1918-02-18 — Page 7

THE MILITARY SITUATION.

far

A BRIEF REVIEW.

THE TIMES MILITARY CORDES

TONDERT.]

forces than ever. It is

JERUSALEM.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 1018.

A PERIECT CAMPAIGN

[BY THE DAILY TELEGRAPH's

CORRESPONDENT.]

MILITAEY

General Sir Edmund Allenby took command of the Egyptian Expedition

CONVOY INCIDENT IN THE us for the simple reason that the Bri

NORTH SEA

THE TWO NAVAL WARS RELATIVE STRENGTH

BY ARCHIBALD HERD.)

of de

GERMANY'S WAR GUILT-

MORE REVELATIONS

KAISER'S RESPONSIBILITY.

Mr. Morgenthau, the former American Ambassador to Turkey, proves," in the New York World, that Germany had

planned the war. After relating a con

Lien Navy has never been provided with an adequate number of such crecis In reporting on the battle, für John Jellicoe zemarked that ns was anticipated, the German fleet appeare

to rely very much upon torpedo attack, employing both destroyers and submarinesin, the light of the Battle of Jutland it is that the Admiralty

ty must parent Bir

of the battle and battle cruiser David Beatty with

if the enemy stroyers held instantly ready to act as the

the vast assembly of

If the Grand Fleet consista moment comes out attended by the Gormen Ambasador a Constan organised auto of which he has tinople, in which the Kaiser's representa ance with German practice, about 200 fixed at a conference in Berlin in the of fifty heavy ships it requires, in accord- tive informed him that the war had beon early part of July, Mr. Morgenthau action. destroyers to assure ite safety in Compare that figure with the statement continues

Screen

versation with Baron von Wangenheim,

Every one is well aware that owing to the disintegration of Russia and the Italian defeats the emony has the power ary Force in Syria at midsummer, after The British people are usually just in to assemble on the front in France larger Sir Archibald Murray's unsuccessful their verdicts, and when opinion goes is also evident that, attack upon Gaza. He at once ra- astray, the explanation is generally to ba coring to this favour of fortano, the organised the army, and made prepare found in lack of knowledge. An example famous Reichstag resolution has been tions for an offensive campaign. The of error arising from a misconception of relegated to the background, and that Germans had in the meanwhile sent the facts is provided by the teemt convoy the German Higher Command is once most successful of their leaders to oppose Incident in the North Sea light craft twenty-five, cruisers and 175 kg VENLAR

The British Navy supports the weight more maater of the situation and has him, Marshal von Falkenhayn About acquired fresh confidence in peace by the same time the Turkish army on the of the Allied movement sustaining the

GERMANY'S ADVANTAGE

von Wangenbeim told the story of the victory. The question is what the enemy Syrian front was augmented to not less mics, providing the munitions, and 36 to pre-war building program It was not to me alone that Baron

than 200,000 men. Undismayed by the in large measure, feeding the populations

But there is another war in progress Berlin conference Only recently the can do and what we can do to answer renown of the mighty Falkenhayn or the of the Allied countries. It is sometimes besides the war of the big ships, which Marquis Garroni, the Italian Ambas

numerical superiority of the Ottoman

10. challenge which has been offered by the Baron von Wangenheim said the same That there has recently begun inten- forcet, Alkuby completed his arranged that the Allies have an enormous waits on Germany's accoptanos of the sidor at Constantinople, announced that sive transport of troops from East to mente and launched his offensive, as he margin of force. That is not really 50 Grand Fleet for three and a half years. thing to him Italy at that time being

other war is the war of the small member of the Triple Alliance. My West much evidence shows. There are did at Arrns on Easter Monday just Let it be borne ja mind that first, the The then-run excursions and diary shows that my conversation with now some 150 Gorman divisions in the before it was expected. naval war is not confined to the North West and 79 in the East, but from the The Turkish line, strongly fortified at Ben, but that to the French and Italians the ventures of the kind. Now the German Ambassador took place on latter there are apparently being with the strategical points, stretched across drawn all men of 19 to 35 years of age There may be some complete divisions to follow, and the possibility of the appear ance of Austro-Hungarian divisions on It will be during the next six

him

enemy

August 26th. This was about six weeks after the fateful council in Berlin, in which the Kaiser gave civilisation over to fire and sword, and all the details of

on commerce and other in can use all their the Germans Wor light cruisers and destroyers if they

they

will accept the

Grand Germany, with their submarines, offer when

them, sheltering behind their shore the French front must not be excluded. Turkish force at Beersheba, then swiftly Suite as important as the North ago rests, and must necessarily reb. Wangentem's mind. The decision for

ecom

Secondly, the further American or

this second war have lately been Japanese battleships and cruisers move guns and minefields. Their resources for

armistico in the

for service on the Franco-British front hood of Beersheba. At the latter place the monace which Austria-Hungary and think fit, because the choice of the meeting were still fresh in Baron von

Palestine from Gasa to the neighbour the Mediterranean and Adriatic, with this a detached force overlapped the line and threatened any attack on it in flank Allenby isolated and annihilated the strues at the Turkish forces near Gaza,

increased

Baltic

RIDE A

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MansActored throughout by: The Birminghameri £qiell Arms Co"Ld. Birmingham, For- Ankers of

B.S.A. MOTOR BICYCLES.

war, which the Austrian Emperor had REGULAR confided to his Ambassador to Turkey in May, and which the Kaiser fully revealed

TO

Но

SAILINGS

months that our danger will be grentcat while holding their centre. Gaza was from their bases, from 3,000 to 12,000 Waging the large number to his lieutenants in July was the cul BVANCOUVER SEATTLET The menace of the war on tvo fronts outflanked and abandoned, the Turkish files from Europe the more merchany which has set 11 types, but parti mination of plans that had been under

MAN-POWER MEASURES.

at qertain points.

COMINGṛCE.

a

and con

second war

which

embarras911g,

in

Dome at

ADLY:

British naval aathorities have to

State of the worlds!

which the Kaiser enlarged the Imperial

For freight and further parti- culars, please apply to--

JARDINE, MATHESON & CO., LTD.

German vessels of all existe no longer for Germany, but Ger- centre was penetrated, and the whole tonnage is withdrawn from the common tel: third many and her Allies are hard beset by army compelled to retreat, with the pool in order to supply their needs, i qularly light cruisers and destroyer, Bo way for twenty five years. Just as Bis

complicated,

German States by war, and to create an want and the exhaustion of reserves. It intention of taking up a new line. But the matter of food, shells, and fuel; may be necessary for them to strike more military genins is especially manifested many British and Allied men-of-war faz as the British Navy is concerned this marck plotted and contrived to unite the quickly than we know, and in any case in following up a victory. Give the foe must always stand ready in distant sess and arduous, because It has to be wrzed Empire dominated by the Frussian, so the broadlines of their strategy are ever so short a breathing space and ha to attend on the armies and to deal with with such light foros as the Grand Ilot the Kajaer had brooded over his own Buy German disguised merchantmen

safety simple and sound enough. We must will recover and reform's which may get on the trade routes, sink does not need to hold on the leash forts dream of making Germany the Master

Consequently, it is to expect half a million frash fighters in ascendency over his troops induced them the West at least, and many more guna, to proscoute a pursuit which will livehibit ignorance of the strategical and mentor Mr. Morgenthau traces the steps by with aircraft to match. The long Gerin hatory Weary, thirsty, and short of economic situation to mass all the Allied man defensive in the West, unchanged ammunition, they stormed every rallying anvies together or paper and then; noting provide against two kinds of attack in war machine for the creation of a great. except at Verdun since 1914, must be point of the enemy, broke up his army, the strength of Germany alone, to this second war (s) by surface ships and materialistic Empire, and conarms what the (b) by submarines, the latter having Americans in the United States had long

which enables regarded as ended, and we must take and captured 20,000 prisoners; moreover, strike a balance Moreover when large radius of action, in the Atuspected; that the visit of the Kaiser'

the Turkish losses in killed and wounded war opened in 1914, all the Allied

them to act effectively out corresponding precautions

Ses. That devel-brother, Prince Henry, to America, while prove the stubborn resistance they offered were very wear in light craft, France lantio ag imidon ves a wide disper- ostensibly to assist in launching the HE

opment not only Such reinforcements would not be Advancing rapidly through the low Itals only to igle light cruiser,

down the U-boats, but raises a new prob the Pan-German idea among Americane would demand on our part correspond bills, Allenby drove the defeated vassals tiven the British and Gorman navics, lem due to the fact that the antidote for of German descent enough to make sure of victory, but they country between the sea and the Judean curged, the basis of comparison lies beson of British naval forces in hanting Imperial yacht, was in reality to develop ing measures, and might, even tem of the Kaiser north of Jaffa before he particularly sin fleets with different sys

the antidote for submarine attack Safety loose upon Spain, and probably 250,000 porarily restrict us to an active defen- cheeled the pursuit. His line then laced teme of tactics and signals cannot light criser or destroyer attack is not At least 80,000 Germans were turned

combined in a haphazard manner.

ngainst submarines lies in oupon England France was overrun with sive which would not exclude short along two sides of a rectangle north and ranging attacks on the fine models of east. Having failed to check the British THE PRICE OF ECONOMY draught and high speed, and that involves them. There was no occupation, no call

light Malmaison and Messines. France would advance in the plain, the Turks finally

They swarmed over make their way.. heavier B be compelled to put in ber 1915 and 1919 tried to defend the hills covering Teru-There is a proverbial saying that "yon the erniger na deeper draighting or industry in which they did not

ection.

South America, over the Near East, and In the years preaching the outbreak of provided

German the Far East. And all of them were card- classce as well as to postpone the with salem, but the rapid movements of the cannot eat your cake and have it too. drawal from the front of her older British commander frustrated the plan war the Navy Estimates were never the surface ships, the classes. We should be obliged not only Leaving sufficient forces to keep the Navy Estimates as prepared by the Ad

and travelling at indexed. For the uses of Berlin nothing but were pared down because

was overlooked."'*** speed of the merchant convoy, strengths, but to provide with the Allenby faced eastward with his reserves successive lease possible delay for a steady stream and by a series of brilliant manoeuvres wrongly that the nation was becoming with twice the speed on the parface of tramp sharing the fate of and sharp fighting dislodged the Turkish tired and irritated

The result was the

Hogue,

R

be

to for the duty light cruisers

told

the

slow

Tel. 215. Sub. Ex. 23.

1608

PENINSULAR AND

ORIENTAL STEAM

NAVIGATION CO.

BTEAM FOR STRAFTS, CEYLON,

BOMBAY, EGYPT MEDITER. RANEAN PORTS AND LONDON.

to make good any existing deficits in chemy in check along his northern frontmir Cabinets believed rightly become the target of the submaring In Turkey, of course, the domination THROUGH BILLS OF LADING ISSUED FOR

of drafts for the coming year, and to

on

of the German Government was com pleto Turkey's vassalage was vital to Pan-Germanism and an essential part of the Mittel-Europa" programme. Mr

BATAVI, AMERICAN, CONTINENTALĄ AND SOUTH AFRICAN PORTS.

inorease the number of our divisions divuions defending the northern and cost of naval defence to the rising anake. Hawke, Aboukir, in the field. Whatever has to be done outhern approaches to the capital of that year by year succesive Hoards of Crest Pathfinder and mrovided by Morgenthau shows how the menace of the MHE Homeward Mail Steamer carrying

battle

protection is

the other hand 'alestine Outflanked and in danger of Admiralty bad to sacrifice

destroyers submarines, and and, particularly in the North Sea, war plans, and he stimulates American

Command of the sen de where the enemy Jerusalem itself retreated eastward, The

hag every strategical patriotism to new efforts by declaring the singiler veure

which were out agtage for surprise rovements Ger that the Kaior party were firmly re pends on the big ships, and

men light

or destroyers may solved that once Germany was victorious, out

as elsewhere, but they passed a

In other toy insidente have illustrated In

-Teukun on a need of less than a million being surrounded, the Turke delending the choice lay betw BOWL Fitish destroyers against submarines German Socialists hastened the Kaiser's His Majesty Mail, will be despatched.

therefore

must be done quickly. We cannot safely

me for maintaining our existing forces is the field during the year 1918, assum placa 19 Burrendered on December haris ing that future losses and waste, equal Sir Edmond Allenby made his trium those of the past two years in

feat which Richard Cœur de Lion, our Crusader King, just failed to

phant entry

degra

2A

the color had its cake? We are words

The sourcing open to us other than the risied to westerday, having accom Protests were made in The Daily dash out from adjacent bases, and make British and France being crushed, that

The result of this triumph will be cor-

set forth the position in his spread us in the othe

the

from this port as tout, taking Passengers and Cargo for the above Ports Passengers versal accommodation in the connecting Becared before departure from Hongkong.

Bilk and Valuable Cargo for Italy, Franco

by this Steamer proceeds the

and there transhipped

tacked on the pretext that it had supplied con foll

Loning?

to

seilles and

for Marse

of all, Ireland, to which the Registra, achieve than What did it matter so long overwhelming aurprise attack a cour the United States would have been at Land Londen under stringement) will be

Cure for the one to the Allies with proney and munitions, and The second source is an extension of the aiderable Not the least is the proof that paying the price today the hirst Sen prove poison CNAENKETEA KWould be compelled to pay an indemnity

at Sheffield. He reminded us that when North Ben is infested with submarines, that would make Germans the rich was broke out quite apart from the danger of minor, natido in the word, 06, 00demnity being

(a)—" The Germans posso many and the enemy has the benefit of interior estimated at £10,000,000,000. (4) The German overses destroyer run excursions with light cruisers or or oversea, aubmarines than we did lines and initiative for making tip-and-

force had practically reached equality

destroyers, choosing, of course, darkness

Parcels will be received at the Office until a per the day before sailing. The contents Band value of all packages are required:

For further particulars, sailing dates, eto apply to

EV. D. FARD Superintadent,

does not imply that an enemy'e cingle

The control of the sea, however real, in a water area of 140,000 square miles.

Bhips

amall squadrons cannot steal out AN OVER-WORKED NAVY

of Fort, Chano oros inore or less fre Now we are able to survey briefly the quented tracts of ocean, make harassing

annual cipes of youths of 18, are, first tion and Borice acts can be applied. age limit to 50. The third, and most we have a general who is superior in agmit the withdrawal from non- the art of war to one whom the Germans usscutiul and even from some essential, chose as the beet they could send to stand national industries of the younger men, between their sorely-tried allies and fur and the fourth is the dispatch to the ther disaster. Sir Edmund Allenby had front of youths of 18. The Germans are already defeated Germans as well as

sing inca of 18 to 54, and will soon have Tusks. Acting in a less independent with our own or Rent for the initiation of any such enterprise,

(4) The Germans were within men to draw upon youths of 17, and even 16. position, and fettered by the necessity They have exhausted their man-power of fitting in with other armica in the resources to a much larger extent than eld, on April 9th, 1917, he inflicted the surable distance of us in regard to the we have. By a vigorous application of sanguinary defeat of Arras upon the provision of light cruisers all these recruiting means we can carry Gornian troops in Artois. In one day's (d) In armoured yousels we possess on until the United States presents her fighting he cleared the long disputed number sincerity, to be a contentious legislation must be faced to lines round Arras to an average depth of enable us to do so much. The reason two and a half miles, captured 10,000 why we cannot casily draw more men of prisoners in the day, and never recoiled military age from industries is that one yard from the captured ground, t almost all of our public departments spite of the frantic efforts of the Ger have in hand immense programmes, which not only already require a huge Southern Palestine in thirty-eight days The reduction of these programmes to a all the praise which has been bestowed strict minimum is necessary, for without upon it.

naval situation. Two wars are being descents upon unprotected points of of the Drend in strength on our side, but On the contrary, history has shown that fought. Both of them demand light long roasting, enter blockaded harbours, to in only one war has Germany, freed from such evasions are always possible, Those statements are horne

use until her selected ever great the inequality of naval ...' arrives abe le taking no part strength."" statistics which are available to any

was laid down thirty-eight light in the other was. In the light of those That statement is particularly true of of War in the ten years preceding the outbrent case

let the reader glance back cruisers and Germany twenty-two, but circumstances

Armies in force, but it is known that Vimy Ridge, broke through the German nought type by the Russita menace to employ gay some extent, to the weaker party, how-|

mans to recover it. The conquest of number.

moment

number of men, but will require more operations tells its own tale, and deserves myth our earlier ships were unsatis to the entwith reference to the this war, because the conditions have

d'être

of the two fleery fe

of

changed in favour of the weaker enemy. Mahan wrote of were in which

[130]

HONGKONG TIDE TABLE.

From 18th to 24th February, 1918,

HIGH WÁTNER

LOW WATER.

Foog

Hong

Mean

Time:

ces only Each bruling sticks as well as we know theirs, and gan oi, superiority over Al Build but

so ba Sarakis

can the nation will try to Thurs the two WAYS BRAS

Height

in gun power and in spoed; we relative. during the same period 126 de craft and then some conception stroyers and Germany 108. As the cot burden, which the Navy is bearing will stroyers or submarines took part, but, struction of submarines on the other side

to cut Mon, 18 m 3 28 4 4 light craft since the war

fleet was always able to wesker, outside his porte, 100 ar opened capers

ato employ of the North Sea was conducted in be reached, it is true that we have been nevertheless, in the conditions the victory their whole raison

secrecy, no reliable figures can be quoted. but so has Germany. It it aku true Nelson's phrase, and was in a position to Tais, 13 m vanishes, and we cannot win victories |--

But

sufficient has been stated to show that the Germans, though they have lost conduct for over twenty years a success without men. We cannot draw upon for the Germans must know our forme that in light craft we had no great man command of the sea, have suffered losses, fol attack on British commerce, eventual Wed. 20 m

of Admiralty capturing half our understand and Thurs 21 8 354 11

merchant feet. If or in making acroplanes or guns, but in even if they do not know, they could noting operations have been actively pursued and all it means to

have been many other industries a revision must profit by knowing, since they are already on both sides of the North Sea since judge, about

character of the be undertaken in order that the men doing everything open to them to pro- hostilities, opened, but, whereas the Cerdunk in abe Navy & Bucccesful fight to apposite the in which the

the Navy is engaged and accessary for our armies may be found duce the greatest deployment of strengt ans Fleet has been resting behind ite protect this country from

It is known that, in round figures, in their power Nine tenths of the defences, the British Fleet has been starvation, to safeguard the transport of imitation of its resources, it may have and in the aggregate, we have roughly criticism made by the public arises from guarding and feeding the British people its armies, a task which goes on by day confidence that the best seamen, and Satur. 23 m

defend the met in the future, as they have in the past: Bau

fighting men in the world will triumph zwo million men in France and one ignorance of our military situation, die and transporting their armies, and has, and by

that

the

million in other theatres of war. The to the secrecy unnecessarily preserved in consequence, suffered heavy losses in cantik-light, and Admiralty's weekly but, wo must look at the ses affair whole

two million in France, are not all fight and any strong man who told the public ships as well as in

of 8

the and not in little details.

Ipssed between 4,000 and 5,000 for submarine OF destroyer, each work. That does not mean

Height

28 m 9 0 14 2 m 2 6114 39 6 80 9841

40 4 6 m 2,54 1 2

70 OCT

8 48

PACIFIC MAIL S.S. CO.

adequate to promise victory in ambitions us to take the measures needed in these the way of the small, swift, and heavily. The same ship may appear five, six, for AVER NO BRZ

for in

tish Fleet

are the Navy has to give her as inrge E of protection as possible,

ア

d

more closely the two naval wars

died the greater app

appear the

ing men by any means. When we add the whole truth would be assured of ⚫ THE BIG AND THE SMALL GRIP up the bayonets and the guna available strong following The concealment of Without pausing to review the early in France and add them to those of the the truth about recruiting has long been stage of the naval war, let us get down that there are 4,000 to 5,000 ships at a French, Americans, Belgians and Portua curse to us and the greatest possible to bed rock. What are the conditions what it does mean is that every weak an guess, the resulting fighting strength handicap. It has now become rank compared with that of the enemy is not cowardice, and it is impracticable for today. The Navy is fighting not one but unknown number of merchant shipe enter two wars the war of the big ships and or leave British ports 4,000 or 5,000 times. offensive operations. It never has been serious times unless the Government armed ships destroyers and submarines more birbes, but however many lames the In exterior operations other than those speak the whole truth about the war. The two wars are fought in the same goes in or out of in France, including Salonikn, whete If we are to win this war we must close element and the one intermingles firm decision is badly needed we have our ranks and present to the enemy a the other, but theyyar men enough to turn the scales in France united public opinion Recriminations and distinct, so fefund the To schding so many troops to these dis- muss cease, and there must be no more is concerned Whed we tant theatres, and in changing defensive waste of strength by quarrels between Grand Fleet which dominates the into offensive strategy, we have made a politicians and soldiers. Our victories war, we think of battleships and hartle bad use of force. We have not yet fought Palestine and Mesopotamia have been cruisers and armoured cruiser in these distant theatres with Germans, due to the fact that we have given to must also have light craft At o and Germany has not wasted her strength two brilliant and trusty commanders the estimate the Grand Fleet comprises upost operations which settle nothing, forces superior to the enemy, necessary or more heavy ships a state Lo matter how brilliantly executed for victory. Our forces in France have will convey nothing to the reconsideration of all these distant rever had this necessary superiority, bat il I we apply the principles of operations is necessary New, and it they have done all and inore than all, man Navy Law to the Grand pressing. If avails us nothing to copy that was possible with the means allow light forces should have. The Jerusalem and Baghdad, in the main ed. Similarly, though our political provided eight wit light. theatre wo are not successful

leaders have been guilty of many mns of emission and commission, they also have been overwhelmed with work and and deserve the greatest consideration in the midst of their anexampled difficul- ties. History will attribute no blame to

JUEM SHOULD BE GIVER.

All classes of men desire to be told the truth about our position by the Govern ment. There is no reason why the should not be told, nor why figures us for the two great misfortunes of the should not be given. The British people 1917 campaign na like to be told what they have to do and Ilusia and the Ita

to know the reasons.

forming our de

While wewOTO

there was some

exouse for gerecy, but there is none now, (Continued at foot of next Column.)

ill attribute blame

isis we fail to

hesitate to adopt the

which the situation requires.

collapse of

light cruiser ad Boven dast every two big ships

rovers are

eats, but it Vetland his supreme

he p

The

the destroyer, as the attend-

зал of the capital ships of the

the cetort of the as the hun

down

press

сал

that whie. We

Expect has is that

in that

worked

That

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