1918-06-08 — Page 7

GREAT DEFENCE BY BRITISH TROOPS.

TIRED BUT DETERMINED. ENEMY'S VAIN EFFORTS.

{FROM PHILIP GIDBS.]

FRANCE, April 14th:" The Commander-in-Chief's Order of the Day should reveal to our people and the world what is happening out here in France the enemy's objects to seize the

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH, 1918,

in places where I never expected to see guns at work-dumping down their shells, making their wagon lines, unlimbering. There was no Buster. Officers and men went about their work quietly with a word or two. They were white with dust which filled the lines about their eyes, but the officers gave their commands cheerily, and the men carried on gamely I saw one battery come action and fire its first shots. They

och tramping by with bundles on their backs, getting away from these villages, ence so snug under red tiled roofs, now Tery sinister, in spite of the blossom in their orchards and on their

doors

And there was Their

were.

MINISTER OF PENSIONS ON

LABOUR PACIFISTS GERMANS CANNOT BE TREATED AFTER THE WAR AS BEFORE.

GERMANY'S MAN-POWER.

WAS HER CENSUS WIEFULLY FALSIFIED §.

BYET. NIND) Recent events on the western front have raised in the mints of many of us an ap- prehension, not to say a fear, that some.

The serious miscalculation has been made as to the man power of Germany. inexplicable fact is that after nearly four years of war Germany with her 5,000,000. Lat her forces in the east can concentrate such an overwhelming superiority of force his that operating in the present offensive.

Channel ports and destroy the British no one at home. Odd shells had pierced what peace by negotiation had done for casualties and at least some portion

BO

Army, and the frightful forces he 15 brought against us to achieve that plan, and the call that has come to our troops to hold every position to the last man. "Many amongst us now are tired. With our backs to the wall cach one as must fight." Yes, many of our men are tired, so tired after a week's fighting, and after these last days and nights, that they can hardly stagger up to resist at other attack, yet do so because their spfeit wakes again above their bodily batigue, tired that they go on fighting like sleep walkers, and in any respite lie in ditches under hedges and in open fields under fire in a deep slumber, until the shouts of their sergeants, who must wake first, stira them again. Some of these men have been fighting since March 21st, with only a fow days rest. You know what the Scottish battalions of the 51st Division have dene since that day, fighting all the back from the St. Quentin front way before holding back the German bordes from the way to Béthune. The 9th Divi sion have done as much and as long, and after all their desperate fighting down from Gonnelien new battle burst

aud Gauche Wood upon them, and they flung the enemy off Messines Ridge and barred his way with

and

their bodies.

The population of Germany, according to the last official census taken in the year 1010, was 85,000,000; allowing for the normal increase between 1910 and

Mr. Hodge (Minister of Pensions), addressing a meeting at Hanley, under the auspices of North Staffs branches of

of which he is president, said ho had his the Iron and Steel Trade Confederation, doubts as to whether there was a Labour party. One section of the party talked about their friends in Germany and about peace by negotiation: All knew Come of their rafters, and groups of our the simple-minded Bolshevik in Russia. men sat close under their wells, hunched They said that men like he who talked up, with their heads drooping, and in about not having an open door for the ditches by the roadsides, or stood with Germans after the war were seeking to their backs to the wall of some old perpetuate an economic war. They did Flemish church, in that way which always not want to do anything of the kind, but tells one that the place is in shell range, what they did say was that after the and a likely target for the German guns, brutalities of the German towards our Little bodies of troops marched up peaceful fishermen and our inercantile towards the battle line, led forward by some young officer with grave eyes. They marine, after the dastardly nets with were streaked with dust, and earried regard to the Lusitanin and the Belgian heavy packs with their rifles slung. And Prince, after the brutal murder of Capt she would have on

about were inen of those battalions Fryatt, how could they be permitted to who have been fighting through all this come into Grent Britain with their goods hatile, dirts and tattered men with the after the war as they did before it He thin, gaunt look of soldiers who have was not willing as a steel worker, and been long under fire in the battle line, they were not willing as iron and steel ut still hard, with tightened lips and workers, to have furnaces idle while Ger- steel in their eyes. Some of them slept aian steel was being dumped into the while stretched out in the fields, fathoms country. (Cheers.) There must be one deep in sleep. Some of them droweed of that. When every furnaco was work they marched. In one of their heading, and we could not supply our own quarters where I went a staff officer slept needs, then we could buy from other filled with other officers discussing plans wondering also whether in their own in- on his chair, in a small farmhouse room people, but not until then, He was of the battle. In another headquarters near the battle-line, so near that a shell terests as a confederation the time had not come when they ought to take a came through the roof of the but when move to have a trade union party in

were taking they

ปี mcel, days and nights of battle that he bler oil and water, and they could not staff stead of that mongrel nondescript kind of officer WILB ·So tired after four thing they had to-day. They could not could not remember one day from an blend good, sound, honest trade Unionists other. Though when a message came over the wire to say the enemy was attacking with the friends of Germany, (Cheers) again, he became alert at once, and great wakefulness.came into his eyes as he went. out to give new orders.

Some English battalions, through all that first phase in the south, where they

I go into these Flemish cottages and fought scores of rearguard actions, with barne and our oamp buts from which the enemy on both flanks, not sleeping for these battles are being directed, and days and nights shared in these north where there is always a chance of intru ern battles and have fought, as Sision by high explosives, and I find these Douglas Haig has asked them to fight, officers of curs as chatty, smiling, and with their backs to the wall. Often in outposts and keeps, at bridge heads and calm as they have always been in the Yet it is courage and ronda, in bombed villages and towns, gravest horre they have fought back from house to house not light-heartedness that keeps them like this, And they stare very frankly at the from street to street, in Laventie and truth of things and see it nakedly. The Merville and Estaires, in Steenwerck and

Bethune. Their losses have not been ligat In this heroic fighting. England and Scotland must steel their hearts to this enemy still

cross

that basis a population of roughly 70,000,000 at the outbreak of War. The population of France and Great Britain together in 1914 may be fixed at 83,000,000, but it mus; he remembered that in addition to this apparent superiority France has had the help of hundreds of thousands of Great Britain has also colonial troops. made use of the Indian Army at one stage of the operations, and has had the assist- ance of something like 1,000,000 troops from overseas.

After nearly four years of war, how ever in spite of our larger collective population and the magnificent help of overseas forces of both France and Great

in this great offensive, Britain, Germany is able to deliver an overwhelming superiority of man-power

To my mind there is only one answer to this otherwise insoluble problem, and that is that the population of Germany bas been and is much larger than any on, including the experts, ever imagined. I should not be surprised if it were. found, when all the facts are known, that the population of Germany at the out- break of war was nearer 100,000,000 than 20,000,000. We know that Germany has been preparing for this struggle

ggle for forty years. She managed to manufacture and store in secret vast quantities material and equipment. We know now that she stocked the Inrder for a three years war. Is it surprising that, having made

preparation to hoodwink her the matter of man-power, the main essen tial to success, should have deliberately understated her population i

of War.

Nieppe and Merris, round. Bailleul and truth of things is without camouflage on when the everly attacked Merville in enemies in other essentinis, Germany, in

every road and in every field-the tragedy, cruelty, splendour, and hope of this challenge of fate that has come to

'our men.

· · '.

BLOWING UP A · BRIDGE. Near Lestrem some of the Durhams had trouble in blowing up a bridge owing to the enemy's fire, and the men of the trench-mortar section counter-attacked in order to gain time, while two companies of the Durhams stayed on the other side of the river for this purpose. When the bridge was blown up the survivors, on the other side swam across with machine gun ballets whipping the water about Chem, and rejoined their comrades great strength, it was necessary again to blow up bridges, and on one of them ten Germans went up in the explosion, after sacrifice of their song. The storms against them with freshmen, The worst tragedy, apart from the small party of them had crossed and always fresh men, in overwhelming num ordeal of our lighting men, is the plight died fighting with the Engineers in bers. Little groups are left out of gal of the people who lived in places now charge of this work. ⠀

Out of One bridge was left undestroyed, and lant companies, but these lands of brocaught in the flame of war. thers, Royal Fusiliers,

Bailleu and Morville and Estaires, out Worcesters

was seen by a brigade major. Worcestors, Sherwoods, Koylics," Royal of scores of hamlets and farmsteads map with cool courage and a slow way Boots, and Scottish Borderers, Liverpools whi

which all of us out here knew in happier of speech, and the first news of the and Yorkshires and Durham Light In. days, they are coming for back in farm enemy's entry into Merville reached his fantry have no surrender in their souls, carts and gigs and donkey carts, on headquarters by a telephone message from and if they yield it is to death

bicycles and aloat, with wheelbarrows and him I am told," he said st surround Ferambulators, on British gun-wagons, that the are and in British lorries They are enoring this house, I don't quite know mously brave, these old, old women and whether I can get out." Then he said: e. They are all round the house," and a They these young girls and children..

"They are coming in si aloft on big hay carts piled high with second later:

said the furniture, while their farm horses tumble You had better

Ben the long erala Paid

said the brigado " I will,” and strolled out of the women nod or sleep like babes on colour door while the enemy camic in at ed mattresses, and the girls call out back "Good Fuck ta drive their cattle before them, and yes. unbroken bridge, and be searched about our soldiers. They the front. It was then that he saw the terday I saw great herds of cows coming for dynamite in a store he happened to Small boys with young niothers tramp back from the country round Bailleal: study on with one hand clasping them mother's skirt, and the other gripping a bundle of clothes, young heroes of Franc With the courage of their race, to the last moment some of these people stay in their villages

under fire.

DREADFUL SCENES OF WAR:"

The dreadful scene of war close in upon us, and draws nearer to places not long ago outside its zone, engulfing dear towns and villages in which our soldiers

behind lines

people. Merville, with its Flemish gables and old inne, and houses, and dainty shops, is now shelled to a ruin, and its strects are littered with dead. Into stately old Bailleul, with its bell-shaped tower and its great market square and princes, of the sixteenth century, the chemy is flinging enormous shells, and yesterday, when I went that way to vil. lages around, all the storm of battle was centred there, and there was a dreadful sweep of fire bearing down on Merris close by, and down the road for miles came the people of Bailleul streaming away from that city in which their homes -were being smashed by high explosives,

solid old houses, built for the merchant

I have told how the day before jester day, in the sunlight of golden day of spring, with all nature singing over the acids. I saw the fires of war burning Picmian village. That night the scene Flemish

RECORDS OF VALOUR.

These men of ours have exceeded si their previous records of valour, though God knows they have filled three and more with ucts of courage. I should want a hundred columns of this to tell in full all they have done during these last days. 1 can only tell a few thing, though in them is the soul of our

paper

The question which every Englishman has to ask himself individually and eal- lectively is in what way have no con tributed to the extension of that man- He is power. In the year 1912 we took from

Germany £60,00,000 of her manufactured bought from us £40,000,000. Foods, They Can it be said that in that year we did nothing to help in the propagation of 1931. In the same year we took nearly the potential German soldier of the year. £12,000,000 of sugar from Germany. Wo How many thought it was a bargain. German families did we help to keep on the land by that purchase?

31

BOLO'S EXECUTION.

THE TRAITOR'E LAST MOMENTS.

was tenure quickly than he is o'clock, the governor of the of know, and put it in position. But he Bolo was shot at Vincennes on April When he was awakened at five attacked by Gorman bombers, and 171b. accvetomed to move, being a man of un announced to Bir that the hour of his flurried manner. There was fierce street execution had struck. Bolo sat up in bed fighting in Merville during the darkness, and grew slightly pale, then replied fairly and the Durhams and other men fell back calmly: It is good news which you fighting round the street comers yester bring me. Yes, so much the better it a

enemy attacked again from a relief, and I am very glad indeed." day the Merville, and they were shot down like Bolo then began to make an elaborate rabbits by herec ille fire, which even over toilet, putting on a smart suit, and wear- mastered their machine gun detachments.ing a bowler hat and white gloves. He Here yesterday the enemy was slaughter showed considerable self-control, for these ed, and all his attacks repulsed with bloody losses.

FURIOUS CONFLICTS.

Meanwhile during this fighting in the

who saw him say that he was in reality a whook He had aged 20 yours since his conviction, and hair, which was scarcely pepper and salt on the last day of his trial, had turned enow-white.

Captain Bouchardon asiat est revelatione, anything t to latest

Merville sector there were great battles

Το race and the great supreme sacrifice of further Morin, from Wystate Ridge down to Neuve Eglise and Merris, near

Division of the Scots, swept the enemy have already described how the Ninth back from the Messines some of their officers yesterday while lighting was still in progress, and they

WAVOS

ex-Pasha curtly replied: "No," and was then left alone with the prison Coremont man displayed the utmost chaplain, who administered the Last Bacrament and celebrated bass. The reverence during the Bervice. Afterwarde be lit a cigar, signed the prisoners' book

inked and flash-attack after attack by unceasing because they were still unrested from the to Vincennes, escorted by a firing squad.

He collapsed once on getting out of the car then pulled himself together, and co being led to the execution post he himself handed to the gendarmies a scarf of pale blue silk, which he had in readiness, and

of war became infernal up in Flanders. li was a clear, starlight night and for miles the horizon was lit by the fame human heart. When the contre wa Bailleul, which are still going on.

broken at Laventie by the colossal thrust tion dumps, and all this pale sky was berland Fusiliers, East Yorks, and Dur of burning farms and stores and ammuni- against the Portuguese, some Northum filled with the wild glare of fires and ham Light Infantry were sent up to hold by the flash of guns. German air-raidors the line of the Lys and defend Estaires. came out dropping bombe. The sound It was too late to form a strong defen- of their engines was

HOPE over-

sive line, but these men fought against say that the charge of the South Africans as Bolo Past, and then took his place head, and our abrapnel

was one of the finest things ever done, in the prison motor-car and was driven ed about them. Flights of our aeroplanes of storm troops. Durham Light Infantry went out over their positions, and the held the crossings of the Lys Canal up battle of the Somme. But they attacked with on horseback. night was noisy with their explosions as to Bailly on a front of 10,500 yards, until trendous spirit and flung the enemy they dropped tons of bombe over the the enemy struck into Bue St. Maur, back Unfortunately more masses came German troops. To the people living in There was a race for the river, and the against them afterwards, and, though wo the villages of Flanders from which one Durhams got there first, facing the enemy etill hold Wytschaete village, we now can see the whole sweep of the battle line, on the other side, and roking them with swing back frein Hessices and the south that night was fall of terror, and from rifle fire. A party of Durhams held a heshires who resisted the wewere which they tied behind bis head, "Don't

ern end of the ridge. They their windows they watched the burning salient over the river at Lestrom for e

of the of places from which they had escaped, long time, till it was pounded to mush German attacks at Neure Eglise, when me so tightly" were his last worda and the bonfires of their homes, and these by German trench mortars. The bank the enemy brought up several new divi refugees, with sleeping children at their of the Lys could only be weakly held, and sions against the men, who fought twelvo rifles rang out." and the breasts, wept. changed, and there was no sunlight in heads, but the enemy crossed between made a wonderful counter-attack, which entered his brain. The chaplain then Yesterday the weather there were terrible fights about bridge against fearful gads, and afterwards Bolo dropped to the ground It was the sky, but it was leaden grey, with a them

found afterwards that several bullets had north east wind howling, and over all the fields a deuse white fog. I went to was filled with shell-fire and the enemy

On the morning of April 10th Estaires drove the enemy out of that place, which approached the dead man, and from the was a great menace to all our positions, body took two embroidered handkerchiefs, places where, if there had been any clear rushed the swing bridge and swarmed Thirteen to fourteen divisions were put which Bolo had placed over his heart. It could have seen every shell burst into the western part of the town, but in by the enemy between Wytschaete and was seen that they had been pierced by and the whole range of battle, but now the Durhams and Northumberland Fusi Bailleul, and for some time it was the bullets

The chaplain had promised to It was allers charged down the streets and cleared supreme courage of the English county convey one of these handkerchiefs to drama of noise

nass,

I

of

and Sherwoods

officer commanding the firing squad

Tkly dropped his simultaneously.

could see newing against one's ears them of the enemy, making a no-man's regiments which kept back these hordes, Madame Bolo and another to his brother,

torrible

to stand there, blind

and against one's heart, and a strange, land for fifty yards beyond the bridge. fighting day after day. Sappers put up Monsignor Bolo The body was then were, listening to the infernal tumult of which they covered with their great nights in holding garis in the line placed in a coffin, wluch was conveyed

it hea

machine guns.

enemy breaking through higher up

machine-guns, trying to widen them for The family of Bolo asked that the body ings and sledge hammer strokes loud and close to Armentières, and they had to infantry to follow, as is his method should be handed to them for ultimate shocking above the incessant druus-fire of withdraw. the Field Artillery. German sheile care of the East Yorks to say: The energy and their comrades had their Banks ex What did Bolo reveal! The secret of

Several times the South Wales Borderers burial. A message reached a party howling ever into Belds and villages be is behind us. We are going to fall back posed by Neaf Berquin and elsewhere, the so-called revelations has been rigidly yond Bailleul, bursting with gruff und there was no evil snarl ro in the mist. It was the noire of the ed and overpowered. The Durhams und

and fought on until they were surround small parties, who fought to a finish. kept. He made certain important state greatcet battle in our history, and their comrades dug a line in front of made his way into Merris church below Indeed, his last day of

Yesterday the enemy in intense fighting made statements about Caillaux himself. listened to it with faith and hope that Merville and withdrew there ander heavy Bailleul, but was driven back with the included five hours violent interview

alleged revelations the enemy would be held back this day fire, firing their own rifles as they went

with by our heroic men out there in those back, step by step, with their faces to battling on this part of the front and

most severe losses. It was a day of Gerce Caillanx, in which both Bolo and Caillans wet fields,

reached a

of absolute

fury

Their

AID COMING UP.

But they refused to retire even then, and had to form defensive flanks with

Men were coming to their aid Our gung were coming up, more gunners and more guns for this Northern battle They did not waste any time, though they had travelled hard and were dog- They were getting into position weary.

the enemy. One machine gunner of ours southwards beyond Merville, but

anents about Madame Caillaur. – He also

at

kept his weapon in action until all his the whole front the enemy was checked voices though other were heard wore within seventy yards of him, Then man sustained his abominable assaults in comrades had got away and the Germans His lassos were tragic for him, and our de. the room and along the corridor, he broke his gun and escaped. These men strength with courage which made the of ours in this position had against them day desperate for the German troops and two and a half. German divisions, vain for their High Command Daily

Telegraph. (Continued at foot of next column.)

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[1930