1917-12-08 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY,

RUSSO GERMAN ARMISTICE NEGOTIATIONS.

CHARACTERISED BY EVASIVE REPLIES.

AERIAL GROUPS RAID ENGLAND.

TWO RAIDERS CAPTURED.

GERMAN CRUISER MINED.

Branco-Belgian Front.

LATEST CABLES. [THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.].

BRITISH FRONT. THE WITHDRAWAL AROUND CAMBRAI

LONDON, December 6th Renter's Correspondent at Headquar ters, in explaining General Byng's with drawal around Cambrai, says that we have fallen back deliberately and suc- cessfully upon a well-chosen line which rates out the salient made by Bourlon Wood, and which should enable us to maintain our hold upon the captured length of the Hindenburg Line, against whatever pressure the German may apply in order to recover this loss.

RESPECT FOR THE TANK.

Reuter's Correspondentat British Headquarters state:--German prisoners state that all leave on the Western Front has been stopped, and that there is an extraordinary congestion of westward bound traffe. Every species of rolling stock is being employed.

The respect with which the Tank is treated continues to display itself. One officer prisoner remarked that he never would have been made prisoner but for these fearsome structures. He gave him-

To elf up to a Tank, and considers that it is justifiable for any infantrymen to act in a similar manner,

FRENCH FRONT.

INTERMITTENT ARTILLERY

LIVELINESS.

Bourlon Wood certainly possessed ger tain advantages as an observation post,.

PARI, December 6th. bat such advantages may prove very much

communique states:-There has been costly to retain unless they are intermittent artillery livelinesa at immediately utilisable. Phenomenally Craonne and Moronvilliere; it was violent fine weather prevails, but it may change on the Beaumont-Bois-des-Fosses Front,

thus finally breaking up com any day,

Two civilians were killed in an air raid paigning for the season.

at Dunkirk.

NOTABLE GERMAN REPORT.

A wireless German official report states: --We stormed trenches southward and south-westward of Moeuvres.

We prested forward over the Bapaume Cambrai road. The enemy evacuated for ward positions between Moeuvres and Marcoing, withdrawing to the heights northward and eastward of Flesquieres

We captured traincourt, Anneux, Can-

ENEMY'S ARTILLERY" VERY ACTIVE

Our batteries on the right bank of the Meuse effectively replied to the enemy s artillery, which is most active on the Loavemont-Bezonvaux front..

Italian Front.

LATEST CABLES”

[THROUGH HIUTER'I ADENOT.]

Russian Front.

EARLIER CABLES. {TEROUGH FLUTER'S AGENCY.]

ROUMANIA STAUNCH TO ALLIES

FRATERNISATION PREVENTED,

Loxbox, December 8th.

A Roumanian official wireless message states-Our artillery prevented enemy attempts at fraternisation in the region

of Mibaleasret.

“ROUMANIAN TROOPS IN AWKWARD POSITION.

DECEMBER 8ra, 2017,

RAID ON ENGLAND. GERMAN AEROPLANE GROUPS BOMB LONDON.

LONDON, December th

· It is officially announced that 25 enemy aeroplanos participated; in a raid on England early this morning.

EARLIER CABLES:

THE RUSSO-GERMAN

NGARMISTICE.

LATEST CABLES.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS,

CAUCASUS AUTHORITY ANTI-

MAXIMALIST --

COPENHAGEN, December 6th. The Hussia Legation has receiver telegram from the Russian Legution.

Brandy c

Teheran stating that the Administration: and Supreme Military Command in the Caucasus, are anti-Maximalist.

The Caucasian Delegation arrived at Teherau in order to negotiate financial Resistance for a continuance of the waze

UFFICIALE ACCOUNT OF NEGOTIATIONS,

EVASIVE GERMAN REPLIES.

LONDON, December 6th The first group appeared at 1.30 am.

An official Russian wireless message. and bombed places on and near the Kent states-The Armistice Conference opened Count. The second procecund up the on the 8th instant in the presence of mili. Thames, penetrating some distance into

tary representatives of Germany, Austria, Kent. Both groups carried out › preli-

Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaris. “Our minary attacks with the object of draw. ing gun-firm and exhausting our defences. delegate› made a declaration of peace through Russo-British Legations. PARIS, December 6th. The newspapers publish a report that An hour later a serious attack develop. aims and the enemy delegates replied that General Tcherbatchoff, the Russian Comel Between 4 and 4.30 o'clock, two that was a question for politicians, for mander on the South-West Front, bas groups crossed the Essex Count and there they sa soldiers were empowered only to concluded an armistic although unauthe Kent Const, converging towards Lon- negotiate for an armistice and could add thorised to do so by the Roumanian don in an effort to deliver five simul nothing to the declarationsby Count Government.

**= 14 * - tairous attacks from the north east, the Czernin and Herryon Kuchlusun,

east and the south-west.

Our delegates, laking note of this -- Our gunfire turned back one group, and evasive declaration, propeded immediate- not more than five or six machines pene-ly addressing to all the belligerents and trated London.

The Malin points out that the situa

tion of the Roumanian troops is most dificult

KING OF ROUMANIA'S PLEDGE NEW YORK, December 6th,

American Red Cross workers returning from Roumania, bring a pledge from King Ferdinand to President Wilson that Roumanis will never make a separate peace.

Naval Activities.

BARLIER CABEES.

{THEOUGH ZETTLE'S JORNOK.); SY

GERMAN AUXILIARY CRUISER

SUNK

COPENHAGEN, December 6th. A German auxiliary cruiser believed to be the Bothnia, struck u mine in the Southern Sound and sank in few minutes. It is reported that lives were

Jost.

Aerial Activities.

EARLIER CABLES. [THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.]

NAVAL AIRMEN ACTIVE.

LONDON, December 6th. The Admiralty announce that naval marcraft, yesterday dropped many bombs on Sparappelhoek aerodrome and of a train leaving Engil dump.

Numerous engagements during the

taing a

and Noyelles, and the heights ITALIAN POSITIONS STORMED Patrols resulted in three hostile machines northward of Murcoing, penetrating four kilometres on a front of ten kilometres, The retreating enemy set fire to villages.

Our prisoners are now 0,000, gün 148,

and machine-guns : 716.

BARLIER CARLES.

ENEMY FRONTAL ATTACK FAILS,

LONDON, December 6th. An Italian official report states:-The enemy, after the failure of a frontal attack, attempted to carry from the neur with crushing numerical preponderance the Melette strong point,

We resisted stubbornly, constantly coun tor-attacking, and only yielding ground when reinforcements garrisoned the rear- line defence,

being destroyed and one driven down. We shot down three on Tuesday.

All our machines returned

General.

LATEST CABLES.

THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS'

VOTE

LONDON, December th

In the House of Commons, a proposal by Sir George Cave to disfranchise con

ANOTHER ENEMY ATTACK FAILS.

LONDON, December 6th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig ports: -Two enemy attacks in the neigh bourhood of Gonnelion were successfully repulsed. There was local fighting to our advantage in the neighbourhood of Le Vacquerie, while a more serious enemy.

attack in this area with considerable forces, in the afternoon, was repulsed after severe fighting Our artillery broke A wireless German official report up infantry advancing to attack in the states: The Austro-Hungarians stormed neighbourhood of Bourlon Wood, and and maintained strong Italian positions INTERVENTION OF GOVERNMENT. Moeuvres Hostale artillery was active et. Helette, capturing eleren thousand to the north of the Menin road, where prisoners and nixty gung

We repulsed heavily a powerful attempt cientious objectors for a period of five in the Upper Brenta Valley.

years was adopted.

We slightly improved our positions, and

we also repulsed reconnoîtrers. ✨✨

HUGE CAPTURES BY AUSTRO-

HUNGARIANS.

LONDON, December 6th.)

BARLIER UABLES:

AUSTRO GERMAN PLAN.

RESUMING ATTACKS WITH GREATER FORCE.

EARLIER VABLEJ,

THE COTTON OPERATIVES'

DISPUTE

LONDON, December 6th The Committee of Production has de cided to intervene in the cotton wages question in Lancashire, whereby 300,000 persons are directly affected. The parties meet the Government representatives at Manchester on Thursday, when it is hoped that a settlement will be reached,

LATER

The Ministry of Labour denies that the Committee of Production is intervening in the cotton wages question.

A few uxplosive bombs and a large number of incendiary bombs fell in various districte.

TWO MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN

Our defences brought down two machine, the crew of three men in each case being captured alive.

FIRES IN LONDON.

A number of fires occurred in London, but these were speedily got under control. The casualties are believed to be light A number of our acroplanes went up and all Innded safely.

States not represented at the Conference a proposal for a general armistice, The enemy delegatte replied crasively that they did not possess such powers We proposed that they ask their Governments for autherity, and this was necepted, hut the reply has so far not been communi.

cated.

We proposed an armistice on all fronts, including the interdiction of the despatch of force from the Russian to other Allied fronts and the retirement of the Germans from Moon Islands, The enemy delega tion proposed – an

from the armistice Baltic to the Black Ses, and our mili tary experts are now examining this The negotiations have been adjourned

until tomorrow

·BARLIEN OABLES.

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

ELECTIONS:

PETROGRAD, December 6th. The Bolsheviks claim that they so fur have obtained a majority in the elections for the Constituent Assembly.

They have decreed that re-elections may be held where local districts think that their representatives no longer represent their fiers,

The Bourgeois party strongly condemna this action.

The local Soviets have been empowered to collect the State taxes

GENERAL DURHONIN KILLED BY SAILORS

LONDON December 6th. The Daily Hall's Correspondent at Petrograd states that General Dukherin was entering a trip for Petrograd when he was surrounded by a band of sailors and killed.

WARNING MESSAGE TO TROOPS PETROGRAD, December 8th. General Dukhonin, who was murdered by General Krylenko's soldiers, in his last message to the troops, solemnly warned them against breaking the Treaties with the Allies, thereby alienat ing the defenders of the Russian demo- cratic régime.

AMPLE WARNING TO POPULACE.

After a quiet moonlight period, Lon- don was startled this morning by an air raid

warning. It was bright starlight, with a faint waning moon, and the

The enemy, in rejecting our armistice, weather was frosty. The few residents said such demands could only be address- in the city and the incoming workers

ed to a conquered country. Our delegates replied that they were Liming at a sheltered quietly and promptly as soon as the cannonade was heard, followed by general democratic peace on the basis established at the Pan-Russian Congress the sound of aircraft engines.

of Soviets. The enemy again evasively Russians would become the slaves of Im- replied that they were authorised only perialist Germany, where justice, free- to Degotiate with the Russians, in view | dom and conscience were replaced by the Allies. We Mailed Fist and cunning lies, adding OFFICIAL CASUALTY STATEMENT of the absence of the latter's.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar replied that we wished to draw all the that Germany would never tolerate a free Lan stated that the air raid casualties belligerents to negotiate for a general Russia mapit were three killed and ten injured in Lon peace.

The alarm lasted altogether for three hours and a half

VON TIRPITZ'S GLOOMY VIEWS.

don and four killed and eleven injuród, : „The Germans agreed to a prolongation outside of London.

of the armistice to 25 days beginning from December 10th We requested that the next meeting be held on Russian territory, with an interval of seven days in the negotiations, to enable our dele gates to return to Petrograd. We in eisted at the cutset on full publication of the proceedings, which are being con- ducted in the Russian and German languages.

LATENT DÅRLEA. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES. LONDON, December 6th,

LONDON, December 8th. The Westminster Gazette, in a leading article on von Tirpitz's recent admissions at Essen, that Britain had up to the present won more than she had lost mays---'' His gloomy view is particularly appropriate on the day when the news is feceived that the German forces have been cleared out of East Africa. Germany now

A wireless German official report sees all her colonies in British hands, all

ships swept off the tens by the British states The Central Powers and Russia flect, Palesting over-run and Mesopotamia have agreed to a suspension of hostilities firmy held by the British. Von Tirpita's

between the 7th and 17th inst gloom in due to his knowledge of the

AUSTRO-GERMAN ECONOMIC meaning of sea-power. He sees no future for Germany if sea-power succeeds in shutting her in and employing the tre mendous economic weapon in its grasp and that of the Allies."

her

LATEST CABLEN.

GUNTEE AGAINST FUTURE ATTACK

Admiral Tirpite throws a salutary douche of cold water on Hindenburg » and Ludendorff's recent assertions about Ger- many's strength by saying that nothing can be decided until British wes-power is broken, and pointing out the incont able fact that this power is everywhere Victorious in its own sphere.

A BLIGHT BRITISH WITHDRAWAL. Our troops on Tueday night, without enemy interference, withdrew short distance south-west from Novelle-sur-

LONDON, December 6th. Lescaut in the Bourlon Wood, salient

Reuter's Correspondent at the Italian The enemy was unaware of the movement

Headquarters states that the absence of until late yesterday We, prior to the withdrawal, systematically destroyed the wintry conditions in of the greatest assist. enemy's feid works in the abandoned snce to the enemy, who is resuming his

THE NEW COTTON SCHEME. area. We repulsed attacks in the neigh attacks with greater force and more powerful artillery. Meanwhile, the

LONDON, December 5th. bourhood of La Vacqueris and advanced

Italians have strengthened their defences,

The Cotton Control Board has decided our line slightly to the south-west of the

while the ardour and faith of the troops that over 75 per cent of the spindles village during the night.

SPLENDID WORK BY AVIATORS. promise & new Success The Austro-Ger using American cotton and over 85 per

Our aircraft yesterday dropped 1118 man plan seeing to be to concentrate forces cent of the looms may be run exclusively and German militarism, though the Ger bombs on an aerodrome to the north of on the Aniago Plateau and also west of for the Government Firms at present mang naturally pretend that, the former Doval and villages and machine-gun Monte Grapps toward the Brenta Valley, running.over 45 per cent of their spindles is as aggressive and threatening to the loved to world as the latter. Dar worst enemy emplacements in the battle are We Bomewhere near Val Bugana, hoping to for the Government will be

nco cannot pretend that we embarked on this fred several thousand rounds at troops reach the Venetian Plains at Barano

war to extend our power or to increase None of our machines are missing. We

912 possessions We came in because raided this afternoon large railway junc-

fermany Compelled as and what we hold tion sidinga at Zweibrucken, and works

of her territory we hold on trust on our behalf and that of our Allies for Epargates against future attack

at Saarbrucken

en and secured many direct bits, causing two large free The anti aircraft fire was heavy and accurate, but all our machines returned

VO HERO KILLED.

LONDON, December 6th.

run an additional 20 per cent by privately. All looms will be run without licence 10 per cent

Erme running over 55 ner”

The youngest Brigadier General, R. Blooms for the Government will be licen Bradford, TC, aged 20 mars, has died to run an additional en per cent pri

of wounds.

[vately:

The Westminster Gazette emphasiSER the differences between British navalism

RELATIONS. RE-ARRANGEMENT FORE SHADOWED.

AMSTERDAM, December 7th. Speaking before the Hungarian Delega tion, Count Czernin foreshadowed a re arrangement of Austro German economic relations as a counterblast to the Entente

mens

Count Czernin disclaimed any desire to forcibly acquire territorial extenmons, and he expressed the wish to conclude a general just and honourable peace, safe

the Monarchy's territorial and free political and economic

BABLIZE CABLES,

ITALIAN SHIPPING:

He declared that the

HOW GENERAL KORNILOFF ESCAPED,

The following is the manner of General Korniloff's escape:An officer in the uniform of the General Staff arrived at Bykhoff and produced an order for the immediate release of General Korniloft and other prisoners. The Governor of the Prison, was doubtful, bat he obeyed the order in view of the attitude of the Caucasians present. General Komiloff was then released and immediately ook. command of the Caucasians who had been released with the other prisoners. Gone- ral Korniloff left the town at the head. of the troops without fighting, and it is reported that he has reached Zuloba GENERAL FOCH REPLACED.

PARIS, December 6th.

M Clemenceau has informed a journal ist that General Weygand replaces General Foch on the allied War Council, M. Clemencean desiring to retain Generaă Foch in Paris,

THE SILVER MARKET.

LONDON, December 5th. The silver market is quiet.

EUROPEANS AND CHANGES ADANYAIN INDIA

A crowded and representative meeting of the European community of Bombay, under the suspices of the European As sociation, passed a resolation on October 13th, approving that which was adopted by the Calcutta meeting of September

-270E

The resolution, while assuring the Government of the continued unswerving loyalt of the European community, viewed with grave apprehension any for reaching changes in the Indian Adminis tration at the present juncture, and de- precated any discussions now, as being against the highest interests of the Em pre and, while sympathicing fully with the natural and just claims of IndigoxR ed December 2nd are 362 arrivals and 338 for an increasing share in the Govern

cament, strongly declared that the only de issue at primat should be the successful One vessel over and one under 1,500 prosecution of the war. The resolution

were lost

to

Rose December 6th. The shipping returns for the week ond

The?

show.

FRENCH SHIPPING.

Desember "Ula for the past we vaus vors 83) and

tons

and two balow 1,600 nie 2wo:were?umsnoDERS:

full

asserted the claop of the non-oficial: European community to be heard a to reforum.

Ethey

The President of the European Asso- that the greater portion of people were opposed to tha who were vocal and well or while the former were barely was a great danger at Do Fike the present when occasiong ex ose, of small politicel sing prematurely for sween.