1917-08-03 — Page 5

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THE

WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.

ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS.

ENEMY SUFFERS TREMENDOUS CASUALTIES.

BRITISH CAPTURE 5,000 PRISONERS.

RUSSIAN RETIREMENT CONTINUES.

MUNITIONS FACTORY EXPLOSION.

Franco-Belgian Front,

LATEST CABLES.

(THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.)

BRITISH FRONT. FIERCE FIGHTING.

LONDON, August 2nd. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Baig re- ports-Rain fell all day. Our line was advanced slightly in the neighbourhood of the Zillebeke-Zandvoorde road.

The French gained, further ground on the east bank of the Yser Canal.

Strong forces of the enemy heavily counter-attacked our new positions cast ward and north-eastward of Ypres between Westhoek and St. Julien,

After resisting repeated attempts we were compelled, after stubborn fighting, to withdraw from St. Julien.

The lighting was particularly fierce for Westhook, but we now hold the western outskirts.

FIVE THOUSAND PRISONERS.

Our

Yesterday the Britis mptured over - 6,000 prisoners, including 5 officers.

We captured a few guns, a number of machine guns and trenchmortars,

Despite the weather yesterday, our acroplanes were in contact. with the

And

FRENCH FRONT

POSITIONS CONSOLIDATED.

LONDON, August 1st..

Russian bront

FARLIER UABLES. THROUGH BRUTER'S AGENCY.

RUSSIAN FRONT

LONDON, August lat.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 320. 1917.

THE LABOUR PARTY CRISIS.

LONDON, August 1st. The Times states Mr. Arthur Hender Hon's visit to Paris lua caused a crisis in the Labour Party. It is understood that

Russian official wireless message inisters informed him yesterday of i

states:We attacked and earried a posi.. tion in the region of Grjimalov, in the direction of Trembowla.

We frustrated an attempt to cruse the Zbruca River to the northward of Busiaiyo.

The enemy forend us across the Zbrucz elsewhere. Our losses were great,

The enemy forced our retirement de

tween the Dnicster and the Proth, to the

east of Geremónt

AUSTRIAN VERSION.. A French comunique states After

A wireless Austrian official message the magnificent success in Belgian, we states We are advancing towards Kim consolidated in torrential rain the pòsi-poloung. We forced the Russians to re- tions won. The artillery struggle con- treat after a fierce ight south-west and tinues along the whole Aiste front north-west of Czernowitz, Strong counter-attacks enabled us to pro-

General gress to the east of Ceroy -at- several- points, and we took thirty prisoners.

After a hardment of several days' duration in the region between Avocourt and Fill 304, the Germans in the morning attacked the positions which we captured on July 17th. By evening they wore only able to reach, certain advanced elements of our first line, where they were held up by a vartain of fre. Captain Guynemer won his fiftieth air victory.

noon, says:

EARLIER CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

PROCLAMATION BY THE

KAISER

"A RIGHTEOUS WAR OF

DEFENCE."

COPENHAGEN, “August 1st. The Kaiser has issued a proclamation to the German people, in which he says:

After three years of hard fighting we avo resolutely determined to prosecute a righteous war of defence to a successful termination. The enginy will never have.

their anxiety to see him at the earliest possible moment.

EARLIER CABLES

MUNITIONS, FACTORY EX-

PLOSION

LONDON, August 186. The Press Bureau announces that an explosion, causing considerable damingo, i decurred in a manítions factory in Southi Wales yesterday, at noon.

HONGKONG POST OFFICE, REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1016.

The report on the General Post Office, Hongkong, for 1016 states:

VAILS.

The mumber of unil bags and jackets despatched from the Colony during tbo. year mounted to 124,238 as against. 120,645 in 1915, a decrease of 407; and. Bix workers were killed and three the number received to 13,678 g against injured.

118,677, decrease of 2,839. These figures include ships' letter boxes, and mails for His Majesty's ships and Foreign men- of war, où the China Station.

It is stated that Mr. Henderson did not consult some of the Labinie Ministers regarding the new orientation of the Labour policy and the strongest of them CONSCRIPTION_IN have resolved not to follow,

It

suggested that his resignation is the only solution.

The more stalwart of the Labour leaders are now up in arms and will determinedly oppose the proposal for the British Labour men to mert German Suvialiste during the war.

WAR CABINET CHITICISED.

CANADA

OTTAWA, August 1st, Six new Henntors have been sworn in in the Upper House, this ensuring a majority for the Compulsion Bill, which enters its scoond reading stage to-morrow, Cardinal Hegin, speaking at Quebec, initiated opposition Conscription among Divinity students, asserting that it would be a violation of the Treaty

to

The number of mail bags and packets wont in transit through the Colony amounted to 68,333, as against 70,903 in 1916, a decrease of 2,658.

Boxes and baskets in transit amounted to 11.203 as against 11,010 or 154 more than in 1915.

Four thousand and twenty-throo steamers carrying mails arrived and 8,263 stemmers left in 1916, as ngainst 4,072 and 6,212 repectively in 1915,

Registered and insured articles handled by the General Post Office amounted to

BRITISH SHIPPING RETURNS 735,767 as against 679,167 in 1916, an

In the House of Commons, Lord Dun-assuring Canadian Catholics free practice cannon moved this adjournment in order of their religion and would lead to fatal to draw attention to the conduct of the religious discords. War Cabinet in allowing, at a gritical period, one of ig members to proceed abroad, accompanied by a pacifist Mem- ker of Parliament, ou business not con- nected with his Ministerial duties and on a mission which had not the sanction of the Government.

He

Lord Duncannon rejected the conten tion that Mr. Henderson went to Paris as Secretary of the Labour Party and not as a member of the War Cabinet. accused the Government of tacitly con senting to the departure of Mr. Lender He requested a Government declaration Hon's companions by issuing passports. not to allow Englishmen to go to meet the Germans at Stockholm Lt Mr. Hen derson had tngs committed himself, he should be asked to retract or to resigt.

LATEST CABLES.

the German territory to which he is MR. HENDERSON'S EXPLANATION. stretching out his hands, We are not frightened by the new nations which are. continuing to enter the war against us.

Our incipies wish to see us weak and powerloss at their feet, but they shall not prevail. They disdained our peace words, but knew not how Germany could fight. They have slandered the Germans all over the world, but cannot extinguish German

LONDON, August ist.

The Admiralty announces that arrivals for the week were 2,747 and sailings 2,776.

increase of 20,000.

the

wegistered articles rid Siberia mounted to mujalt is, compared with, 64,538, an thenres of 883,

Farvels, oruinary and insured handled by the General Post Offee amounted to Eighteen ships over and three under 9000, as compared with 105,423 in 1915,

1,000 tons were sunk.

Nims vessels

attacked.

Ware

unsuccessfully

THE LANCASHIRE COTTON TRADE.

LONDON, August 1st.

At the annual conference of textile workers held at Blackpool, representing over a quarter of a million workers, the Chairman said that after the claims of the Army and the food supplies of the people on shipping had been met, tju: clain of the Lancashire cotton teade must be more fully considered. It was the

LONDON, August 2nd. Mr. Henderson said that delegates did not go to Paris in order to discuss the var situation, but to examine with the whole of the French Socialist Party and the Russian Delegates the new invitation to the International Conference issued and also to discuss a proposal for an the available applies of cotton supplies by the Dutch-Scandinavian Committee, Government's duty so to deal with all Inter-Allied Conference. The Govern ment approved of the lafter.

so as to secure regularity of employment

Germany stands immovable, victorious and intrepid, and will meet possible for ther hard trials with grave mien and fall of faith. If the enemy wishes to prolong the war, his sufferings will be heavier than We must tirelessly toil and fight, but Germans may be assured that Gerry: In order to disprl Russian sui-the benet of the machinery and 10,000

Mr. Henderson witted members on their belated discovery that membership and fall wage turning power to the work of the War Cabinet and the Secretaryship people. If short time becuase necessary, of the Labourites were absolutely irrecon- 'eiluble. He deemed it of the highest images mart equal full-time. Wages.

Committee going to Paris when he stoppages, which all wished to avoid. purtance that he should join the Sub Nothing else would prevent disputes and in order to keep Mr. Macdonald right. The Colton Control Board in meeting realised that Mr. Macdonald was going, He declared he had done what he coat Manchester to-day to consider pro-

S LONDON, July 31st.

interests of his party but of the country, spindles and logs and also the imposing ceived to be his duty, not only in the psals for stopping forty per cent of Mr. Henderson advanced the following of a lery on the owners of the machinery reasons why the Conference was netes which is allowed to work, this being for

workers rendered idle.

INCREASED ARTILLERY FIRE. A German wireless official message status: Artillery firing in Flanders The enemy in the afternoon re-attacked increased in violence this afternoon.

THE SITUATION UNCHANGED, in the neighbourhood of the Ypres

Reuter's Correspondent at Headquarters, Routers railway, and ezitered advanced positions un a narrow front, telegraphing at five o'clock in the after where fighting is proceeding.

A period of quiet succeeded yesterday's Anglo-French advance against the long prepared enemy positions. Even our tremendous bombardment still left many a place formidable with obstacles, We avtired a few mea from some extreme advancing infantry throughout the day, points, timely creating a wide No Man's

they successfully

and Letus, awanwhile consolidating and pro-glory. bombard machine gunned the enemy's aerodromes, †ceeding, despite the handicap of a heavy transport and infantry Few enemy ruin. Prise org agree that the prolonged machines attempted to fly.

bombardmens inflicted tremendous canal We brougin down six earmy machines.ties, and also that our counter battery Three of ours are missing.

performed wonderful work in effectually knocking out many guns, which was prob nbly the reason of the alleged inadequate artillery support. Our artillery is very active and has not relaxed, despite bad visibility. The latest news from the battle line is situation unchanged." GERMANS ADMIT OUR SUCCESSES. A German official wireless messago states:With masses such as have never been used during the period of the war, the English, with the French in their wake, attacked yesterday. Their aim was a lofty one, intended to deliver an annihilating blow to the U-boat pest, which, from the coast of Flanders, ia undermining England's mastery of the sea, Densely packed attacking waves of closely-placed divisions followed each other. Numerous tanks and cavalry unite participated. The enemy penetrated with tremetidos pressure our defensive zone

In July, and including yesterday, to six o'clock in the evening, we captured 4,031 (prisoners, of whom độ were officers.

We also exptured eight field-guns, 33

machine-guns and 32 trench-mortars.

EARLIER CABLES.

NEW BRITISH LINE FURTHER IMPROVED.

LONDON, August Jst. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Huig re- ports:-We improved our new line by night operations to the south of the Ypres Comines Canol, and repulsed coun- tar-attacks against our new positions at La Basste Ville, to the north of the Ypres Comines Canal and near the Yprea- Boulers railway. The heavy rain since yesterday afternoon has not favoured operations. We successfully raided to the cast of Bois Grenier.

GERMANS ATTEMPTING

COUNTER-ATTACKS,

temporarily gaining considerable terri-

onrs.

man blood and zeal are not being gambled with for an empty shadow of ambition or schemes of conquest, but in defence of strong and free Empire, wherein its ehildren may live securely."

GERMAN VICTORY NEXT YEAR!

LONDON, August 1st. The Kaiser has issued the following Proclamation to the Army, Navy and Colonial troops :---

The third year of war has ended. Our adversaries lave increased, but their prospects of victory are no better. You crushed Roumanis last year, and the Rus, sian Empire again trembles under your strokes. Both these States have sacrificed themselves for others, and will now bleed

cians and doubts as to our aims, and to neutralise pacifist propaganda. Buck a Conference must be consultative only. mitted to vote and thas bind British Participating neutrals must not be per-

delegates to an indefensible and danger ous position so far as the Empire was concerned.

These were his objects in going to Paris: His views regarding the war were unaltered

GOVERNMENT INFLEXIBLE,

THE CROP PROSPECTS.

LONDON, August 1st. The report of the Board of Agriculture on the crop prospects says that in France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden the yield is expected to be below the average. In Canada and the United States at present the condition of the crops is good, and the yield is expected to be satisfactory, while in Switzerland and Central Russia an

THE TEA MARKET.

has not altered its views in the least average yield is anticipated.

Mr. Lloyd George The Government

regards the only possible peace conditions consistent with our honour and security. The Government proposes not to part- espate in any torn wnaterer, in the Con ference as described. We us not propose allowing any sectional Conference t decide upon and dictate peace terms, which is the responsibility of the Govern

ment.

„ALF PRETOUSE of 34,183.

11

HEVENCE AND EXPENDITURE

The revenue amounted to $401,712.33, morease of 333,264.56 as compared with 1913.

The

decreased expenditure

from $403,600.02 in 1915 to $308,138.33 in 1910, which was principally due to the high rate of exchange prevailing during tho year and recovery of arrears of outstand- ing transit accounts. The balance of tho revenue over expenditure amounted to

203,600.

MONEY ORDERS;

order service reported in 1915 continued The growing activity m the money

with unabated vigour throughout this year, The Chinese remittances xrom the United kingdom mereased by the large amount of 212,350; and the increas£5 z troch Ancak, Japan, Straits and makya axe due to The sabe cause. The high rate of the dollar accounts for the - crease under 106 head of order 188ued,

made in consequence of the repatriation of empecialty 10,050 of orders sent to ludia. in 1930 a large remittance of £2,000 WILS

Chinese From Apia, Samon; no such reuntblanco wis made in 1916. The in- crease, therefore, reported in "1915 was

not maintained in 1910.

Taken on the whole, the transactions are very battalactory, showing a net in- 18, The inerchange of telegraphic crease of £53,905 14. 11d; over those of

money orders with the United Kingdom began on the let October, but the cost or the transmission of the messages is ko migh to ensure its general use except for the maximum amount (240) and only a few orders were recorded for the year.

large sarinkage as in 1910. In that your The sale of Postal Orders, both Im- perial and Local, was almost the same as in 1915, and has not shown such

the decrease in Postal: Orders as com- pared with the year 1914 amounted to. £6,870.

inward Postal Orders showed an in- eroase amounting to £3,357

CHINESE CORRESPONDENCE The Chinese Delivery Section during the year handled, 1,777,123 ordinary let- postal hong parkets. ters, 303,433 other articles, and 0,634 articles aplivered amounted to 234,238, The registered of which 145,510 were from the United States of America and Canada, and 83,728 from China and other countries, showing an increase of 24,116 as com pared with 210,123 in 1918. 1,932 insured letters were dealt with as against 1,221 in 1915,

TELEGRAPH SUB-DEPARTMENT,

LONDON, July #ist.. Thore was again the keenest demand at yesterday's tea sales for better class The revenue of the Telegraph Sub-De- Indian teas, especially for the free partaient siapunted to 80,185.49, of which D" class, the price of which may now 8,695.04 was in respect of radio tele- bo said to average about two shillings & Mr. Lloyd George recapitulated the pound. On the contrary, a large quaned to 810,848.21, includes work done and grams. The expenditure, which amount- unremitting war services rendered by Mi.tity of cheaper tea was unsold. The stores supplied to D'Aguilar Station by never despaired of the Allied cause. I brokers are mystified at this, and it is from 1st July, 1915, to 30th September, Henderson, and procecded :—I have

the Naval Authorities during the period fident that Russia will recover, and I beg workers are insisting on better class teas, emoluments of the wireless operators at the House give her a chance

or that distributors are concentrating on the D'Aguilar Station, the claims in

being settled this

in some sectors which overrun the lines, to death. You have brayed the enemy's despair now less than ever I feel con- suggested that, owing to good wages, the 1916, but does not inelade the personal. tory. Our reserves counter-attacked and assaults in Macedonia and in mighty Premier awels upon the Russian the better kinds because they do not con-respect of which

battles in the West you remain the Government's dificulties and he appealed masters."

to the House not to pass a hasty judg ment, and not always to insist upon certain upon Great Britain, therefore he appealed CHINA ASSOCIATION REFERENCE. immediate explanations why courses were taken. The Allies depended

lines are firms and you are protecting the To the Army the Kaiser says:--" Your

dear ones at Home against the terrors and devastation of war."

Reuter s Correspondent at Head- quarters telegraphs:-To-day heavy rain after bitter hand-to-hand engagements all continues with pitiless insistence. The day long, drove out or forced back the ground over which the main fighting is enemy into the foremost crater field. We taking place is not good at its best, but were compelled to abandon Bisschoote at present, under a weeping sky, with the The enemy penetrated deeper into this visibility shrouded to about one, thousand sector. The enemy's attacks in the even yards, it is all but impracticable for opening on our new battle line failed, campaigning. The Germans are attempt-- We repulsed four French attacks at the

To the Navy, the Kaiser says: You ing some heavy counter-attacks, parti- Chemin des Dames and drove back the have achieved good results and threaten cularly in the neighbourhood of La Fronch astride the Malancourt-Esnes ed the enemy's sea command and very Bassce Ville, where the position at the road on a two-kilometre front to a depth moment is indefinite. Last evening there of seven hundred metres. We also took way an outburst of intense shelling from five hundred prisoners. a portion of the German fine further

Africa. north. In the growing dusk the enemy was scen massing for an attack Our batteries got the range upon them and the field of greys melted away.

The wind and heavy atmosphere being suitable, we loosed large instalments of gas near Fleurbain with good results.

EARLIER CABLES. THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] FRESH PROGRESS IN EAST AFRICA.

LONDON, August 1st.

Our casualties yesterday wore light con.

An East African official message sidering the magnitude of the fight. states-After sharp fighting we drove out What we now pray for is an improvement the enemy from positions on the Lugungu

in the weather. The rain has all but ceased as I write. The sky is growing Perceptibly lighter, and the guns are beginning to bark in greater volume.

River, south east of Iringa and Ntulires, south of Mahenge.

existence.

ider that the fixed prices of the lower grades leave a sufficient proft.

LATEST CABLER.

year.

MISCEL MISCELLANEOUS, In spite of the war which continued

The large increase in the sale of stamps, throughout the year postal business showed signs of marked improvement, was due in great measure to a large in crease in the parcel-post business out of the war.

arising

essential in order that our cause would for the preservation of unity, which was

LONDON, August 2nd. not be weakened,

At a meeting of the China Association Mr. Lloyd George rose unexpectedly in the Chairman (Mr. F. Anderson) referred responses to an appeal by Major Mark to the Board of Trade's refusal to pass lar, the chief cause being the submarine The mail service was somewhat irregU- Sykes that the Government remove shipments of China tea which had been warfare which increased in violence as the sion that it was playing with peace, and ground that the consignees in Englanding conditions, only comparatively few the possibility of the deplorable impres arranged prior to the prohibition on the year progressed. Considering the prevail- clarify whether Afr. Henderson went to had not paid for them prior to the pro mails were lost. Four mails from London Paris as a representative of labour or of hibition The tea consequently had bees to Hongkong, three vié Siberia despatched The Proclamation proceeds: Far the Government.

impounded in the London docks for over on the 28th and 28th July and the 16th from Home, a little band is defending: Mr. Lloyd George admitted that Mr. two months. the German Colony against many times Henderson's position as Secretary of the The Times comments that since it was February; and to mails Hongkong to nike (including parcels) despatched on 20th November respectively, and one vid Suez superior forces. We and our Allies Labourites was embarrasing both to him clearly impossible for any firm in London London vid Butes() of 8th November will also be victorious in 1818 Ours is self and the Government. He declared to pay for tea in course of shipment order (including parcels) and () 18th Decem the will to final victory War is still not it be

to forestall the insotiied prohibition, ber have been lost eement with the being forced upon us. We will fight for pacifists if he relinquished the Secretary the Board of Trade's claim appears to be solution and courage. With the growing helped the Government in securing the to see any justification for making the our existence in the future with firm retele

tore up for the problem our strength grows. We are support of labour in organising the counter itself useless to anybody after arrival invincible and will be victorious. The try's man-power,

in England. Lord God with be with us in the field?

GERMANY CONTRADICTS

THE TIMES"

COPENHAGEN, August 1st.. Berlin oficially denies the Times alle gation of the meeting at Potsdam on Our advance continues in the Kilwa July 5th, 1014, and says that neither then nor at any other time has such a meeting been held.

area

The Premier pointed out that tho French Minister . Thomas attended the Socialist Conference at Paris, not repre- senting the French Government, but his organisation. Mr. Lloyd George then spoke of Russia, mentioning that she had naked the Allies forbearance. Us appeal his valuable colleagues into the arms of ed for unity, and not to begin by flinging the pacifists.

The adjournment motion was talked out.

MAN

BARLIER CABLES.

THE SILVER MARKET.

LONDON, July 31st Silver is quoted at 30. The supplies

LONDON, August 1st. are small, but the market is steady.

Bilver is quoted at 40. There is chiefly Continental demand and the market is steady.

force on the 1st Commonwealth of Australia, came into

The new parcel agreement

An agreement was concluded with Bus 514 for the exchange of parcel mails við Shanghai and Vladivostcek. The service commenced on the 1st September but was almost immediately suspended owing to the congestion of traffic on the Siberian Bailway

A April with the Indo-China administr

An agreement was entered into in tion for the exchange of radio telegrams addressed to Hongkong and places in Indo China through the intermediary of the Wireless Stations of D'Aguilar, Kwong Tcheo Wan and Hanoi.