1918-04-18 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE STRUGGLE ON WESTERN

FRONT.

GERMAN ATTACKS RENEWED.

GERMANS CAPTURE FINLAND'S CAPITAL.

ADVANCING ON VIBORG.

THE DUTCH SHIPPING QUESTION.

AMERICA'S FORBEARANCE.

Franco-Helgtan bront.

LATEST CABLES. {THROUGH AIUTRE’B AGENCY.} BRITISH FRONT. ENEMY ATTACKS RENEWED.

LONDON, April 17th. 12.35 a.m. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- ports:-There was severe fighting to-day from Meteren to Wytschnete.

The enemy renewed his attacks in strength at dawn in the neighbourhood Spanbronkoolen. of Wytschacie and Supported by a heavy bombardment he approached our positions under cover of amist. After a prolonged struggle be gained both localitics..

He also obtained u footing at Meteren, where lighting continues.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH, 1918.

con-

front, practically all the way between Neuve Eglise and Metteren. Towards evening, under cover of a tremendous bombardment. enemy infantry advanced in the usual dense waves. Our troops fought stubbornly, but the overwhelming numbers forced them to yield ground.

Desperate fighting continued all night. Our Artillery shelled the enemy tinuously. It is certain that his attempt to advance towards the ridge system will be strenuously contested. His BO far have all been in dead levels in Flanders, and although it is futile to pretend that his success is not a matter of much con- wetu, yet it brought only the smallest tactical advantage proportionate to its extent.

Bailleul stands astride of what was an important artery of communications with Attacks at other parts of this front places not occupied by the Germans. were repulsed,

The enemy this morning delivered n strong local attack on our positions opposite Boyelles, southward of Arras. Fighting continues.

Hostile artillery firing was more active southward of Albert and in the neigh hourhood of the La Basser Canali.

Our artillery dispersed infantry in the vicinity near Locon Mutual artillery firing increased at Passchendaele..

AERIAL OPERATIONS,

LONDON, April 17th.

12.15 m. The weather was unfavourable yester-] day, only permitting of low altitude

lights.

We dropped over four tons of bombs on different targets, and we secured a direct hit with a heavy bomb on a large infantry elama,

No German aircraft were encountered. One of ours is missing.

BAHLIEN CABLES.

FALL OF BAILLEUL

DESPERATE FIGHTING AT

**CRUCIFIX CORNER?

We slightly receded after desperate fighting as a result of an attempt by three German Divisions to force our positions at

Crucifix Corner."

The enemy several times was cleared Aerial Activities.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH KEUTER'S AGENUZ.) DESTRUCTION OF ZEPPELIN FACTORY

PARIS, April 16th.

THE MAN-POWER BILL

LONDON, April 16th. In the House of Commons, during the report stage of the Man-Power Bill, Mr. John Dillon moved the omission of the

clause relating to conscription in Ireland. He pressed the Government to state its explosion at Friedrichshafen on the 13thovernment intended to pass Home Rule real plans. No-one would believe the inst. destroyed the sheds used for the construction of Gothus " and Zeppe

The damage was enormous, two Zep. pelins and forty giant aeroplanes being destroyed.

out of most of the town, the British hold- ing out in a hollow square under a heavy fro of shells, trench mortars and machine guns. The enemy still continued his Bavage onslaught, but failed to carry the town by assault. Eventually, the Britiah retreated out of the hell of shell- A telegram from Zurich states that the fis unknown to the enemy, who is now undergoing the same ordeal as the British between Merris and Wytschnete

Battalions of special shock" troops and Alpiniste, who were ordered to take Bailloul at all costs, suffered heavily, the dead lying piled up below the railway embankment near Bailleul, the waves of German, being mown down by our machine-guns.

While there is no attempt to conceal the fact that the situation is still serious,

it is pointed out that the German pro- green is vastly slower, and that such offensives rarely regain their original momentum.

COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEW

Jins

One hundred and forty persons wore killed and 200 were injured.

Incendiarism is suspected. There was great panic in the district. Naval Activities.

EARLIER CABLES, [THECOOH BROTER'S AGENCY,} BRITISH SHIPS SWEEP THE

CATTEGAT.

LONDON, April 16th. The Admiralty announce that ten

until Parliament is actually sitting in Ireland, but if steps are taken to carry Home Rule a very great effect would be produced.

VALIDITY OF REPRISALS

ORDER...

JUDGMENT IN TEST ACTION..

LONDON, April 16th. The Prize Court delivered judgment in the test action in which the validity was challenged of the reprisals order authoris ing the capture and condomination of Easels carrying cargoes to and from countries contiguous to Germany unless such vessels first called at a British or Allied port for examination. The order was made in retaliation for the German

THE IRISH QUESTION. PROMET SETTLEMENT URGED.

LONDON, Apríl 16th.

The Times publishes a letter from nino representative Unioniste urging a prompt settlement as regards Ireland, advocating & Federal Bill compatible

other parts of the Kingdom. with the extension of self-government to

The Times Parliamentary Correspond- ent, commenting upon the letter, saya that the Unionist party, despite the gloomy predictions of older members, refuses to believe that an Irish settlement

will abolish its raison d'être.

THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. LONDON, April 18th. The Times states that Mr. Chamberlain has been included in the Home Ruls Drafting Committee and suggests that by has joined the War Cabinet,

WOMEN'S WAR SERVICE.

A VISIT TO THE IMPERIAL WAR EXHIBITION.

LONDON, April 18th. Colonel Repington is of opinion that our strategical position is not exactly German trawlers were sunk hy gunfire brilliant, but he estimates that a quarter during a sweep of the Cattegat on the unrestricted submarinism. The Crown any other form of heavy metal work was of the entire German forces on the British | 18th inst.

crews.

Front has been used up, while Gen- The British ships saved the German eralissimo Foch's French reserves have not yet given a sign of life.

The Daily New's expert estimates the enemy losses at 100,000,

FIFTY FIFTH DIVISIONIS BRAVERY

LONDON, April 15th.

The following message refere to the divisional order mentioned in Field Mar shal Sir Douglas. Haig's supplementary despatch published yesterday":

There were no British casualties.

General.

showed that the scized Dutch steamer was loaded with Belgian coal, which was produced under the control of the Ger man Government The coal was being carried from Rotterdam to Stockholm, which afforded access to enemy territory. The President of the Prize Court, after recalling the German sen ont- PRAGUE INHABITANTS WITH-rages, particularly the sinking of the

LATEST CABLES.

{THROUGH REUIDE'S AURMOT.]

OUT BREAD.

AMSTERDAM, April 10th. Thousands of families at Prague have been without brend for days.

GERMANS TAKEHELSINGFORS

THOUSANDS OF RED GUARDS. CAPTURED.

The above order was distributed to All officers and under-officers of the Fourth: Ersatz down to platoon commanders,

ULEMBORG, April 16th. presumably with a view to encouraging the troops prior to the attack, und in the The Germans took Helsingfors, after belief that the opposition would not be three days fighting in the streets and Our low-flying aeroplanes incessantly very serious In such expectation the neighbouring forests. skimmed over the marching columns, in-enemy was flest higually disappointed. The fieting heavy casualties by bombing and

There was considerable hostile infantry movement all day along the La Basson-

Estaires road.

machine-guaning.

South of the Somme the enemy artil- lery is slightly more active,

It is reported that enemy infantry are concentrating south of Bois de Hangard GERMANS STORM WYTSCHAETE HEIGHTS.

LONDON, April 17th." 12.30. ..

A wireless German official report states:We stormed the heights Wytechnete.

GERMAN REPORT..

LONDON, April 16th 11.50 ..

Thousands of the Red Guards were:

Fifty-Fifth throughout the early morn-captured, ing of the 9th inst. beat out all attacks The Germans are advancing eastward in the forward zone and maintained its along the railway to Viborg. line intact. When,, later, the German infantry had broken through the Portu. guese on its left. the division formed at defensive Bank facing north-east on the Givenchy Festubert line to the neighbour hood of Letouret,

EARLIER CABLES.

FRENCH FRONT.

PROGRESS ACHIEVED.

PAGIS, April 16th. A communique states-There was

AMERICA AND DUTCH SHIPPING.

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE.

LONDON April 18th.

The Prese Bureau announces:-The American Secretary of State, in a state- ment to the Dutch Minister at Washing tonwegarding the taking over of the Dutch ships, referring to the Dutch Govern nient's contention that the exercise by the United States of the right to refuse bunkers and cargoes and licences to Batch ships prior to the ships being taken over was unfriendly, points out We made progress by a minor opera that the supply of bunker coal had been tion in the sector of Noyon.

inadequate for America's own presing national needs, and the cargoes demanded were largely of grain, of America's own reserves were all too low. Bunkers, if granted, would have served to carry grain to the Netherlands, where,

as erents have demonstrated, it was not

LONDON, April 16th,

12.50 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-

A wireless German official report fairly considerable artillery firing in the ports :-The enemy

last night launched states:We stormed Wulvergher in a

region north of Montdidier, surprise attack, also a very heavy attack, preceded by an

positions othe intense bombardment,, between Bailleulastride the village. We captured the and Neuve Egline.

heights between Neuve Chapelle and Bailleul.

Three picked German Divisions, which had not previously been engaged in battle. delivered the assault, and after a. Berce and bitter struggle they car. ried the high ground south castward and eastward of Builleul, known as "Mont

de

Lille" and "The Reveliberg." We have fallen back to new positions. to the north of Bailleul and Wulverghem Bailleal fell into the enemy's hands

THE SPIRIT OF THE ARMY.

LONDON, April 16th. The Pruss Bureau announces-In a special Order of the Day, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig notifies having tele- graphed Field-Marshal Lord French- "Your kind message has given the great- cst pleasure to all your old comrades. Please accept our grateful thanks. The same spirit that carried your Army through in 1914 sustains us all again to-day against overwhelming odds."

EARLIER CABLES

Fresh German attacks are developing. This moming in the neighbourhood of Wytschoete, we repulsed an attack under

cover of heavy artillery and trenali-mortar fire south-westward of THE FIGHT FOR NEUVE EGLISE. Vieux Bergain, and we took prisoners in successful minor enterprise south- eastward of Robecq.

LATEST CABLES.

ENEMY ATTACKING HEAVILY.

LONDON, April 16th. Reuter's Correspondent at Headquar

LONDON, April 16th. The brilliant performances of the British against the overwhelming hordes of Germans continue to form the theme of correspondents" narratives.

In appears that Neuve Eglise was not taken by assault, but by artillery fire, The, evacuation was preceded by some of the

Our reconnaissances were very active, especially in the region of the Dise Canal, A detachment cressed the canal west of Pierremande and brought back prison-

ers.

BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS.

Paxis, April 16th," An official statement announces--One person was killed and two injured in the bombardment of Paris Inst night,

VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUEL,

Pakis, April 16th

which

[BY WINIENED STEPHENS-)

Only a few years ago engineering for

regarded as the last decupation fit for women. Nevertheless some ten years before the war, Anatole France, peering into the future, had a vision of the United States of Europe, three centuries. hence. He saw there women engineers, he found them capable and charming in their masculine attire. But that for our women engineers we are no likely to wait until the year 9,270, that the war is Foting the pace in this, as in so many other deparments of social development, be seen by any one who visits that part War Exhibition which is devoted to of the Burlington House Imperial women's work

The exhibition has been organised for the benefit of the British Red Cross by the Committee of the Imperial War Mecum, which is now a department of the first exhibition of its kind destined the Ministry of Public Works. This ra

for the general public, and it may b regarded as a sample of or introduction to the permanent Imperial War Museum of the future.

Tincitanie," said that in the circumstancos the recognised guiding principles of International Law justified an order of retaliation against an enemy with the object of curtailing and throttling his

trade.

Good precedents and authority ex sted for such an order. If the order was justified he was unable to see how it could be said that the inevitable con-wenien under the chairmanship of the sequences thereby entailed upon neut als Miss Conway as an able and most ener Honourable Lady Norman, C.B.B.,” with

were unreasonable, or were such as togetic hon, secretary render the order illegal.

The Court condemned the vessel and notion how much we depend for cargo as a prize,

received

EARLIER CABLES.

ALLIES' GENERALISSIMO.

LONDON, April 10th. General, Foch's appointment has been

with universal antisfaction Indeed, it is regarded as an imperative necessity after the recent events to have all the Armies under a single control, thus avoiding the system of watertight com partments. The French pay a tribute to the generous action of Great Britain.

CANADA AND THE WAR SITUATION;

The

OTTAWA, April 16th.. The House of Commons decided to hold a secret sitting on Wednesday to discuss the situation on the Western Front. Senators will attend

AMERICA AND THE WAR.

WIN WE MUST,

WASHINGTON, April 16th. Mr. Lansing, in a speech, said;

WOMEN'S INCREASING ACTIVITIES. For the women's section at Burlington House is responsible a sub-committee of

Few of us probably, bofore we visited Burlington House, had even the vaguest

safety in these days on the Inbours of our fellow wonen. How many of o knew that the searchlights which scan our skies at night, that the guns we hear booming during an air raid, are partly the result of our sisters activities?

hibitiongraphs on the walls of the Ex women engaged in every kind of munition work, from the actual building of the factory where they serve a bricklayers labourers and the stoking of furnaces in boiler houses, up to the delicate processes connected with tho tirane barrels, the testing of clinometers. tools, manufacture of lenses

made by women. Women are now able All parts of an aeroplane are being

to carry out all the operations necessary for the manufacture of shells up to the size of 9.2 inches (the Cunard 8.5. Com pany by the way, have contributed to the

Exhibition the first shells made by women in Great Britain). Women can perform all the operatione which go to the making of a machine gun and, under supervision, all the machining operations for a 6in. gun, as well as a great many of the operations in steel ship build- ing. I was shown part of the trigger its largest dimensions, yet requiring for gerr of a machine-gun, less than 1is, in its manufacture ao fewer than it differ ent operations, all of which are per- forned by wonen

The precision demanded by some of these minute pieces of work is well-nigh inconceivable. I say, for example, an inscription destined for a gun,

The separate letters are cut out of a mass of metal by a revolving cutler and the accuracy required extends to half a 30,000th part of an inch. In the grind- ing

of lense and prisms the angles imust

then needed, and where it would only must now fight on until the aims probe true to within 1-00th of a degree have served to release an equivalent of claimed by President Wilson are achiey foodstuffe for the enemy.

ed. Win we must, and win we will.”

Owing to the unrestricted submarinism,

which the Dutch Government itself

declared illegal, there had been during the year, since America entered the war, a shortage of shipping, which threatens to postpone at frightful cost, ultimate victory. This created an emergency seldom if ever equalled in magnitude: and significance.. The United States

GERMANY AND ROUMANIAN OIL WELLS.

Given the same training. I am told that women may be relied upon to be as te curate as men. The time necessary for technically known as repetition work, is training for these mechanical processes, from fourteen days to six weeks. The period seems amazingly short, but one must remember that the minute accuracy of the machines themselves asists tha

AMSTERDAM, April 16th According to

TODER Zeitung Ger-accuracy of the worker. many has reserved to herself the right to ease the Roumanien oil wells for ninety-nine vetrs and the right of mili- tary cocupation for s several years,

A communique states-The artillery duel was very violent in the region of Hangard

en Santerre. Our artillery dispersed enemy assem blages on the outskirts of Demuin.

There is lively cammorading in the might at any time within the year have THE REICHSTAG RESOLUTION sector of Avecourt.

ENEMY EXPECTED TO COUNTER- ÖFFENSIVES.

PAR18, April 16th, It is semi-officially stated that during

ITS FORCE, SUSPENDED:

AMSTERDAM, April 16th. The declarations by prominent members of the Progressive People's Party that the Reichstag resolution of July, 1917, no longer has any force are confirmed by the Centre-organ Germania, which says that the Centre, party has reserved to itself

free hand in the West.

exercised its right to pat half-a-million tons of Dutch shipping in its harbours into service useful to it, but it forbore, and for many month, patiently negotiat ed until, finally, a temporary agree ment on January 25th was made. Only tere reportsSince last evening the Germost, desperate fighting of the war. The the last two days the Flanders front has when the agreement broke down under mans have been attacking heavily at Germans at ürsu vainly tried their familiar become stable. It is most satisfactory to German threats of violence did the various parts of the northern battle area, enveloping tactics, and then tried to rush and they gained some ground. Their the place. The enemy brake into the ruined constituting an enormous salient, expos through the exercise of its own right see the enemy contained along a long line United States take steps to accomplish

most important advance is the occupa- streets and met stall parties of the Wilting him to dangerous counter offensive. what it was hoped could have been tion of Bailleul. Following the re-entry shires and Worcesters. A terrible hand modification of the line caused by the accomplished by agreement and what aside, and the aim into Neuve Eglise, they maintained a to-hand struggle ensued in the backyards abandonment of Neuve Eglise does not the Dutch Government had been willing victorians peace by force of arm, in the steadily increasing pressure along the of the ruined houses and in the cellars. exceed one hundred metres

in part to accomplish.

GROWTH OF WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT.- For more advanced work, such pattern and tool making, a much longer training would be required. Wonien have not yet had time to excel in this direction, but they bave already made One of the most highly and delicate instruments, saw was a pitch measuring michez levised to calculate the distance one tura of a screw and its neighbour. This was made throughout by women at the Loughborough Technical Training

a

D

Institute fo

Until quite recently the grinding and setting of tools was entirely carried on ginning to undertake it, however. And by male workers. Women are now be the time may not be far distant when

ar certain munition factories will employ

nie, ale workers. Indeed, there exist already factories in which oper cent of the employes are women. Charts resolution was merely a tactical means for dilution of skilled wale labour by wasteur ||| Aittags Zeitung says that the July employment and the rapid spread of the showing the enormous growth of women's

secaring pence in the East. It is now set hibition. It is hoped that the Exhibi-

are to be seen on the walls of the Ex now is to gain a tion may result in a largely increased number of women workers Eduented women are specially wanted, for they most rapidly respond to instruction.

West