reception, replied briefly. He said if it were possible for the people of the Homeland to have a glimpse at that scene it would inspire them to fresh enthusiasm,

THE BANQUET.

There were unforgettable scenes at the great bangnet at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to the British and French Missiona

The Mayor declared that nothing in the civic life of the city since the visit of Lafayette had cqualled in magnitude the reception given to the city's present guests bocause of what their respective nations had done for human liberty and self-government.

Mr. Joseph Choate, former Ambassador to London, referred to "those dear Allies of ours, Britain our beloved mother country, and France our fascinating and hypnotising sister.**

CHINESE TELEGRAMS. stuck on a pedestal which formerly sup❘

ported a statue of Catherine de Poix, the heroine of the siege," and the other lay in front of the broken shell of the medieval town hall. They were found by the first British patrols on entering the abandoned town at seven yesterday morn ing:

CHUNG NOOI

BY COURTESY OF THE

BAN FO.'']

CHINA AND GERMANY.

SHANGHAI, May 11th.

ing to discuss the diplomatic question, A crowd, numbering upwards of 5,000 men, surrounded the Lower House to demand a declaration of war against

JEERING MESSAGES.

LU YUNG-TING IN CANTON

HIS ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY

TO PEKING,

General of the Two Kwang provinces, on General Lu Yung-ting, Inspector- returning from Peking to Canton was Some jeering messages had been chalked Tuchun yamen, a feast had been pre- accorded a warm welcome. At the on a wall by the departing guardsmen pared for him by Acting Tuchou Gon. before they moved to Tincourt in the Tan Hao-ming, Chief of the Staff and Yesterday the Lower House held a meet-infantry, whom they knew had already (says the Chinese Press) may give an darkness. They did not wait to meet our

the departmental heads. The following breached the font line across the Some idea of what General Lu Ying-ting said British soldiers in Féronne that they were during the banquet, using his own ex

It was greatly regretted by the first denied the pleasure of turning the pressions if not exactly his own words › invaders out the garrison, realising that they had been Not it shot was fired, for icft in the air by the hurried Mont St. Quentin, were already well beyond range. The British patrols con- tented themselves with recording the fact of their arrival on the stone Grand Place, where to-day you could have read this line, Division was first there. It entered Péronne at 7 a.m.":

retreat

Germany and threatened to attack the of their comrades on the other side or have gained much in knowledge and

members of the opposition.

The Premier, at the request of the House, therefore sont for 4,000 troops to

maintain order.

Peronne and the valley in which it

The Ministers of the Entente met at the French Legation to discuss the ques-athough less than thirty-six hours befor

tion of how to deal with German pro party in China after a declaration of

FENG KUO-CHANG AND CHANG SUN. By making this voyage, I believe I

much more than I have enjoyed. Upon visdom. But mentally I have suffered arrival at Nanking, I called on Generat who received me very kindly indeed. This Teng Kuu-chang, our Vice-President,

was the first occasion of my having an opportunity to ace him, and the impros

fathom his real thought. I could tell on he gave me was of a man too deep and too clever for common mortals, to morning a backwater so far removed from at sight that he is a worldly man. it was the actual battle front was this the line of contact of the opposing armies hould think that between such men, as that you could not bear the sound of a General Feng and myself, there need bo single gun save those employed in the no ceremony and reserve at all, as be- The U.S. Minister visited the Premier duck. I walked for miles along the river appeared to take special care to observe peaceful occupation of shooting weld een brothers. Yet it was not so; he yesterday.

bank behind the German line that had ceremony in every way. He repeatedly SHANGHAI, May 13th. been abandoned so recently, and on every asked for my political views during our side were signs of the hurried departure conversation. As I have never had any The American, French, and Russian of its tenants. Light railways were political views I could only say that, Ministers visited the Premier on the 11th freshly torn up, boxes of grenades were being a soldier, how could I entertain inst, to ask the decision of the Lower marshes were broken, with strips of straw I know being how to, chey orders.

emptied, wooden 'causeways across any political opinion? The only thing matting stretched over the gaps to deceive House.

our airmon, and the entrances to dug-oute were strewn with torn papers, beer bottles, and even articles of clothing which the men had not taken way.

war.

CABINET CHANGES.

-

SHANGHAI, May. 11th The Minister of Commerce and Agri- culture has resigned.

SHANGHAI, May 19th. The members of the Lower House have invited the President to demand the re- organisation of the Cabinet,

We Ting fang, Ku Chungh-aui, Chang Yaot-sing, and Cheng Pik-wang have all resigned. The Premier will also resign. It is reported that Wang Shi-chin or Li King-shi will be appointed Premier.

All the Tuchung and some of the mili tary officers held a meeting at the Premier's residence to consult with re-

Mr. Balfour aroused great enthusiasm when he declared that a crims had been reached when the whole of Civilisation gord to policy. must rise up and voice its appeal for the preservation of human liberty “Unless all who love liberty unite wo shall be destroyed piecemeal" longed cheers)

(Pro

AMERICAN MISSION TO RUSSIA.

WASHINGTON, May 12th. The Mission to Russia includes Major General Scott, Chief of Staff, and Ad- miral Glennon.

GERMAN TRAIL OF RUIN AND PILLAGE.

AN ILLUSION..

When I passed Hsuchow, I paid & call on General Chang Haun, Tuchun of Anhui, who, upon seeing me, at once.. hailed me as elder brother! I was much pleased with this kind of reception His rough and ready manner may shock Péronne itself, set picturesquely at the civilians. But he is shom, of all proten- the sense of propriety of the literati and fork of the rivers, is deceptively pleasing sions and, as he frankly told me, he has and apparently quite undamaged when you look down on it from the dead brown

no patience with those who stand upon. slope at Blaches and La Maisonnette too much ceremony. His frankness, mass of

gabled roofs and unbroken red bravery and simplicity of mind will soon brick walls bohind Vauban's massive earth

win him the love of his men and the re-. works, with a wide expanse of wooded gard of his acquaintances. ***} marsliland enclosing it on two sides. WAWILD RUKODE. Bitches, its western neighbour, consists only of fantastic ruins, the work of the German guns, and the contrast is Bo remarkable that it seemed incredible that Péronne had survived so wonderfully after nearly thirty months' ordeal.

A closer inspection reveals the face it has suffered at the hands of the Hun. The heart of the town is a mere shell, many buildings having atcerly vanished, while there are entire streets of charred frames of houses which must have been habitable, despite all the British and French bon barduients, until the enemy determined on their destruction before giving up the

ntered-Perone by

I entered Parohne by the so-called Faubourg de Paris, on the southern edge, through a great gup in the old fortifica tions made by a German mine. At the edge of the paved and still whole abreet

08

A TRAGIC PICTURE OF PERONNE as a wooden sign which must be taken a tribute to the vigilance of our entrenched troops across the river

Durchgang bei Tage streng verboten " (Passage forbidden in the daytime).

[BY PERCIVAL PHILLIPS,]

WAR CORRESPONDENTS' HEADQUARTERS.

Monday night, March 19th, The battle front is still swinging east- ward towards Cambrai and St. Quentin as the British southern armies continue ADMIRALTY REORGANSATION to press the enemy rearguards and ham

per their retreat to the next prepared LONDON, May 12th.

line The Times states that the reorganisa

The single wide street of the Faubourg is fined with houses which are nearly whole and mostly well roofed..

BIGN OF HASTE.

After arrival in Poking, vas received in audience by the President. I paid my respects to Premier Tuna Chi-jui, with whom I held conferences on military and financial questions, affect- ing the Kwangtung province.” Nó de finite policy with regard to these matters has yet been adopted. But the Press Speared most unreasonable in publish ing all sorts of scnsoless and wild rumours about me and my mission, with out understanding me and without even attempting to see me and find out the truth. They made out that I was de manling change in the Provincial Chiefship, the licerising of unrestricted gambling and other vile measures,With the controversy over the Government's foreign policy, the exposure of corrupt practices in the Ministry of Finance and of Communications, and other unpalat able news daily assailing my ears, I felt quite disgusted; and the extent of my mental suffering at that time may be more easily imagined than described.

The President was most kind and con- siderate towards me, inviting me to live within his mansion so that I might dis- sipate my gloomy thoughts by the charm. ing scenes around me. He treated me: on the pavement survived all shelling,

Trees which were planted closely edged over to my apartment to make me feel with unusual tenderness, often coming. only to be felled on Saturday before the at hore. He is all sincerity, not a evacuation in such a way as to drop vestige of circumspection in his speech all traffic. Some of the trees were still scheming mind at all. I believe the straight across the thoroughfare and block and action being observable. His is not standing, although half-cut through, and President is the only man that can truly an axe lay beside one of them, where it be said to be with us in all sincerity and the order to move away.. M OLDIDE'S POLITICS.

scornfully repudiated a separate peace. tion of the Admiralty has been completed patrols hanging to the tail of the 2nd had been dropped as the owner received without any hidden purpose.

Fifteen enemy aeroplanes were brought Every soldier who consented to such with down yesterday.

Germany injured the general cause of Russian democracy The Army must

EARLIER CABLES.

THE ANGLO-FRENCH

OFFENSIVE.

BRITISH ATTACK.

have a powerful organisation ready to fight, not merely in the trenches, but to tako the offensive,

EARLIER CABLES.

SOCIALISTS AND

The First, Second and Fourth Sea Lords are relieved of departmental work con nected with the provision of material

and civil administration, and can now devote their whole attention to strategy,

The last German cavalry and cyclist Guards Division were by this morning. many miles beyond the Somme front

All houses in the Faubourg had been called to see me every day in Peking. Hundreds of persons of all classes Saturday night by those picked regi- the contadore Tables, bedstends, other manifestations of welcome and around Peronne, which was held until systematically pillaged a day or two ago.

Their contents were piled in confusion on I was everwhelmed with receptions and ments. They hovered in the fields and deserted village until the contact of our preparatory to be set on fire, as was done Parti o uspond te invitations from four among the burning homes of a newly broken chairs were heaped up as though goodwill given by individuals and

bills and valleys. Wherever possible gy advance guard moved them on over the in the centre of the town. At the upper. I had to respond to

the main town, a German sentry-box etill most distressing moment at such social many instances they failed to delay the There were two empty beer bottles on the to make a speech. You all know how or set them alight, as at Nesle, but in stood on the edge of the pavement. functions was when I was called upon British cavalry and infantry patrols, and dirty floor, and the side of the wooden poor a speaker I am, although I like snowhere did they succeed in interferring wall was covered with rude pencil very much to hear others speak. If I materially with the great forward move sketches made by the occupants daring were asked to take command of 100,000 ment between Arras and our junction idle moments. Most of them were fair men and lead them to fight battle, I with the co-operating French army on the likenesses of Hindenburg. think I would agree with aleerity. But Fight Arras and Le Catelet the enemy The area had been newly lined an hour, would throw me into perturba

Between

garrison of Péronne layed mostly to ask me to deliver a speech for about appears to have been entirely cleared out with timber and furnished with the usual tion. However embarrassed I might be, of the area to approximately, within six regard for comfort. There were pictures those who invited me would invariably miles west of Cambrai, where he is lodged on the walls and clocks looted from the present me with such a request, on high ground before the St. Quentin houses

in consultation with the First Lord blew up bridges, as at Rouy and hey end of the Faubourg, at the entrance to or five different places in one day. The Simultaneously the office of Controller of the Navy will be revived and probably filled by an eminent civilian,

NEW NAVY CONTROLLER:

The Daily Mail states that Sir Eric Geddes has been appointed Controller the Navy.

of

LONDON, May 18th

RUSSIAN Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re

THE COALITION MINISTRY. porta:-Wevery successfully attacked

PETEOGRAD, May 12th. during the night and this morning the The Executive of the Workmen's and Hindenburg Life in the neighbourhood of Soldiers' Delegates has resolved by 23 Ballecourt and Iso astride the Arras votes to 22 not to participate in the coali. Cambrai road norward of the tion Ministry. Eight abstained from GRAVE OUTLOOK IN COTTON Canal. In front of this resting place of Scarpe, gaining all our objectives and voting, including the most influential taking some hundreds of prisone

members of the committee, who abstained

There was local fighting resulting in our favour during the night to the east of Lempire.

for personal reasons. The question will be referred to a plenary committee, when it is anticipated that the votes will be

We also carried out successful raids to levers the enst of Ypres.

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT ON

FRENCH FRONT.

a við

RUSSIA AND LIBERTY.

PETROGRAD, May 11th.

At an extraordinary session of the PARIS, May 11th,

Duma, M. Rodritchoff, Secretary of State A communiqué reports-After

for Finland said: The greater our lent bombardment in the region of victory over the enemy the more complete Cerny en-Laonnois, the enemy attacks on will be the victory of Democracy. Unless both sides of the village were shattered German militarism is overthrown, the by our artillery and machine guns The work will all be futile and generations nemy gained a footing on 200 metres of must be devoted to armaments. Russia our frenches west of the village, but were has adopted liberty in order to overthrow moediately driven out. There has been despotism and to drive out the enemy iolent cannonading on this part of the from the occupied territorios. The Pro front.

We brought down five enemy visional Government has a right to de croplanes and four others were forced wand every sacrifice.” down serious,y dainaged.

The specch was loudly cheered

TRADE

LONDON, May 12th.

COUNTRY ABLAZE

floor rooms

Sometimes, I was so pressed to express

his infantry battalions some patrola have There were many German sign-boards my political inclination that with not yet been driven in, but wherever they and nearly every cellar had a placard desperate effort I mounted the p

platform have been challenged they have retreated showing the available accommodation,

and managed to blurt out two sentences with the greatest celerity The evacua- some of them for a hundred men. Warra to the effect that I have never had any The Executive Committee of the Lanwell as above Péronno, has involved placard, and the Grande Place in front and to obey orders of a superior autho-

tion of the country east of the Bomme

bad???

(warm ball) was one conspicuous political opinion, as become a soldier, shiro Card-roomers Amalgamation has the resolved to ask the Federation of Master day.

field battery sections being engaged to hath tickets the only German documents Government, with the concurrence of

found in the place......

Parliament, is all I know," to the great Cotton Spinners Associations for & joint

The town hall had been the "Terunde disappointment of my entertainers, who meeting to discuss the employers pro-caped destruction, and judging by what for sick and wounded), and the ground at least. Some heard my declaration pro- Not a village in the area mentioned ten kranken samestelle (clearing station had expected a harangue of some length posal to close the mills for eight days at I saw at Peronne this morning, the fier deliberately piled debris, including with applause. Outside worth has never were half-filled with with derion while others received it Whitsun, owing to the grave outlook in doned countryside waste with a ruthless broken hospital cols mattresses, and been much cared for by me

mans have determined to lay the aban the cotton trade. The card-roomers num- hand. For a depth of more than ten fragments of sixteenth century carved NO TASTE FOR CONFERENCES. her 50,00. Half of those affected con- populated territory anabae yestacay hacked away after considerable trouble health. I have prayed to be released behind Péronne this thickly painted wooden ceiling, which had been Owing to my old age and impaired tend that systematic short time is pre twenty different fires on one ridge above Many houses in the atrects leading out the President has not been so considerate

and last night. It was possible to count THE BLACK CAT.

from the yoke of my busy and responsible ferable to prolonged stoppages.

the Somme. The valley of Omignon was of the place had been destroyed by recent to me, for he created me Inspector post in Kwangtung In this instance, heavy with the smoke of burning barlets fires Two of them were still burning General Kwangtang and Kwangsi, and bridge Wells have been systemati- this morning. In front of one a black instead of acceding to my prayer. He cally destroyed by being filled with cat lay sunning itself, the sole survivor said that this new post would not entail rubbish or choked with filth, as at Le of the German occupation

apan me much onerons work and I could dences. Transloy and Rocquigny, destructiveness, and I found many croute, but not a single British soldier was cruising about in the West River as by Péronne is an object lesson of German Explosives had been left in some dug recuperate my health just as well by

of wanton and stupid attempts by injured thereby the garrison to do as much damage as There were for relics of the German Borept? Premier Tuan wished me to sitting at home. What could I do but

Teleproms received on Saturday and ing two dummies which, stuffed with hours, further proof that the last act of censale" social functions from which

possible and anger the French by occupation, but piles of torn French docu- remain to take part in the Military Con deliberate insulis Much time was spent ments and private papers were strewn in ference. As I had already been in Pat by the 1st Guards Grenadiers in fashion court yard and the interiors of many high long. I had become tired of the on Sunday morning and published in an straw and dressed in the French Zouave the departing garrison was to do ps much could find no excuse to escape unless I "Extra" on Sunday, will be found or uniform, were placed in the Grande Plane lige us possible without regard to left the Capital I therefore resolutely Page 6.1

in front of the ruined church. Ons was military necessity.

declined to stay any longer.

OBITUARY/

LONDON, May 12th

the author; Mr. Harold Fielding Hale The deaths are announced of Dr. Sweto, and Mr. Frederick D. Bassoon.