1918-05-31 — Page 5

Page

THE

THE WAR.

ENEMY OFFENSIVE:

IS IT MERELY A PREPARATORY ATTACK? HOW CHEMIN-DES-DAMES WAS TAKEN,

TURKS IN CAUCASIA: PERMISSION TO ADVANCE INTO PERSIA AGAINST BRITISH REFUSED.

ABABS ASSIST IN RESCUING ARMENIANS.

THE CAPTURE OF A GERMAN AGENT IN IRELAND.

ranco-Belgian Bront,

LATEST CABLES.

[THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)

THE BRITISH FRONT. ALLIED LINE MAINTAINED.

LONDON, May 28th.

10.53 p.m.. Field Marshal, Sir Douglas Haig re- ports: French

British counter- and attacks oarly this morning re-established our line eastward of Dickebush Take, capturing several prisoners,

It is known that four German Divi siona were engaged in the attacks on May 27th in this sector, and as far south as

Locre.

BRITISH FRONT NOT BROKEN. LONDON, May 28th.

9.20 p.m.

tates-Chemin-des-Dames

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MAY 31sr, 1015

Reuter's Correspondent at French to-day, Headquarters, telegraphing

was never more than a curtain of a fortress of which the main defences were the Laon platean. We held the curtain, but the fortress itself was never ours. The Germans have utterly failed this time to do what they succeeded in doing on Our front is not broken.

March 21st

For as the battle so far has gone more

if they had men enough this would not be the way in which they would be used. Nothing is more difficult for farmen to scize, and yet nothing is more certain, than a change of values as the way evolves. Our only notions of Chemin- des-Dames were obtained at a time very different from the present emergency- the time of fixed fronts and offensive

and defensive methods that are already old-fashioned. Undoubtedly, the French Command, fc and it grievous yesterday to order the retreat to the Aisne, and more fecble men might have temporised there. by losing many good lives which, after all, are inore sacred than the most sacred

EARLIER CABLES,

Weet of Montdidior the Americans General, shattered two enemy counter-attacks at Cantigny. The artillery duel continues

LATEST CABLES. THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

to ba lively on hoth banks of the Mews, THE RESCUE OF ARMENIANS on the Woevre sector and in Embertisnil

and Lorining.

THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY GERMAN GAS FORESEEN.

PARIS, May 28th:

at French Renter's Correspondent Headquarters, in continuation of hig

A series of hostile raids, north of message dated the 27th inst, relating to Bezónest.-Aux, in the region of Badenvil the enemy attack on Chemin-des-Dames, liers, and nor the Rhine and the Rhone says The position had been drenched conal failed under our fire.

OUR RESERVES ARRIVING ON THE SCENE.

with gas for hours. The officers and men had been wearing masks for hours when the attack started, and could not remove. them even suomentarily. Consequently, it was almost impossible to give and understand orders. A battle in such con

LONDON, May 29th. 10.20 an

It is seus officially stated that the Gr nians as incessantly employing fresh

earth. The Germen attack ut Chemin ditions becomes an affair of individuals divisions to nuke good, their very heavy

des-Dames could not be anticipated, and was far beyond the powers of our small forces to ward off. It wa only at heavy

and all units.

Thig difficulty had been foreszen by our command, and, as soon as it was clear

losses. On the other hard our reserves are arriving on the scene and will, in few days, he in action. It is felt that

ARABIANS CO-OPERATE WITH BRITISH IN NOBLE WORK.

LONDON, May 30th The Tress Bureau staten that, owing to Arabian co-operation with the British

forces in Palestine, a uumber of Arme niaus, son, waren and children, Wizon the Turks deported to the deseris, cast. of the Jordan, have been resented. On receipt of this news the following teles grims were sent to Emir Feisal.

From Bughos Nubar Pasha and the American Delegation to the noble-born

Pasha

Feisal

We have just learned of the rescues our unfortunate ; fellow-countrym through the efforts of your gallant troops in South Syria. God bless and prosper

cost that it got forward so quickly, thur that the Germans were established on the the equilibrium of the situation is the progress of your arms. The chival

GERMANS REACH OUTSKIRTS OF

crest, the order was given to abandon the restorel men retired from posthen

position to position

whole of Ladies' Way and fall back on the without confusion, and Gring continuous. Aisne, The retreat was executed in ly. The fact that our losses are similxcellent order and the Franco-British compared with the enemy's is the ossen-

forces retired in liaison without serious tial point.

·lors. "WORST BELIEVED TO BE OVER."

LONDON, May 29th.

6:45 am.

The newspapers do not seek to minimise the formidable nature of the success which has brought the Germans in the region farther south than they have been

LATEST CABLES. THE FRENCH FRONT. FRENCH STOP ADVANCE.

PARIS, May 29th. communique, dated May 27th,

SOISSONS.

LONDON, May 20th

4.20 p.m.

A French communique states that the Germans have reached the outskirts of Soissons.

VIEWS OF THE FRENCH PRESS.

Paris, May 29th. Among the experts, M. Rousset, in the

rous net of the noble Mosleins, who fight under your banners, adds fresh instre to the unnals of the Arab race Every Armenian, throughout the world, is to day an ally of the Arab movenient, and the praises of your elemency, and the justion of your cause shall be known wherever we van inake our voices heard." From the Lord Mayor of London on behalf of the Armenian Refugees" Lord Mayor's Fund.

beg to convey to the noble Junir Feisal the deepest thanks of British sub- gcribers for the gallant rescue of suffering.

since the beginning of the trench war in states Last night and to day the Petit Parigion, alone has not shared the Armenians by your victorious troops"

1914, but none take the alarmist views which were widespread two months ago.

view of the morning that the offensive thin the Soissons-Rheims sector is merely

enemy, again profiting by numerical

efforts superiority made frezly accentuate his drive southwards and to wards Soissons.

satisfactorily than the battle in March. The Germans are not likely to be able to make any serious headway before the Heavy losses were inflicted on these arrival of our reserves, which will restore is feared that many heavy guns have been vigorously and stopped the German

Regret is expressed that the Allies have lost the positions which they sacrificed troops on the left counterattacked so much to maintain and develop, and it

divisions..

The Allied line was maintained at all

points.

AERIAL OPERATIONS."

LONDON, May 29th.

12.45 a.m.

the equilibrium of our forces,

THE GERMAN STRENGTH:"" LONDON, May 28th

9:10 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at French

lost, but it is pointed out that experience has shown that great thrusts always lose their impetus just when the defence is bringing, reserves into action, and recol Headquarters telegraphing Festerday,lections of the German defents at Kemmel

advance, and shattered the attacks on the heights of Heaville, on Margienl from Vregny to north east of Soissons, and on the hills in the region of Ciry," Salesogne and Vassenny, which immediat.

A

diversion. He says that General Ludendorf undoubtedly wished to avoid

"From friends of Armenia, in London, We beg to congratulate the noble Emir Feisal on his splendid rescue of suffering

Armenians. The friends of Armenia

troops..

n collision with the Allies' strategic rejoice at the progress of your victorious The King of Hedjan hes replied as serves and sought a surprise. The ques

M.follows:- tion is whether be obtained it. Rousset, however, does not fear the even

** Your kind::message to Feisal, of

tual result in view of the Verdun and which I have heard, is proof of your goodwill and affection. We pray to God” to make us worthy of your kind thoughts. Sumine preeclents.

Other writers state that the British Feisal, in assisting the oppressed,

The weather was fine but cloudy states: This morning's attack was pre- and elsewhere inspires i feeling of calm dominate the valley of Vesles to Be Army Corps occupied the weakest point performed one of the first duties of que

May 27th, and the visibility was not

.good.

amente

south.

of the line, in the centre, between Herreligion and the Acab faith. I say merccscourt and Cranelle, and withstood confidently and proudly, that the Armenian Pac, and other races in a the principal shock.

similar plight, are regarded by us as partners in our fortunes, in weal or

vedel by a four hours' gas-shell bombard. confidence that Generalissmo Foch's re-

Kerves will still save the situation. AMERICANS CAPTURE CANTIGNY In the centre, where the enemy made Indeed, a late despatch from the Daily During the full day's dying wo

The enemy engaged 90 divisions, includ dropped 16 tons of bombs on various inous moved from the Hirson-Mezieres Chronicle's Correspondent with the his principal effort, the battle is develop. objectives,

including billets between région at the last moment by night French Armies announces that the Frenching with sustained violence on the line fournal des Debuts in the evening, points woe. - We ask God, before everything, to Armentierts and Len and on Bruges

clocks,

arch. The attacking front was held by the armies of von Boehm and Fritz von

We brought down 15 German ser Below, von Boehm holding Noyan to planes and drove down three.

Two British machines are missing. We dropped heavy hombs at night on Zeebrugge lock and Bruges docks, also

Craonne with nine divisions and von Below Crnoune to Auberive with eight divisions.

The Chemin-des-Dames line was attack.

a great number on the enemy's dumpsed in the Hank from the Corbeny and billets, totalling 31 tons. All our Javincourt region. aeroplanes returned.

Hostile night-bombers were active,

A "Gotha was forced to descend over ourines and the three occupants were captured.

ALLIES OUTNUMBERED BY FIVE TO UNE

T

The enemy launched infantry in dense waves against the eastern end of the plateau and captured Craome, turning the flank of our division, and stormed the Californie Vauclere plateaux.

The Germans outnumbered ours by five to one.

reserves are arriving at the front, and that the worst is believed to be over.

ENEMY'S FORCES SERIOUSLY F

DISPERSED

of Vesles, which the Germans succeeded in crusing this morning at several points, notably in the region of Barzoches and Les Fisors.

On the right the British, on Saint Thierry Ridge, resisted the assaults of the enemy, who seems to hayo suffered particularly heavy losses.

M. Henri Bidou, writing in the

out that the Allies, north of the Aisne, still bold the large bridge bead in front of Soissons, threatening the enciny" on the flank, and are making a stand on the Vesle front.

BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS,

PARIS, Mhy Both

The German papers are already trum peting the showy sucess of the Crown Princees-a-dynastic victory, for the Hohenzol ns, hut correspondents show

The long-range bombardment continued that he gained, on the Aisne, no stronger

West of Montdidier, the Americans, a line than was already held, while the supported by our tanks, brilliantly car this morning. The shells are larger than Emmy Command, by extending the ried on a front of two kilometres a previously, and is is suggested that new

dis- salient at Cantigny, also the village, guns are being used. battle-line to 100 miles, h persed its forces, all of which must be which the enemy had strongly fortified, fed with a ratio of loss constantly higher capturing 170 prisoners and a quantity of The Near East. than that of the defenders

Observers are agreed that the losses of the Allies are comparatively small. Their- retirement was deliberate and carried out in good order.

The

French still hold the valuable

Our long-distance night bombers were very active and dropped between four and five tons of bomby on the Chemical Works at Mannheim, the railway station at Landau, the electric power station at

The position attacked was a long Kreuzwald, railway station at Mezsablon narrow-topped barrier along which and on Courcelles. There were very large Ladies Way runs from Hutchise to theVrigny plateau, north-east of Soissons explosions. One British machine is bend of the valley. The defenders of the and commanding the Sermoizo spur cast missing

ridge have no room to minœuvre and of Venizel and south of the river, where a counter-attack steamed the German a few yards without SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATIONS. cannot retreat.

cat even LONDON, May 29th. losing the crest. It was inevitable that rush; while the British, on the other wing, are holding their ground, and have 12.40 p.m.

they would recoil under the shock, with

inflicted the heaviest losses, on the St. Sir Douglas Haig reports:--We suc

the result that the Germans jemained in cessfully raided south-east of Arras cap

Thierry height five miles north-west of possession of the ridge.

Rheims. turing prisoners,

We also took a few prisoners westward- of Merville, and repulsed raids at Givenchy, Lez, and La Bassee,

We repulsed an attack on a post south ward of the Ypres Comines canal

are-

of

Officers in touch with the situation opinion that the results of the day's fighting on the Aisne are accepted by the High Command without disquiet. Dar front recoiled in accordance with the prearranged plan under the weight of NOW WE SHAN'T BE LONG.''

the blow The result at present is that LONDON, May 29th.

the bettlefield of last spring is again in 4.20 p.m.

There is no Router's Correspondent at British the enemy's possession. Headquarters telegraphing this evening, civilian population lost, as the whole states-Except north of Mont Kimmel, region of the ground had been fought the enemy artillery are comparatively over so long that it has no economic quiet on the Flanders Front.

Four British divisions which withstood the first onslaught on the Aisne were composed of England troops represent- ing many English counties, contradicting

value to either side..

ENEMY EFFECTED A SURPRISE..

LONDON, May 28th

51-2,20 p.m.

The Daily Chronicle's Correspondent at

The possession of the important points on the flanky, says the Times, opens up the prospect that the main rush in the centre may be the more quickly checked.

BELGIAN REPORT

LONDON, May 29th.. 1.25 BL

material.

GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS COMPLETELY FAIL.

The German counter attacks in the afternoon against Cantigny completely failed.

The artillery duel continues with great activity on the right of the Meuse, and - at several points on the Lorraine front.

Two strong enemy coups-de-main in the region of Veso nad Ember Mesnil were repulsed, after sharp fighting.

RESERVES HURRYING UK

LONDON, May 29th. 4.15 a.m. Reuter's Correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing on Tuesday French and afternoon, states:-The

forced to continue the retreat during the British Divisions holding the Aisne wera

past twenty-four hours under the pres sure of enormously superior numbers.

the reserves are hurrying up from the concentration points.

LATEST CABLES. {THROCON REUTER'S AGENCY)

TURKS IN THE CAUCASUS.

give us strength to enable us to do them helpful service, by which to prove to tha world the true feelings of Islam, whose watchword is Freedom. God preserve you in health, and bring your desires to a successful attainment by his help and favour."

THE GERMAN-IRISH CONSPIRACY.

DETAILS OF ARREST OF A GERMAN AGENT.

LONDON, May Both.

A special message from Cork gives who details of the arrest of the man Landed from a German a submarine and is now in the Tower. It appears that he was seen by fishermen on April 13th waving a handkerchict from a barren islet off the coast of Clare. He was rowed ashore and said he was n survivor ARMENIANS SUFTER HEAVILY AT of a torpedoed ship Investigation by the Coast-Guards proved the story to he ALEXANDROPOL

untrue Much English silver LONDON, May 29th.

was found in his possession. Meanwhile, The Turks have occupied Alexandropola wrecked collapsible boet was found a mile down the coast. It is believed that and are moving towards Wulf.

The Armenians have suffered heavily the man roved shors in the darkness and landed on the islet by mistake. He nt Alexandropol.

endeavoured to destroy the boat, and PASSAGE OF TURKISH TROOPS TO found in the morning, that he find

mardoned himself,

money

PERSIA REFUSED. The Turka previously asked the consent| HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. of the Caucasian Government to the passage of troops to Persia, destined for use against the British Government, and, on being refused; it is reported that the Turks occupied Erivan.

LATEST CABLES.

A Belgian communiqué states:-Enemyre ghiting most gallantly, and Aerial Activities. artillery activity was specially lively in qur back areas,

There were many civilian casualties la the Bombarded localities.

GERMAN CLAIM..

LONDON, May 28th

10.55 p.m.

A German communique claims 15,000

prisoners.

The Germans include seven special storm divisions which fought on March 1st since when they have not been seent, presumably refitting. Also two divisions of guarda.

OUR TROOPS DEFENDING THE. HEIGHTS OF THE VESLE On the right, he Franco-British KAISER TELEGRAPHS TO

troops, after an energetic defence, have EMPRESS

withdrawn slowly to the south and south east of the heights of St. Thierry, AMSTERDAM, May 99th.

where they are holding on between the The Kaiser las telegraphed to the Vesle and the Aisne canal. In the centre, fighting has continued with various fluc Empress from the battlefeld south of bastions on the south bank of the Veste, prisoners. The popular sentiment was possible sectors of attack strongly enough God has granted us a fine the heights of which our troops are de

the German assertions that the English French Headquarters, telegraphing yes, terday, dealing with the retreat on the leave the heaviest fighting to the over seas troops

Great satisfaction is felt among the Aisne, admits that the enemy effected a British troops at the news of the success-

surprise. He says it is out of t ful attack by Americans near Montdidier, in which they captured more than 140 expressed by a Scotch corporal, who re marked" Now we shan't be long."

خبر

ques

tion at proant for the Allies to hold all

to make them perfectly secure. Indeed, victory and will further help us"

fending with admirable bravery.

(THROUGH REUTER' SOENCY-]

AIR RAID ON ROUEN:

PARI, May 29th.

An official report states: Enemy acro planes were espied at midnight of May 27th-28th west of Rouen,

SUGGESTED REFERENCE TO THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

LONDON, May 29th The Daily Chronicle's Dublin core- spondent states that Genoral Smuts pro posal to refer Home Rule to the Imperial Conference is finding support amongst Nationalists and Unionists,

MUNITION WORKERS TO WORK WHEREVER NEEDED.

* LONDON, May 2001 The Daily Chronicle states that the Government expects all munition workers in future to, volunteer for war work anywhere in the country. An unreason- able refusal will seriously prejudice the

They were violently attacked by anti-right of exemption from Army tarvice.

The War Cabinet considers that aircraft batteries.

now be absolutely free to diver

· One -dropped bombg upon the Roxen where it can be Bust -advant district.

ed.

One son was killed and four wound

employed.

Continued on Page 6)