1917-12-07 — Page 5

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THE HONGKONG DAILY

RENK FRIDAY DECEMBER 710, ~2817.

THE

WAR

GREAT GERMAN OFFENSIVE ENDED. THE ERROR OF CHALLENGING ANNIHILATION.

AUSTRO-GERMANS' FORMIDABLE ATTACKS. BRITISH TROOPS TAKE UP POSITIONS ON ITALIAN FRONT.

AMERICA DECLARES WAR AGAINST AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. THE REASON FOR THE DECLARATION.

-Belgian Front.

BARLIER CABLES. {THROUGH "REUTER'S AGENCY.] BRITISH FRONT. USUAL RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY FIRING.

LONDON, December 5th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports that there is the usual reciprocal artillery firing on the battle fronts.

state that they have been promised peace if they win this battle. The Germans are fighting with most fierce and most stubborn courage, hence their losses are enormous. The British are equally stub- born. If they Field ground it is only after butchery of the Germans in rear- guard actions which will be counted is among the bloodiest episodes of the war. The British troops realise the importance of the battle.

The wounded with whom the Correspon- AERIAL OPERATIONS. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, rodent conversed console themselves by porting on aviation, says:-Aeroplanes reflecting that the enemy could not break

The Near East.

LATEST CABIES. THROUGH BRUISE'S AGENCY,).

MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN.

BUSSIAN ARMY ABLE TO FIGHT

LONDON, December th Reuter's Agency learns that the British Army in Mesopotamia is continuing the policy of striking out from a central position whenever it gets a chance. It has got into touch with the Russian forces

EARLIER CABLES,

GERMAN ATROCITIES"

CONTINUE.

LIFEBOATS SHELLED BY

SUBMARINE

LONDON, December 5th. The Elder Dempster steamer Apapa has been torpedoed and sunk.

One hundred and twenty were saved. It is rumoured that the submarine fired

who are assisting there in the operation."Po women and children in the boats.

This shows there is still some portion of the Russian Army willing and able to -fight

RUSSIAN FORCE RENDERS VALUABLE ASSISTANCE. An official report states: The Turkish position in the bills on the right bank of the Dialsh, northward of Deli Abbas was attacked by our converging columns one of which successfully bridged the Dialah near Kinlrobat.

The papa was bound for Liverpool from Africa, and carried 160 passengers The vessel was twice torpedoed, in full moonlight. The women and children were put free into the boats.

More

It is stated the many casualties were due to the submarine shelling the boats. The dead include eleven women.

RESIDENT WILSON'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS.

THE PRICE OF PEACE.

THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA President Wilson proceeded to Iny stress upon the value of the world's opinion, and said no representative of any self- governed nation will dare to disregard it by attempting such covenants of relish- and compromise ns were entered pinto at the Congress of Vienna

The same baneful, influences which pre- verbed the German people from having an opinion of their own, which might set up a state of conduct for their rulers, had unfortunately pervaded the Russians with disastrous results at the present

LONDON, December 8th. Continuing address to Congrosa the first portion of which appeared in yesterday's issue-President Wilson, said the American people desired pence by the

momant

Mr. Wilson roiterated the declara

of the world were entitled to free, as tion, made in January that all the nations

aurod and unmolested access to path- ways upon the sou

It is reported that 80 passengers and overcoming of evil; by the defeat, once and eron perished:

for all, of sinister forces rendering peace imposible. They were impatient with those who desired peace by any sort of compromise. He declared that the in- tolerable thing, of which Germany had shown them the ugly face-this menace of combined intrigue and force which they now say so clearly as the German power —a thing” conscienceless, honourless, in- WAR WITH GEHMANY'S VASSALS.

ited once-must he. capable of a

He earnestly recommended Congress crushed, and,

not utterly immediately to declare the United States

brought to an

least it in a state of war against Austria-Hun- Hary This was a logical course and must be shut out from friendly

followed the wishes of the American intercourse with nations. He further people Austria-Hungary was merely declared that when the time came that vassal of Germany. It was trip that the pente conld be discussed when the Ger same logic would lead to a declaration man people had spokesmen whose word of war against Turkey and Bulgario, could be believed and those spokesmen for they were also tools of Germany, but were ready to accept the common judg they did not stand in the direct path of ment of antions regarding what hence the United States action, We shall forth should be the bases of law and the go wherever the necessities of war carry us, but we should only go where imme covenant of the life of the world then diate and practical considerations Jend the United States would be willing and us. Not acting in response to our ova glad to pay the full price for peace un people's wishes, we must face the facts

LATEST CABLES.

SURVIVOR'S ACCOUNT:

LATER

The enemy attempted to delay our A survivor of the papa, interviewed, advance by Booding the area between the said There was a ten minutes interval Nabrir and Dialah rivers, but by the between the two torpedoes the first of, 4th inst, we had driven back the Turks which was visibly effective and the second and taken possession of the Sakaltutan shattered a boat full of passengers, cous- Pass, through which the Deli Abbas roading many to be killed or drowned.

The Apoya gradually heeled over in the leads to the north.

The Russian force, under Colonel Wirection of one pont which was unable

on our right flank.

on Monday bombed and machine-gunned their lines, or, if they did so, it was only Bicharakov, rendered valuable assistance to sheer off. Some of its occupants - grudgingly, That price would be full as they are and act without gentiment

a thrust back. Our men are fighting with

villages in enemy occupation on the Cam-

a stern, grim and stubborn spirit, fight- brai battle-front and also co-operated with infantry in local fighting east of "g to the last whep bodies of them are Ypres.

They dropped at night 291 bombs on villages west of Cambrai, some pilots making three consecutive trips.

Two hostile machines were driven down and two of our machines are missing.

THE CRISIS PAST.

cut off so that other troops may fall back safely,

Despite the enemy's gain of ground, the menace of anything like a big German victory overwhelming our victory of November 19th seems to have passed now. There is good reason to believe that

aded overboard, afterwards saw the ship's We captured 180 prisoners and two - funnel hit tlie boat with full force, iping it out. The Captain went down fold-guns,

with the ship. I was picked up later. Tale, Apam rank in eighteen minutes.

Russian Front.

Italian Front,

LATEST CABLES,

[TEROUGE REUTER'S AGENCY.)

ITALIAN FRONT,

whatever strength the Germans decide to LNEMY'S FORMIDABLE ATTACKS.

Reuter's Correspondent at the British

bring up it can be resisted in the auro Headquarters, writing in the afternoon, describes the remarkable spirit of reassur-way, with doubtless some yielding of ano and satisfaction which is prevalent ground here and there, but without a and which contrasts with the feeling ex-collapse which might repay the enemy pressed yesterday afternoon, when the for his last offensive of this year. Juction tooked as if it might become somewhat anxions at some points, but owing to the valour and doggedness of our incomparable troops the crisis past. This is not to say the Germans may not continue their great offensive in

GERMAN DREAM ENDED

Mr. Perry Robinson, at Headquarters, telegraphs: The great German counter offensive has definitely failed. The enemy has gained ground, and will probably got

LONDON, December 5th. An Italian oficial report states The enemy, with a formidable array of artillery and increased forces, attacked yesterday on the Asiago Plateau,

We Grmly held up the first vult though the enemy gained some positions, but did not weaken our resistance.

The enemy carried out a double attack at Melette. We decisively repulsed the

LATEST CABLES.:

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.]

RUSSIAN FRONT.

SHAMETUL AUSTRIAN

STATEMENT,

LONDON December 6th:

A wireless Austrian official statement

and impartial justice at every point and in this story business." to every nation that the final settlement must affect-our enemics as well as our

friends.

THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME:

Turning to legislation, the President said that the laws regarding alien enemies must be extended, also a special President Wilson, next referred to what control established over arrivals and de he described as "the crude formule" of partures of persona to and from the Do Annexations, no contributiunt, no Uni kd States. The legislative pro punitive indemnities, which, he asserted, gramme includes the making of women the masters of German intrigue had who ure alion enemies subject to the same diligently used in order to lead the restraint as men; also the frustrations of people of Russia astray, and also the the allen enemies idea of being kept free at Government detention camps by con people of overy other country where their

sapna fining the offenders in penitentiaries and agents could reach, to order that, & pre similar institutions where they would be mature pesce might be concluded before mad, to work like other criminals, while autocracy was faught its fual convincing pronteering hich still existed to s lesson and the people of the world were large extent

hust be ellectirely grap pled by limiting price Other legisla

bald be formulated for the atter- tion of Congress, which in the present session should, concentrate their whole attention and energy ou the vigorous,

MAN, THE WARM

by the Commander-in-Chief that the Bus-put in control of their own destinies..

in and Romanian troops between the Dniester and the Black Sea have imitated

armistice negotiations.

OFFICIAL DENIAL.

The Press Bureau announces that there

ondamanian troops had made overtures to the Austrian Commander-in-Chief for an

armistice.

the West to which they, have committed ore, but he is spending thousands of first of these assaulty on the south-western no truth whatever in the shameful Aus. themselves. It is said that fresh troops lives to gain some acres which we have slopes of Melette-Digallio, capturing trian official statement that the Rou are continuously arriving. We can only captured with the loss of one hundred one hundred prisoners The Ercondat

lives. The dream of smashing through tack, between Mount Tondarecar and trust that the enemy will make a further bid for the recovery of recently lost the base of our salient is ended Mount Badenecche, which lasted all territory at the same price as was paid The essence of our original victory was night, resulted in the occupation of same

that it was for the fractions just recovered.

won with so few troops trenchce, causing our withdrawal from Had we lost the whole of our infantry our advanced lines. engaged it would hardly have equalled

The great battle began in the morning after our patrol had made their rounds. The Germans concealed attacking troops

We destroyed five bridges on the Zenson

FARLIER CABLEN.

GERMANS ALLEGE ROUMANIAN ARMISTICE NEGOTIATIONS

Let there be no miminderstanding," he said. “Our, present immediate task

tion

is to win the war. Nothing shall turn rapid and successful prosecution of the

us aside from that until its accomplish-grent task of winning the war. ed Every power, and resource that we possess--whether of men, money or inate rials is being devoted, and will con tinue to be devoted to that purpose until it is achieved. To those who desire to bring peace about before then, I coun. sel to carry their advice elsewhere We will not entertain it, we shall regard the war as won "only" when the Germans,

PRESIDENT WILDLY CHEERED.

the German losses since the present battle and inflicted losses on the enemy atathe A German wireless official message through their properly accredited re-

river bend.

at a favourable spot. The first infantry was begun. It is our glory that these assault was launched towards La Vac few men in imperfectly exesolidated posi- querie practically unheralded by any tions held the weight of the German at barrage Field grey waves advanced in tacks till the crisis was passed.

ass formation with no attempt at conceal- ment. These same reckless tactics word adopted throughout the whole of their

attacks. As the first wave melted, so a

GERMAN REPORT.

LONDON, December 5th.

A German wireless official message

gucceeding one replaced it. It was simply states: -Enemy attacks to the south of

a question of expenditure of men verse Moengros broke down.

shells and bullets, and because the Ger-

LONDON, December 5th;

BARLIER CABLES. BRITISH TROOPS ENTRENCH.-

LONDON, December 6th. Renter's Correspondent at Italian Head. quarters, telegraphing on the 3rd instant states: Some British contingente, march ing 22 miles daily, have moceeded in catching up those preceding them,

"

The British troops have now reached

entrenching.

FIRST BLOOD FOR BRITISH AIRMEN

LONDON, December ath.

mans were prepared to carry the prin TOTAL BRITISH PRISONERS their assigned positions and have begun ciple of challenging annihilation far enough they pressed us back a little in a

In the House of Commons Mr. Mac- few places.

Measured on the map, the ground Plierson stated that to the 26th November which the Germans re-occupied is less we had captured 180,956 prisoners on all A Correspondent at Italian Headquar than one-twelfth of the area of the salient fronte, of whom 127,102, were Germans, ters telegraphs The British were C- which we drove into their line on No 2,098 Austrians and Bulgarians, 4,305cessful in their first encounter with the vember 18th The ratio of our losses in Turks, and 8,658 native soldiers and Germans. It was an airlight. Four Bri- that attack to the German casualties in followers.

tish aeroplanes which eromsed: the Piave

the counter-offensive must be in dozens

were attacked by five Albatrosses.

One

to hand reds,

Budoubtedly some of the enemy divi sions in yesterday's struggle only survive as bare skeleton formations. Our divi

xions remain intact,

There is a contagious spirit of victory in our army before Cambrai.

The Huns have shot their bolt and failed even to disadvantageously bend our

dine.

THE BLOODIEST EPISODE OF THE

WAR Mr. Philip Gibbs, the Correspondent, «describing the battle of Cambrai, states: The enemy seems to be forcing decisive fight in open country, Prisoners

FRENCH FRONT,

ARTILLERY VIOLENT.

PARIS, December 5th.

A communiqué staten -There is violent

Congress enthusiastically and wildly especially his recommendation of war cheered President Wilson's speech, against Austria, and that there must ben impartial justice in the hnal settlement.. His crecommendations of rigorous ioned. against aliens was alto loud ap- [plauded.

IDEALS OF UNITED STATES RE STATED

Mr. Wilson, in a striking peroration, Bothingly condemned the Central Powers purposes, whose sinister and Becreta -states -——-Negotiations for an armistice are presentatives, say that they are ready to diplomacy sought to take our very terri spreading to the Roomanian troops.

tor

away from us and disrupt the union agree to a settlement based upon justice of the State O We drove hack strong enemy detach and the reparation of the wrongs com the ideals of the United States in con President Wilson eloquently resintes ments which reached the west shore of

mitted by their rolers. They have done nection with

with the

war, and concluded the Ochrida Lake and north-east of the a wrong to Belgium which must become. The eyes of the people have been The supreme moment of history has The

Doitan Lake:

FRATERNISATION PREVENTED.

A Roumanian communiqué states:

iussian artillery prevented attempts at fraternisation,

We stopped German officers carrying manifestoes and proclamations.

General

FARLIEB CABLES. {THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY. ]

BRITISH SHIPPING.

paired

They have established their opened, and they use. The hand of God is laid upon the nations He will aboz power over lands and peoples other than them favour, I devoutly believe, only their own—over Austro-Hungary, the if they rise to the clear heights of His

own justice and mercy." hitherto free. Balkan States, Turkey, and within Asia-which must be relinquished THE SPIRIT OF A POST-WAH

SETTLEMENT. before Germany, secured by the peace of the world, becomes a real Empire of trade and influence. Then Germany had sought to establish a mill tary and political domination by arms, Where she might oust, where she could uld not excel, her most foared and hated rivale. The peace we make must remedy

think wrong.

PEOPLE

the

LONDON, December 5th The following is the text of President Wilson's refen ace to the spirit in which he was of opinion the post-war Bottlement should be mads:The very deep wrong committed in this war will have to bec gighted. That is a matter of cou But they cannot and must not be by the commission of similar 4inst Germany and her Allies world will not permit the commission of similar wrongs as a means of reparation. EMANCIPATION OF THE GERMAN and settlement Statesmen must by this time have learned that the opinion of the world is everywhere wid

wide awake and LONDON: December 5th:

fully comprehendu issues involved The Admiralty announce the arrivals

President Wilson emphasised the fact No representative of any self-

nation will dare to disregard it by at- of the latter was destroyed and two were

for the week 8,174, and the sailings 2,133 that no interference with the German

tempting any Anch envennats of selfish- Empire's internal affairs was intendedness and compro v as were entered into driven down

Sixten vessels over and one under 1,000 ho contended that the Cerican people at the Congress

Viena. The thought plain Seven more German machines came up, fons were Bunt eight vessels were un

people here and were being deceived in the belief that throughout the world, the people who 1. everywhere

and one was driven down.

successfully attacked, and four fishing they were fighting's war of desperate self enjoy no privilego and have very ma sophisticated standards of right and delence. We are in fact he proceeded wrong is the air that sil Government fighting for their emancipation from that must henceforth breathe if they woul

Five The German rulers have been able fear. Hif the German

people continne

to upset the peace of the world only be to be obliged to live under their present cause the Germen people have not beau

after the war it might be im- permitted under their tutelage to share-

of the other peoples, possible to adm them to

the world either in thon henceforth they were allowed to have must of the rationa..

their own which might or to

Tule them to free economic intercour

must inevitably spring out.

The British airmen returned safely

artillery firing on the right bank of the Naval Activities, Mense and in the Vorges

LIVELY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

A communira staten: There was fait Fy lively artillery hiring on the right of the Mouse

We brought down yesterday two br man seroplanes forcing at others

and over their own linem.

FATEST CABLES

[TREDUCE PKUTYA = AGENCY.!

GERMANTORPEDO-BOAT! BLOWN UP.

AMSTERDAM,

A German torpedo-bost has been blow

up near the island of -Walcheren.

bunts were Junke

OBITUARY

THE EARL OF PORTSMOUTH.

LONDON, December 5th The death of the Earl of Portsmouth

SHE SILVER MARKET.

ups of real peace. Where

Lounoy, December 5th.

evitable bacanes of distrust.

* Vhe filver Hinshot in steady,

of

105% of free