1918-05-06 — Page 5

Page

THE WAR.

INTENSE BOMBARDMENT OF

FRANCO-BRITISH POSITIONS. HALF THE ENEMY'S FIGHTING RESERVE

EXHAUSTED.

ALLIED POSITION MOST ENCOURAGING.

LORD ROBERT CECIL ON THE GERMAN PEACE OFFENSIVE “ "MAINLY INTENDED FOR HOME CONSUMPTION."

THE GREATEST MINEFIELD EVER LAID:

GREAT BRITAIN'S PLANS FOR DEALING WITH GERMAN SUBMARINE CRUISERS

Franco-Belgian Front,

THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)

BRITISH FRONT. ENEMY. OPENS INTENSE BOMBARDMENT.

SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATION:

PARIS, May 3rd.

A camgenique states: There was violent mutual bombardments south of Villers-Bretonneux...

- A successful minor operation was car ried out on the 2nd, in which we attacked: LONDON, May 4th.

the positions between. Hailles and Castel 12:50 p.m.

and seized Hill as and the wood skirting Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re porta :---We- slightly improved our posi-the Avre capturing 100 prisoners, tion" north-eastward of Hinges, captur ing two machine-guns...

The French secured prisoners in successful local operation in the Locre!! sector.

Qur reconnoitring troops were particn larly active at Woevre, and in Lorraine, bringing back prisoners.

CLEMENCEAU'S

BATISFACTION, PARIS, May 4th.

M. Clemencen (the Premier), ques- tioned regarding the results of the Inter- (Allied | Council, expressed satisfaction

with the situation at the Front.

The enemy's artillery this morning opened an intense bombardment of the French and British positions from the zeighbourhood of Lacre to southward of Ypres, and have shown great activity in Foch is optimistic. the Foret de Nieppe and Meteren

M. Clemenceau said :---' Generalissimo That is all I can

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 6TH, 1918

THE GERMAN PEACE OFFENSIVE.

INTENDED FOR HOME”

CONSUMPTION

LONDON, Any Ath. Lord Robert Cecil, interviewed by Renter, regarding the reported coming German peace offensive, said, personally, he always expected this a

as the immediate consentence of the Western offerrive. - 16 was evidently part of the enemy plan, but he thought it was mainly intended fot "home" consumption. He was of the opinion that the general idea of the Ger mans was to continuu fighting in the West until they completely and commercially controlled the East. They hoped to establish themselves impregnably in Russia, so that by means of Geratunophil Government and Russia's resources and rich potentialities, Germany nay light. the world more than ever and be uncon- querable, Germany was aiming to bulla up the people's spirits by holding out hopes of plenteous Russian supplies.

Lord Cecil believed that if the Ger- mans have to rely on their own resources they know that they cannot endure very much longer. This explains tite plan of a big penco offensive, if they cannot knock

GERMANY'S POST-WAR

PREPARATION.

PLAYING OFF THE ALLIES ONE

AQAINST THE OTHER.

LONDON, May 4th.

LIQUOR TRADE CONTROL. COMMITTEES RECOMMENDA

TIONS.

LONDON May 3rd

The report of the English, Scotch and Irish Committees on the State purchase

GERMANY'S FUTURE ECONOMIC LIFE. DEMAND FOR INDEMNITIES NECESSARY.

ZURICH, May 4th.

A gloomy picture of Germany's branocr

""

With reference to cables relating to German commercial past-war prepara and control of the liquor trade sistes je, drawn by the Industrial Union of tions, enemy newspapers are featuring that all the Commuttres propose definite Baxony, one of the greatest industrial Gerraan dependence on raw materials forns for the purchase of liquor in organisations in Germany, in a manifesta controlled by the Allies and the conse.terests. The cost of the acquisition | supporting, the demand for war intem- quent necessity for making the question appears to be between £400,000,000 and nities. The manifesto mys the war han of raw materials, one of the most im- £500,000,000. All the reports affirm that added 14,800,000,000 marks to the pienso portant, at the Pence, negotiatione. the principle of purchase should be on time expenditure of 4,800,000,000 marks.

Herr Dettmann, an ex-German consul, the basis of pre-war profits at pre-war

It continues; This total would advocates playing off the Allieg against rates of capitalisation.

absord: 60 per cent of the whole of the one another, telling Ameries that they

The English - Committee recommends national income Capitalised at a por cannot have

potash except supplies of that the sum thus reached should be write the national debt would then colton and copper, are guaranted, and ten down to the standard of the capital amount to 102,000,000,000 marks, or more influencing Australia through her values prevailing when the purchase than the enlije pretvar national wealth terest in maintaining the German wool transaction was completed and that of Germany, Such burden would com special Government guaranteed stock plete paralyze on production and all our will be issued the cash value of which spirit and enterprise, and completely will be equal to the sum so adjusted. ruin our economic life. Our foes are The Scottish and Trish Committers considerably letter off in this respect. reserve the form of payment for the Thoy need entertain no such apprehen- further consideration hy the Governmentsions, as their own countries and - All the reports include the export trade Colonial possessions afford rich natural as subject of nequisition and all propose sources of valuable raw materials and to exclude the Allied trades, also most millions of workers, while Germany is hotels, clubs, railway and refreshment

dependant on herself, and even if she

market.

Herr Zimmermann, the well-known colonial enthusiast, in the course of a feties of remmikable articles, goes fur- ther and says the remedy is 'n vast rolonial empire.

- (A part of this mussage is missing).

GERMAN ALLIANCE WITH IRELAND

Herr Zimmermann concludes:-- To-

mixed businesses,

AMERICA AND THE WAR.

ESTIMATES FOR IMMEDIATE PROGRAMME,

any immediate profit from them.*

THE TRANSPORT OF GRAVEL

GERMAN BOATS SUNK.

wat the Allies. The peace offensive, he day this Colonial: Empire is not, firmly rooms, theatre bars, passenger ship bars gained Colonies, she cannot reckon on in our hands. We must await com dining cars and the non-liquor part of events and then we shall talk further. Then we shall speak of the security of the permanent connections between this Colonia) Empire and Germany. Recent- ly von Stumm, of the Foreign Offer said that a free Ireland would mean the fredoin of the seas, A. German allianén with a free Ireland would permanently secure the connection between. Germany and her colonial possessions in Africa"

GT. BRITAIN'S PROHIBITED SEA AREA. GREATEST MINEFIELD EVER LAID

WASHINGTON, May 4th Mr. Baker, the War Secretary, has submitted to the Senate Military Com mittee his climates of approximately.

$15,000,000,000 for an immediate pro-

gramme,

AMSTERDAM, May 4th.. Reports from The Hague state that Allied aviators, in a single day, sank 20 Belgians boots lnders with gravel and crushed stone for the German front, aud are daily destroying others,

said, would likely be directed very largely against Great Britain in the shape of offers, which Germany deems would be attractive to Germany would then impress upon its people regarding they German moderation, but such offers would not approach anything we ont look nahel, anyhow, would not tend to pence. NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS.

LONDON, May 4th The newspapers, discussing Germany's peace offensive," reflect the deter. next mination of the British nation and its Allies to see the way through," and the impossibility of their being duped into

which does not fulfil the a peace, {THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.]"

LONDON, May 4th. principles for which they are fighting.

Mr. Archibald Hard, in the Daily VIOLENT FIGHTING. The Times says the general expecta Telegraph, says the new prohibited arca tion that the failure of the German offen in the North Sea will exist from -Alay LONDON May 4th.

3.20 p.m.

sive to secure a crushing victory would, foth, its base forming a line between wireless Austrian official message be followed by a peace oflenjive in the Norway and Scotland and its peek run There was severe air-fighting, and weThere was fighting activity of con- Allied countries seems likely to be ful-wing northward within the Arctic circle. brought down 14 and drove down four siderable violence on May 2nd along the filed. German speakers and agents a Thus is the greatest minefield ever laid.

wliole of the Italian Front from the showing a suspicious readiness to dilate the area embracing 121,000 square milesing to repair the duniago to Zeebrugge Amorice and Norway under which tho

sectors.

Bay."

AVIATION REPORT.

LONDON, May 4th.

Italian bront

12.00 m.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig te ports or aviation as follows :-Despite a raze on the 2nd inst., we dropped three and-e-half tons of bombs on Bapaume and

other targets.

enemy machines uncontrollable. Onra ara missing.

Five of

Our night-fiers dropped five-and-a-half tons of bombs on Chaulnes, Juniville railway junction, Bapaume and Caix, and we also dropped three "heavies from a low height on the lock gates at Zeebrugge.

We successfully raided yesterday the railway station and kiding at Thin ville.

Giudicaria valley to the Adriatic,

EARLY AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE ANTICIPATED.

...

LONDON, May 4th. 25 p.in

The announcement from Vienna that the Emperor Karl, accompanied by General von Arz, Chief of the General Staff, and a high German military re- presentative bas gone to the Italian Front is regarded in some 'quorters as We again hit the Carlshutte Works,foreshadowing an early Austrian offen- and observed bursts at the station and sidings and gasworks. All our machine 'Teturned.

kive.

THE ZEBRUGGE AND OSTEND ENTERPRISES.

ORIGINATED BY VISCOUNT

JELLICOL

LONDON, Jlny 3rd. Reuter Tearns that the Germans are

displaying great ectivity in endeavour-

upon the food shortage and general discom

The channel still remains blocked, and Mr. Hurd suggests that the Admiralty fort in Germany, with the obvious inten-is applying the sathe methods at the will likely remain so for a considerable

northern exit of the North Sea as the time tion of lending a ring of sincerity, to the German profession of anxiety for

Straits of Dover, While the Germans peace. At the same time, neutral emis

have been building submarine czuleers saries, with well-known antecedents the Admiralty has been loving plans for and tendencies, are understood neatly dealing with these new craft.

on

A NEW ECONOMIC ARRANGE- MENT

BERXE, May 4th,

Apart from the two sunken concreto ships at the entrance, the position of the Thetis at the edge of the shoal is likely to greatly increase dredging operations, which are necessary to prevent the harbour from being silted up.

They also destroyed two piers at Luxemburg and a bridge at Namur.

The ronds are so cut up that tho Germans find it difficult to bring sufficient material to fill up the craters in thɛm.

AMERICA EXCHANGES NECESSARIES FOR SHIPPING

CHRISTIANIA, May 4th. An agreement bus been signed between

United States senda a quantity of neoca- saries in exchange for the use of a curtain amount of Norwegian shipping.

ENTENTE AND SWEDISH SHIPPING.

AMSTERDAM, May 4th.

The Finance Minister has stated that Sweder will receive a quarter million tons of corn and 300,000 tons of food-

An interesting fact has just been published that Viscount Jellicoe, while First Sea Lord, passed the plans for andstuffs and & quantity of other vital necessities in exchange for the hiring of approved the Zebrugge and Ostend

400,000 tons of shipping lying in foreign ports to the Entente

to have come to England and other THE ALLIED GOVERNMENTS Allied countries for the purpose if AND SWITZERLAND, Suggesting that if the Allies only show a pacific disposition they will and Ger many ready to meet them

moderate terms. In some instances these emis saries, it in believed, submitted proposals

4 new economic arrangement has been enterprises.

·AVIATION ACTIVITY.:

regarding the best policy for the Allies to concluded between Switzerland and the o

The Minister also declared that the LONDON, May 4th follow relative to the internal situation representatives of the Allies, by which THE SUPREME WAR COUNCIL

4.40 p.m.

in Germany.

It deed hardly be said the former undertakes to supply the

Government was doing everything per message says the that the origin of these n

LONDON, May 3rd.

sible on behalf of the Swedes, who were manoeuvres is as Allied Governments with certain quan- Field Marshal Sir Douglas, Haigre Anglo-Italian aviators have been active, well understood as the purpose of the tities of wood for a period of right Lloyd George and Lord Miloer have

The Press Bureau announces:-Mrlitorally fighting against starvation ports:-Wein cooperation with the bringing down 12 bostile machines on the military offensive in March, and the months the Allies making important returned from France, where they attend. Allied Government will present en concessions regarding the supply of fooded the meetings of the filth session of tho equally frm front to this peace intrigue to Switzerland. as the Armies presented to the military

Supreme War Council,

attacks.

LOCAL FIGHTING,

LONDON May 3rd- 10.30 p.m.

An Italian

French, took prisonerà in local fighting guthward of Villers-Bretonneux.

The enemy's artillery was active north- ward of Albert...

FRENCH FRONT. LIVELY BOMBARDMENTS."-

LONDON, May 4th

4.40 p.m.

3rd inst

Naval Activities.

{TAKOUGH NEVIER'S AGENCY, ]

SERVICE CHEVRON AWARD.

LONDON, May 4th

The Admiralty announces that a dis tinctive chevron will be issued to every A French communique says there have description of rating in the Navy, in been fairly lively bombardments in the eluding women, who began their se reigon of the Avre.-

ARTILLERY FIGHTING,

PARIS, May 4th. communiqué states: -- There was fairly great reciprocal artillery firing north and south of the Avre and on the right of the Meuse.

service in 1014, with an additional chevron fos each year of subsequent

Bervice

This is similar to the

military arrangement, as cabled on October 11th

1017

The Dominions* Navy

THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

NEW CONTROLLER APPOINTED

LORDON, May 4th.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

FIGHTING AT KIEFE

AMSTERDAM, May 4th.

The meetings were also attended by M. Clemenceau, Signor Orlando and the Allies' Novel and Military advisers,

THE CANADIAN ARMY.

QUEBEC RESIGNED TO

*CONSCRIPTION=,

OTTAWA, May 4th. The tone of the Quebec newspapers

Fighting occurred at Kaff on the including Generalissime Foch, Field during the Inst few days indicates vorsion of the overthrowing of the Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, General Sir Gordon Nairne has been appointed Ukranian Government, as cabled on the Pershing and General Petain. Controller of the Bank of England,

The new post is enivalent to that of General Manager...

GERMAN REPORT.

LONDON, May 3rd. The papers comment on the appoint. A wireless German official report. meat with satisfaction as marking a very states. We advanced into the Donetz important development and giving the region. present Governor and Deputy Govertor greater freedom for their responsibilities Asor are eligiblo and labour attaching to war finance, and making for closer oc-operation between the Bank of England and the outside

market

Our artillery dispersed enemy concen trations south of Villers-Bretonneux and for the award in respect of service out

side their own country. towards Castel.

General.

were

AERIAL OPERATIONS. During the 2nd instant eight enemy aeroplanes were brought down and 12

to descend in their own] compelled. lines 27,000 kilogrammes of projectiles were dropped on stations, bivouacs, can- tonments in Han, Besle, Boye, Chaulnes

(THROUGE ZHUTER'S AGENCY.]

EGYPT'S WAR CONTRIBUTION

CAIRO, May 3rd.

THE POTATO CROP IN

BRITAIN

LONDON, May 4th The Press Baresuannounces: -The

The Government has gratefully accept Food Controller estimates that the potato ed Egypt's offer to immediately contri.

We occupied Tageron on the Sea of

GREAT EVENTS EXPECTED.

STOCKHOLM, May 4th. The Afton Bladet. states that the Hussians have masset considerable troops on, the Finjeh borders,

Great events are expected.

THE FIGHTING ÎN FINLAND.

LONDON, May 4th,

A wireless German official report, issued

St. Quentin and Juss), and also 8,000 bute £3,000,000 towards the war expendiacreage of Great Britain in 1018 H this evening, states: After a five days?

kilogrammes of bomb were dropped on enemy establishmente at Rethel and the ture and also to provide a further approximate 900,000 acres, which is 5 railway stations at Asfeld-la-Ville.

200,000 in the new Budget

per cent, orer that of 1917.

battle we defeated the enemy near Lahti and Tavastehas, in Finland, capturing

20,000 prisoners

THE IRISH QUESTIONS:

FRIME MINISTER CONFERS WITH HOME BULE COMMITTER-

resignation to conscription in that pro

vince, but an incident in the House of

Commons zesterday, even more empha- tically indicates the changed attitude of the population towards the Government's policy of maintaining Canada's Army at the Front at full strength LONDON, MAY 4th,

The Hon. Mr. Limieux, a vigorous sud Mr. Lloyd George, immediately on bis influential opponent of conscription return from France, met the Rt. Hon. he had been asked by the President. Walter Leng and the Committee drafting of the Committee of the Royal Flying the Home Rule Bill, and discussed the Corps in Quebec city to communicate to clauses concerning Ulster and Customs the House the following: It may finance, on which disagreement had intercat the country to know that upph- cations for admission into the Royal The Daily Mail believes that a basis Flying Corps are - pouring in from of adjustment has been reached. It is

Quebec and Yaral districts by able hoped that the measure will be introduced well-educated young men belong

good families. The message Was The Times states that Lord Midleton ed

arisen.

before

ne declined to participate in the new

Irish Government.

Wontinued on Page 62)