1917-12-13 — Page 5

THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1917.

MR. ASQUITH'S GREAT SPEECH

BRITAIN'S AIMS RESTATED.

COLLISION BETWEEN MAXIMALISTS AND KORNILOFF'S TROOPS.

M. CAILLAUX TO BE TRIED FOR TREASON.

General.

LATENT CABLES. [THROUGH "BEUTER'S AGENCY.}

WHY BRITAIN ENTERED THE WAR,

IS IT WORTH THE SACRIFICE?

LONDON, December 11th,

AN ENDURING PACT WANTED.

BUSSTAN AFFAIRS.

DEMONSTRATIONS" BY RÉVOLU-

TIONISTS.

ELIGIBLES IN AUSTRALIA TOLL OF HALIFAX DISASTER Branco-Belgian Front,

DENIED EMPLOYMENT.

MELBOURNE, December 11th LONDOS, December 19th A regulation is being issued prohibiting Reuter's correspondent at Petrograd, the employment in Australis of allied telegraphing yesterday evening,say that subjects of military age the military revolutionary committee FOOD SITUATION IN AUSTRIA have invited the people to demonstrate to-morrow with inflammatory watchwords.

ZURICH, December 11th. At a conference held of authorities of The outlook is most ominous.

MAXIMALIST AND KORNILOFF'S Vienna and members of the Cabinet, the Burgomaster declared that there were no reserves of breadstuffs availoke

TROOPS-

The Maximalist organ. Pravda announces the first collision between the Maximalists and 4,000 of General Korni loff's troops with machine guns rear Bielagorod. No result has been stated. -

who

The Food Controller admitted that the quantity of flour from Roumania had been considerably reduced, but that food was suficient to last over till Christmas, The President of the Provisioning Committee bluntly told the Burgomister that he should be thankful that the posî-

This system must end; Germany

The Black Bea naval detachments must learn, as I believe she is learning, accompanied the delegation, which have that, is a matter of business, apart from been sent against General Kaler Esentiment ; and ethics, this system arrested one of the delegations,

does not pay. (Loud chcers.) We have General Kaledin has issued stern PRUSSIAN MILITARISM'S EVIL no desire to have any quarrel, înternecine warning against the Black Ben, detach-

SPELL

tion was no warée...

or perpetua), with the German nationments interfering with the autonomy of MR. CHURCHILL DEALS FRANKLY -We acknowledge the ecntribution they the Cossack territories. have made, and we believe they will con-

EARLIER CABLES

Mr. Asquith, speaking at Birmingham tinue to make, to the common stock of DESTRUCTION OF WORLDS

said that history would ask:-Was it worth Cheat Britain's while to enter the war? He answered, undoubtedly and unbestitatingly, Yes, only provided the war ended in a peace securing the attain. ment of Great Britain's original purposes

knowledge, research, invention and mater- ial and intellectual resource, but if there

is to be & real and enduring pact, it must be something more than paper docu ments,

GREATEST MUNITION

FACTORY.

London, December 10th.

WITH SITUATION

LONDON, December 11th, Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Bedford, frankly dealt with the present unfortunable war situation. This was entirely due to the fact that Russia had

German intrigue, and German gold,

HALIFAX December 11th, Twelve hundred, are known to be dead, 2,000 are missing, and 8,000 are injured,, RUSHING IN SUPPLIES.

NO LATER. Terrific storms of show and rain, are greatly augmenting the sufferings of the victims

The romeless are quartered in tents barracks private residences, and publie buildings.

rushed in

Relief supplice of all kinds are being

REVOLUTION IN PORTUGAL. PRESIDENT REMOVED

Vigo, December 11th estimated that 80 were killed and 400 A message from Lisbon states it is

wounded in the revolution

President Machado has been removed, and Senhor Bracamps succeeds him tem. porarily.

AMERICA AND THE WAR. STEEL SUPPLY ASSURED.

LATEST CABLES

THROUGH FEUTRE'S AGENCY.]

BRITISH FRONT. GERMANS REPULSED.

LONDON December 19th Field-Marshal Bir Douglas Baig ports-The Sherwood Foresters carried out a successful raid this afternoon, west- Ward of Hulluch, taking a number of Грозьолега.

A hostile raiding party was repulsed early this morning southward of Armen- tieres

The enemy's machines were particularly repeatedly active on Monday westward of Cambral,

our artillery machines Macau No

Our machines dropped many bombs, and fired many machine gun rounds at villages, butments, and trenches,

this

Three German machines were brought down and two were driven down, Three of ours machines are missing.

Our machince, in fine

Werther, morning started with the purpose of WASHINGTON, December 11th

bombing certain factories in Germany Industries Board, announced that, after clouda Seeing a clear gap further to the Mr. Willard, Chairman of the War They found, their objectives obscured by a two hours conference with Mr. Gray, north-east they proceeded thither and Government was assured of all the steel north-eastward of Firmasels, and bombed Mr. Schwab and other steel men, the recognised a large railway junction necessary, and that there will be no delay it. All returned safely, in turning out munitions for

Victory. RUSSO-GERMAN ARMISTICE.

AGREEMENT REACHED ON SOME POINTS

AMSTERDAM, December 11th. A Berlin semi-official message states that in the recent armistice negotiations the

far reaching, considering Russia's mili tary situation.!!

EARLIER CABLES.

ENEMY POST CAPTURED.

LONDON, December 10th. Fiold-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports:-The Scottish troops attacked a port eastward of Boursies, and expelled the defenders. Several Germ

Germans were killed or captured.

In connection with the report cablat been thoroughly beaten by German arms, Russian conditions were astcrisbing The enemy's artillery was gain activ Another misconception is that the works at Grieshtimelektoon neur Frank which had robbed the Allies of their It says that Germany could not agree Card and

THE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.

and containing in itself the safeguards of Allies, especially Great Britain, are its own permanence,

aiming at the destruction, for their own

PEACE THE WORLD'S SUPREME

NEED.

Such a peace had become the world'e supreme need, and there was no greater enemy of humanity than any one, who, by word or act, made it more difficult to

achieve,

*

on November 22nd, that a large chemicals

fort, had been destroyed owing to a prize when it was almost within their

grdsp. But we shall not bend under plosion, it is authoritatively stated it is

now certain that the explosion completely destroyed one of the greatest munition factories in the world, whereby Germany suffered a disaster comparable with every serious military defeat in its effect on the issue of the war.

The factory cavered over 54 acres, and it was of prime importance as a source of synthetic nitrates.

perils Lad sufferings

we have not

to evacuate the islands in the Gulf of the the Eastern Front for six months, which Riga and could not withdraw troops from

except on the question of the evacuation Russia demanded. However, after fur ther discussion, an agreement was reached

The statement concludes:In the ten of the islands, which admits of no dis

days truce which we finally agreed upon we so s good augury for the future.

deserved. (Loud cheers.) Our aims are

when Belgium was invaded, and we shall exactly what they were in August, 1914,

jot nor tittle. There had never been a not diminish those unchanged aims che

moment in the war when patriotic men had less excuse than at present for being

admisted by the sophistries of dangerous It also played a

counsels Our solid war-aim is that the

perpetrators of innumerable crimes shall ******* nut profit by them and emerge stronger

leading part in the production of poison gas, tear shells and poison-shells,

GERMANY'S OFFER TO GREAT

-- BRITAIN;

DESIROUS OF COMMUNICATING REGARDING PEACE

political and economic objects, of what is vaguely called the Freedom of the Sens. In peace time the sens are open to the marine of all nations. What stipulation would Great Britain propose in the peace terms to curtail or fetter this immemorial right? The formula can only be used to indicate & new limitation in war time LORD LANSDOWNE'S LETTER. upon the belligerent rights of the power After affirming that he had nothing to which happens to command the sea. tako away from his recent speeches at No corresponding limitation was suggest Leeds and Liverpool regarding Greated for a land war, whore existing cca. Britain's war aims and that of President ventions of the most, solemn character Wilson, who in his recent address to have been systematically violated by the Congress arrived by the same route at enomy. It is worth considering whether conclusion, Mr. something ought not to be done to secure Asquith referred to Lord Lansdowne's the Freedom of the Seas, from the prosecu Jetter. He paid a tribute to Lord Lansion of a lawless and infamous submarine Fation of Zeppelins, and it possesc necessary day solely through the question Russia and the United States of the

unpaign, with its ruthless zacrifice of innocent life. No peace will be worth the name which permits a veilex war to be carried on by other methods."

practically the same

downe's patriotisin and declared that be had no more knowledge, than any men ber of the Government, of the letter until it was published, and he had no respon sibility whatever for its terms.

He was

PEACE BASED ON GENEROSITY of the opinion that much of the criticism He endorsed the words of President. of the lecter arose from reading into it Wilson to base peace on generosity and

meanings and intentions which he did not understand it to convey.

(Certain parts of the message here are missing.)

ENEMY PEOPLES IGNORANT OF BRITAIN'S AIMS.

Continuing, Mr. Asquith said that, in the words of President Wilson, the aim was to bring into effective existence that partnership, not merely of Govern ments but of the peoples, which must honceforth guarantee the world's pence. Even now there was abundant evidence that the enemy peoples were kept in the dark regarding our real purposes, both for var and peace. He would continue, to do what he could to raise the veil and let in, if possible, some rays of light. (Cheers,)

PRUSSIANISM MUST BE

DESTROYED.

justice."

FRENCH POLITICS.

THE QUESTION OF PARLIA MENTARY IMMUNITY

· PARIS, December 19th.

south-westward of

and was also increasingly activo

eastward and northeastward of Ypres, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele LATEL particularly in the neighbourhood of

gend

larly southward of the Scarpe and north- There was the unusual mutual serial and artillery activity yesterday, partici ward of the Lys.

and dispersed working parties on the We repulsed a raid eastward of Enehy Cambra front, securing prisoners.

FRENCH FRONT,

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

PARIS, December 12th. A communique states there was moderate reciprocal artillery activity on the greater part of the front, wedg LONDON, December 11th.

EARLIER CABLES. A PARIS, December 10th. In the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour stated that in September list the Govern. A communiqué states. There was great of which it was the greatest centre of than before. That is Mr. Asquith's, Myment received from Germany, a communi reciprocal artillery activity between the manufacture in Germany, producing Lloyd George's and President Wilson's channel that Germany would be glad to lease, and in Upper Alsace

cation sent through a mural diplomatic Jain de Massiges, on the right of the Aisne and the Dise in Champagne, it

nearly 800,000 cubit, foot of poison-gas

war-nim. The rights and interests of Government regarding peace, The Bois de Chaume front

make a communication to the British Then was a sharp bombardment on the native populations must be respected, I Government replied that they were pre Calonne, after

and towards cannot conceive any situation arising many desired to make to them and to down

pared to receive any communication Cer launched two coup de mains, which broke which the Germans

where the war should be prolonged one un

discuss it with the Allies The Govern onment informed France, Italy, Japan, The Near East,

German suggestion, and of its reply. Na oficial communication had been received. SPAIN PROTESTS TOGERMANY

daily in 1916.

The factory also supplied large quan tities of electrolytic hydrogen for the in-

three reserve gasometers with a total of territorial gains. We are not fighting capacity of over 300,000 cubic feet. So, for booty and revenge. The British Em- important was it in this respect that a pire would be satisfied when Prussian Zeppelin shed, which usually contained militarism is unmistakably beaten and two or three airships, was erected close the German people saved from mili to the works.

tarism's evil spell.

THE LANSDOWNE LETTER

EARL KERRY'S VIEWS

It was reputed to be the only factory turning out saltpetre for the manufac ture of black powder, which it pro duced at the rate of 1,000 tons daily

LONDON, December 11th-- supplied five nitroglycerine and dynamite Earl Kerry, eldest son of Lord factors and two powder-works, includ-Lansdowne, MP for West Derbyshire ing that at Rottweil, one of the most im in a letter to his constituents, declaras The Government has informed the portant in Germany, with all the soda his war-aims do not coincide with the Chamber that the Military Governor of nitrate and concentrated sulphuric views expressed in Lord Lansdowne's Paris has requested the immediate with acid they required. It also manufactured letter, but rather with the sentiments of drawal of M. Caillanx's Bill for Parlin large quantities of the explosive Tonite President Wilson's admirable speech. "I mentary immunity.

- The disaster afecta every concern in think more has been read into Lord Germany, both by cutting out supplies Lansdowne's letter than was either in it which many of them formerly drew from or intended, but there were some parages Griesheim, and by necessitating waking to which I certainly cannot agree so long good the less of those supplies from the se we are able to keep going, and this plant which la already working at its I hope we will do, despite everything,

maximum.

until victory is secured."'

LATER

At the instance of the Military Gover

of Paris, the Chamber of Deputies

is considering the prosecution of the ex-dans Premier Caillaux, who is accused of WATTS treason, dealings with the enemy and pacifist propaganda.

A committee is to be appointed to decide whether he will be tried by court martial or before the Senate.

PANAMA DECLARES WAR ON AUSTRIA HUNGARY.

The Chamber is also considering the He recalled his declaration at the prosecution of the Deputy Loustalot, who Guildhall in November, 1914, that Great is accused of having dealings with the Britsis would not sheathe the sword until enemy. It is alleged that he met the the military domination of P. ssis was ex Khedive of Egypt is a neutral conn. wholly and finally destroyed.

(Loud try cheers.) He emphasised our agreement with President Wilson's declaration that nobody had threatened the existence, in- dependence, or peaceful enterprise of Germany None of the Allies sought to prescribe an internal ecnatitution and arrangements for the future Germany What we were concerned with was a system which enthroned forco as the sovereign authority, which held itself free

in the pursuit of its supposed interests to falsify deride or supersede, according to the exigencies of the hour, the mest

solemn pacts.

NEW YORK, December 12th. Panama has declared

against War Austria-Hungary-

Austrians will be interned. The Canal zone is now cleared of Aus Astrians and Germana.

THE SILVER MARKET

TONE QUIET

LONDON December 12th. Bilvor is at 4 The market is quiet.

The deaths of scores of trained workmen and specialists in the factory will make the task of coping with this defleit all the more difficult, even if the material.

LOBS can be replaced.

of

BRITISH PRISONERS IN ENRAY TERRITORY.

LONDON, December 11th. Mr. MacPherson states that the totals

KEN British prisoners in Germany are

snswer had been returned and no other

LONDON, December 41th, Indignation is feit in Spain owing to a German submarine thelling the Spanish steamer Claudio, when fifty miles off Cape Finisterre, killing eight of the crew, in juring others and seriously damaging the

The painth Government is protesting.

NEW CREDIT VOTE.

Y LONDON, December 11th

Mr. Benar Law introduces in the House of Commons to-morrów a Vote of Credit for 150 millions sterling, making a total of 2,450 millions.

OBITUARY.

PASQUALE VILLARI

LONDON, December 12th. The death of Signor Pesquale Villari, the ennent Italian bistorian, is an nounced.

talian Front.

EARLIER CABLES.

THROUGH PEUTER'S AGENOT.T

ITALIAN FRONT.

ENEMY SANGUINARILY.

REPULSED -

LATEST CABERS. {THROUGH RAUTEE'S AGENCY. FALL OF JERUSALEM. MORAL VICTORY FOR BRITAIN.

LONDON, December 12th. An Kolinsche Volkszeitung admits that the Amsterdam telegram to the capture of Jerusalem is a great moral British victory.

REJOICINGS IN LONDON.

LONDON, December 12th. To-day's Jerusalem celebrations in cluded the Te Deum at Saint Paul's. which was never so crowded at au

an official service since the way began. ELVES

pool Central Synagogue, and bells were A special service was held at the Liver

ringing at the Roman Cathedral Church at Taunton.

EARLIER CABLES. SOLICITUDE SHOWN FOR HOLY PLACES

LONDON, December 11th. The news of the fall of Jerusalem has beam received with unmixed satisfaction. The newspapers particularly emphasise the passage in King George's message re- garding the solicitude thown for holy places, contrasting this with the ruthless German methods.

Best

The capture is regarded as a heavy blow at Germany's projects in the Near and as an emancipation of Moslems Jews and Christians from the Turco- German yoke

The Timer says it is understood that Jerusalem will be garrisoned by British, French and Italian forces, with

An Italian official report states: There in artillery activity on the whole front. British Military Governor The British is imena between the Brenta and the PIV

We sanguinarily repulsed powerful Caposile region.

flag will fly over Jerusalem, while the their respective properties. The future French and Italian flags will fly over

until the end of the war,

The problem of collecting miscellaneous. 1,803 officers and 41,830 men In Turkey, attempt to retake the positions in the potion of Jerusalem will not be defined:

quantities of explosives and acid from Various quarters and conveying them over greater distances is thus made neces sary, and is bound to increase Germany's transport dificulties which are already

most pressing.

The works cannot be reconstituted in war time, and woner or later Germany

must show on her fighting fronts they effects of this staggering blow.

WAR MEDALE.

14 LONDON, December 11th

In the House of Common, Pherson stated that the troops

in Togoland and East Afric awarded the same

Мис

given for services in niber war fisstres.

240 officers and 1,950 men, in Bulgaria, 2 chcers and 530 men, in Austria, 12 officers and 74 men. The captures last month are not included:

PROGRESS OF STANDARD

SHIPS

LONDON, December 11th.

In the House of Commons, Sir Leo Chiozza Honey stated that up to November 30th, Boved studdard abips, tonnage of 47,234, had bean, had started on a vorage.

and

Completed One ship had been otal of new tonnage complet ted in November was within mareable of the tonnage losses due to

AUSTRIAN REPORT

LONDON, December 11tn. Awireless Austrian etates --- Wo captured the Broe

mouth_

Cutrities,

report ad at

FABLIER CABLES, {TAROUAH KEUTER'S AGENCY,] ENEMY MACHINES

VANQUISHED,

"Lowpas, December 11th.. The Adenalty reports The Naval on patrol duty, attacked and five enemy scouts and seven

The evening papers give prominence to the historical Associaticus of Jerusalem, the capture of which has aroused. erat satisfaction in all quarters, ifrespective religious beliefs The Te Deum was sung in the Roman Catholic Westminister Cathedra where the big bell was for the first time for three years."

The occupation is regarded as being. frst class political importance, in its considerable, military

HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE

officially announced that His Majesty the King, has despatched the following message to General Allenby

The coenpation of Jerusalem will be received throughout, my Empire with tha greatest estisi on. I heartily congra tuiste you and sil ranks by your success. The achievement is a fitting, sequel to the marching and fighting and the or tion by which the difficulties of supply, transport and water were over We raided the arsehaere serodrome, COME reactant your skilful dis obtaining two direct hita All our positions preserved intact the Lo machines returned

also destroyed two machines and troops

gunned trenches and an anti