Page
THE WAR.
THE BATTLES OF THE RIVERS. THE WEIGHT OF ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF THE FIGHTING.
ZEPPELIN BROUGHT DOWN.
IRISH FISHING FLEET SUBMARINED.
Branco-Belgian Front.
LATEST CABLES.
{THROUGH BEDIER'S AGENDY.]
BRITISH FRONT.
HOSTILE ARTILLERY FIRE ABOVE NORMAL.
LONDON, June stb.
1.15 p.m.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports:--We successfully raided on the night of June 5th southward of Beau mont-Hamel, capturing 30 prisoners,
In a successful French raid northward of Bailleul, a few prisoners were cap- *tured.
We repulsed raids south-eastward and eastward of Arras and in the neighbour kood of Givenchy-lez-La Bassee.
Hostile artillery firing wag
nbove normal between Villers-Bretonneux and
Albert
between Givenchy ***
and
Robecq
BRITISH DIVISIONS SHARE IN THE BATTLE.
LONDON, June 4th.
LATEST CABLES. FRENCH FRONT.
THE
HONGKONG - DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JUNE 11TH,
EARLIER CABLES.
"DETAILS OF EARLY FIGHTING.
THIS:
Aerial Activities.
EARLIER CABLES," (THROUGH BRUTER'S AGENCY.] VATICAN THANKS GREAT
BRITAIN,DE
EFFECTIVENESS OF ALLIED
AIR-RAIDS.
AMSTERDAM, June 3rd. The effectiveness of the Allied air raids in Germany is further illustrated by the attendance at a meeting of the Cologne. Town Council of the Chief of Staff of the German Air Forces, who explained why warning was not given until tạo late. He also made a statement in enmare regarding the damage done by the Allied air raids in West Germany.
Naval Activities.
ENEMY ADVANCE SLOWS DOWN
LONDON, June 3rd. The story of the fighting during tho LONDON, June 3rd.
2.45 p.m.
past two days is a story of heroic and in- French resistance creasing
to
the Reuter's Correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday, desperate Germon rush. The enemy
ROME, Jung Zad. gives the following details of the first shifted the direction of the attack from
The Vatican has thanked Great Britain day's fighting north of the Aisne, which south to west, apparently now not in- are important because of the light they tending to cross the Marne, and though for the willingness with which she accept throw on the swift British and French repeated French counter-attacks come ed the proposals not to hombard Cologne retreat in the early hours of May 27th. Itarer arresting the advance than at any during the Corpus Christi celebrations.
QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF has been hiready explained that the British time, sines the battle began, they have
COMMONS. held the front from Craonas to Berment arrested it. The immediate point of danger is the Noyon-Soissons-Chateau court, crossing the Aisne at Berry- Bac Thierry line, where the fiercest fighting
LONDON, June 3rd.”. In the House of Commons, replying to The left of our line, formed by the 50th
is proceeding. At the end of the week, Territorial Division, held the California the enemy advance had greatly slowed questions regarding the Government's Plateau, immediately above Crnonne
down, thanks chiefly to the tenacity with agreeing to "the request of the Vatican ** U-BOAT” On our left the line was carried on
which the defenders clung to the outskirts not to bombard Cologne on Corpas of Soissons, which are the key positions: Christi Das, Mr. Bonar Law stated that The German forces are closely packed the appeal of the Vatican wats received
The reply, in the tering already an If the French can hold here a little aounced, was sent after consultation and longer their reserves, whose weight is bein agreement with, the French Gover ginning to be felt, should turn the sealement. The staff of the Air Ministry, was
also consulted. The action of the Ger and bring the enemy to a standstill.
mans in skelling Paris, despite our undertaking, will not be forgotten in the event of any similar appeal being made in
EARLIER CABLES-
{THROUØJE REUTER'S AGENCY.]
ATTACKS TRISH FISHING FLEET.
LONDON, June 3rd. A 7-boat, on Thursday night, attacked
County Down and sank 18 boats.
by a French Division, which already held REINFORCEMENTS. STIFFEN THE a very extended front along the Chemin des-Dames. The probability of a German attack in this sector was fully recognised, round Boissons and are unable to debouche by the British and French Governments, an Irish fishing fleet off the coast of
LINE.
mans are unable to manœuvres and go
them.
but the enemy gave no sign of his inten tion until a bombardment, began on May 27th. Bad weather had hindered aeroplane observation, work along the The truth is, Aime since March. it wan not necessary for the Ger-
noticeable prepara
mans
to make
until
From the place.
Some English experts are of- opinion the enemy is conducting the Marne offen sive on such a scale that it is doubtful
Others
whether he will be able to manage an
think that a further German advance other offensive simultaneously. would be very risky with the powerful armich in Champagne and French
Others, again
future.
Mr. F. Hall--Did the Germans under- take that sircraft used in protecting the back areas would not be used for bombing hospitals and trompson Corpu, Christi Day?
Mr. Bonar Law replied The Air Minister was of opinion that Germaki aircraft would not be so used if only because the notice was too short for an expedition to be made.
LONDON, June 3rd.
9.45 p.m. at Reuter's Correspondent French mid- Headquartere, telegraphing at night on the 2nd inst, states:The past week, has brought many unwelcome sur prises and hours of acute anxiety, for which no blame can be attached to the tions. They knew this front was lightly troops. If the Front now shows a ten held, and they estimated, accurately the ensure the indispensable initial success. dency to stabilise it is because the arrival number of troops they would require to of reinforcements has stiffened the line to Then they poured in streams of fresh point at which it is physically possible divisions to pursue their advantage, but hold. Up to Sunday we could only hold von Hutier's method of attack makes it Argonne in the rear e enemy from hour to hour. The Gerrous for the troops required to consider that General Ludendorff, having exploit & victory to appen on the battered his fank, may continue attempts round obstacles, and their numerical ad. the attack anesceded of an opening if in the direction ofay couti
On the front such as the Germans halt, The View held in Paris is one of patience and confidence. It is pointed vantage vanishes from day to day. We have it was constructed to shelter & far larger suit that the sudden check of the enemy now arrived at the stage at which the number of troops than actually occupied advance is most remarkable, coming on it It was not difficult for the endoy the fifth day compared with the ninth
Heplying to further questions, Mr. formation of a continuous line forces the to put in the number of divisions neces day of the offensive in March, but the Germans to attempt mass attacks against sary for the attack without fresh digging oputon is held that the Crown Prince Bouar Law said that the decision was close to the front, which would inevitably may be calling a halt in order to await taken by the War Cabinet after a full strongly-field positions instead of turning have revealed his purpos To under the arrival of delayed reserves, and with consideration of all the relevant facts.
stand what followed, it must be remember: 40 Divisions of enemy reserves still
Up
Mr. H. W. C. Garr-Gomm-Was the La Ferte. Milon, the birthplace of ed that the French front under Chemin engaged it behoves Generalissimo Foch attention of the Vatican drawn to the des-Dames in the Ailette valley, as well as | to employ his reserves very cautiously, Whitsun air-raid on London on Good Anoine, was bombarded, and the shells the crest itself, was in full view of the otherwise while at grips with the enemy Friday and the bombardment of Paris 1 are beginning to fall on Villers-Cotterets. German artillery observers on the oppo-he ma find himself hold up at another
Mr. Bonar Law No. Obviously the
have been Our aviators regained the ascendant site line of heights. The position of the point
general view in Paris is inclined Government would ha hit on in-fuld French trenches was well known to the
The The following night Germans. The Freneb front was attack to be optimistic. A semi-official com-in refusing altogether to consider the they dropped 63 tons of explosives on in gran faratey suffered heavily stabilisation is not yet achieved, at least the German mentality that such a request
density than ours:
mentator declares that if complete appeal: It secured a peculiar example of The ency German communications and troops. On from our machine gun re in crossing the strategical balance is turning in should be submitted by the Germans Ger- May 30th an enemy column three miles the valley, but it was in too great favour of the Allies,
after what had occurred, but although it thereby, and man attack the 8th. 21st and 50th of our long was attacked by 50 aeroplanes, which, strength to bo heti allt stride. The GERMAN VICTORY ONLY ATTAIN.
of the crest practically in a divisions were in line with the 28th indying low, machine gunned, bombed and seen to have crossed the crest by the mar rekerve. The troops were holding the dispersed the troops over the neighbour row neck, uniting the California nini
Vauclere. Plateaux Anyway, the first It is noteworthy that the extent of the intimation of their presence that the Bei German advance is less than the battle tish Division had was the sudden appear of two months ago, but the capture of ance of » German column in their rear guns is only one half of the captures in making its way down the steep slope to the previous battle, while the total prisoners claimed by the Germans is Craonne.
was ineritable The roughly about the same. Thus, despite British and French line fell back to the the enemy's great advantages in numbers river bank, lighting all the way in and strategic position, the surpriss of order to save the unity of the line. The the second stroke is rouch less damaging 50th and 8th divisions were to the Allied strength, which it is the swamped by the weight of the German enemy's chief object to break Hence, the mambore and lost heavily.
warning that is now being given to the on the neighbouring French: Divi-tainable by slow stages,
the right south of the river the pist | German public that victory is only at sion held firm. The British 25th division, GERMAN COLONEL'S ADMISSION, which was in reserve, sent up supports early in the day, so that all the British troops on the Anne front participated in the battle.
2.20 a.m.
Reuter's" "Correspondent at British Headquarters telegraphing yesterday, in furnishing some particulars of the sbare of the British Divisions, iu the
Battle, states that on the eve of the during June 1st.
line potty thinly as the divisions basi|ing fields. participated, in almost incessant hard fighting for two previous months. It was nat till the evening of May 26th that the enemy attack was foreseen; then it
Sixteen German planes were brought down on the battlefield, besides a large sumber of balloons, five of which were destroyed in the Rheims sector in one day This evening's reports are more hopeful was well understood that the attack was coming on the morrow. Thereupon the than any since the beginning of the troops were ordered to pinnet to, and the battle. For the first time since May 27th the enemy has not gained ground during gunners to be on the alert. The enemy the day. On the front facing the west, in bombardment opened at one o'clock in
the direction of Paris, where attack and the morning.
counter-attack followed in quick succes The infantry attack was launched at
sion, the gains of the Germans were at early dawn. It is understood that 20.
least counter-balanced by those of the divisions participated and that 100 tanks French. In the centre the enemy extend- were employed against the British aloned his front on the north bank of the thir infantry and trench-mortar teams
Maine, which is still bounded by rermined at their posts, firing rapidly Chateau Thierry, which was evneanted
some days ago, and Verneuil.
until the German waves were close up, then they retired systematically after Between Vorneuil, north of the Marne, destroying all the heavy trench-mortars and this the line runs practically which it way impossible to remove. The straight north-east. There are no changes 50th division, on which the main weight of importance in this direction, except of the attack fell, included a proportion round Rheims, where the Germans have of new drafts, who fought against overdrawn the line closer. To-day, as yester whelming odds with superb gallantry. The Grid-gunners served their nicces day, the fighting was the hardest on the until the enemy hordes were upon them. Western Front. The German advance is Then, if unable to remove the guns, they either blew them up or removed the along the eastern border of Villers- breech-blocks and fought their assail- Cotterets Forest and southward between ants with revolvers,
the valleys of the Oureq and the Marne.
The thick forest, which favours the Ger aan Lactics of infiltration, is traversed Past to west by two well-defined valleys
EXCELLENT GUNNERY.
LONDON, Jithe 2nd
10.40 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at British
states-There was heavy artillery firing Soissons to Fiames. Entering the forest by both sides in the northern arsas
Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, along which runs the railways from
retreat
ABLE BY SLOW STAGES,”
AMSTERDAM, June 3rd. Writing in the North German Gazette, a German Lieut-Colonel, who has parti cipated in the battle, admits that the were very heavy losses, of some German attacking units
.of
was an impudent request it did not follow that it was an unwise British decision.
Only
the fact that the pirate was interrupted.
in the work and submerged prevented the destruction of the whole fleet of 40 boats.. The outrage has caused indignation in County Down.
The Balkans.
BARLIER CABLES. [THROUGH RECTER'S AGENCY.} GREEK VICTORY
MACEDONIA.
IN
ATHENS, June 3rd. The Greek, victory in Macedonia re- suited in the capture of the Dounele range of steep heights, which was a verit able fortress with deep tunnels defended by machine-guns.
In every direction the Bulgarians vere surprised, the Greeks being upon then as soon as the barrage lifted.
Generat.
LATEST CABLES.
(THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.] HIS MAJESTY'S CONFIDENCE
LONDON, June 4th. Replying to birthday congratula- tians from Sir Donglas nig, His
Mr. Herbert L. Samuel Were the Majesty said?" In these days my heart
to spare is more than ever with the troops Germans asked weiprocally
places behind the British and French know how splendidly they are now fight- lines?
Mr. Bonar Law-No. Had we made ing, Come what may the national spirit: such a request it would having implied will carry us through to a triumphant that we were making a bargain. We were not making a bargain, but doing what
we thought right.
Mr. A. Frederick Whyte-has the Vatican made any représentations to Germany regarding the bombardment of Paris on Good Friday?
end."
THE DOUBLE INCOME TAX.
LONDON, June 3rd.
In the House of Commons, in Com- Mr. Bonar Law replied-We are | mittee on the Finance Bill, Mr. Boner unaware that the Vatican has done 10 Law, replying to the amendments regard- but we drew the attention of the Vaticaning the double income tax, said the pre- to the bombardment of Paris on Corpus Christi Day.hand
sent position should not be maintained a single day after the war, but it could not be dealt with at present. He said that frequently the amount receivcil by juves- tors in Dominion stock was higher despite the double tax, than was obtain able from investments in the United Kingdom. He undertook that the matter should be discharged by the Dominion Prime Ministers at the approaching Conference.
Lord Robert Cecil, in the course of a speech at Hitchin, said the decision not to bomb Cologne on Corpus Christi Day was not a decision of the Foreign Olice, buy of the Cabinet as a whole. In THE SITUATION SUMMED UP view of the bombardment of Paris on the same day the Goverment will look very differently in future on requests of the same nature, GERMANS BOMB HOSPITALS
All the British Divisions, also the Dames, had been engaged and suffered French Divisions holding Chemin-des- heavily in the battles in Picardy and anders. As the retreat continued under attacks from the fresh stream of German divisions online became alarmingly ENEMY'S LOSSES TO MAY 18T thin, but reinforcements arrived in the ESTIMATED AT 600,000. Since then we have practically given ind evening and the line was reconstituted. ground, although constantly engaged the enemy, and the weight of the German attack has shifted to the other wing of the battle between Soissons and Division which began the battle on our Bame French The
right close to Bernericourt is still hold ing with us after a week of incessant fighting
with
Chateau Thierry.
LONG-RANGE ROMBARDMENT OF
PARIS.
PARIS, June 3rd.. The long-range bombardment of Paris has been resumed.
REFUGEES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD.
Paris, June 3rd. One hundred and twenty thousand te-
during the past twenty-four hours. Our at Longpont and Troesnes a small trifuges from the battlefield have passed united efforts of the Allies will make one
through Paris in four days.
ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS HEAVILY FELT.
PARIS June 2nd.
was
AND REST CAMPS.
EARLIER CABLES..
ARMY
Ariens, June 3rd.. The insurrection is spreading to Aidia, aouth cast of Smyrna.
An entire regiment at Konia refused to go to Palestine and seized the artillery and took refuge in the mountains. They annihilated the troops sent against them. NEVER LOST BRITAIN HAS
A WAR.
..
SHANGHAI, June 8th. At Peking on June 1st the following telegram, sumcising up the situation st
PARIS, June 3rd. Mr. Bonar Law, in the course of his the French front, compiled from the Inst
comments on the double income-tax, vaid the French Minister: The great offen- especially hospitals and rest camps. Five burden which would outlast many gen- German aeroplanes have been very summer of the French Ministry of
War, was handed to Reuter's Agency by active recently, bombing the rear, the war was going to leave a financial sive started by the Germans on March persons were killed and ten wounded by erations What had to be considered was 21st was imposed upon them by circun May 27th. Numerous aeroplanes reits own burden, and, having regard to a bomb at the camp at Villers Cotteret | how each part of the Empire would bear stances. They must by all means a decision before help from America turned in the evening. The first bomb the immense natural resources of the the weight of which has already made fell on a hospital canteen, when nurse Dominions, be thought they would be itself seriously felt-bas the Allies
given
buried in the ruins,
better able to bear their share than the A party of staff was bombarded hers
and Territorials be Mother Country: would be able to bear overhelming numerical and material superiority. The dcfection of Russia hus
longing to the camp.
the morning given Germany the means necessary for bercilessly till three in this supreme effort. The objective named The aircraft descended very low, and the at by the Allied command during the nurses took refuge in a corn het and present enemy offensive is to destroy the sheltered under the trees, round which INSURRECTION IN TURKISH power of the adversary and wear him out they moved continually as the aircraft While seeping intact all that with the circled above,
the Other aeroplanes arrived at daybreak, victory of to-morrow certain, rapid, and but French aeroplanes soon arrived and Runners have done much excellent coun-butary of the Duraq joins these two ter battery work, frequently hitting points. Along this stream a hotly-con-
ecisive
the first phase of the great offen- dispersed the railers, felling five of them. trains, supply colums, moving troops, and
sive from March 1st to May 1st tho
THE AIR-RAID ON PARIS dumps. Many explosions were note, tested battle raged all day. In another
Germans realised some gains of territory One of our big shella killed over 50 horses, round Longpont Corey Faverolles A Hards Cornspondent on the French at the cost of losses estimated on Mav
PARIS, June 2nd. Our heavies" scored several direct hits Trossnes the fighting was terribly bitter. Front telegraphing on the evening of let at about 600.000. Between Ypres and This morning's air-raid was the 37th on enemy big high velocity guns,
** Gotha” raid on Paris, Trorsnes and Corey were attacked again with 1st, all the fighting it proceeding Lens the reached a line cast of pres Enemy airmen on the night of May and again, and were held in spite of all with unequalled hitterness, but weight west of Bailleul, west of Merville, cast
The barrage was one of the most violent 31st again bombed a group of hospitals, the efforts of the enemy,
Our counter of our reinforcements is beginning to
they reached a line Albert Villiers It is reported that only one "Gotha" which were previously visiteil, and caused attacks enabled the line of villages front be heavily felt. The German advance be of Bothune Between Albert and Noyou yet put up.
tween Rheims and Chateau Thierry
Bretonneus Morenil,
of -eneaner, penetrated the defences. many casualties. The machines few lowing the forest to be maintained.
efforts
Four persons were seriously injured. one dropping a magnesium flare which Troesnts was retaken by counter-attack. held, while our resistance is beginning cast of Noyen. All
to be victorious between Soissons and the were smashed on this
A huge abandoned
Gotha was cap burned for a considerable time very bril-
A new German division was identified fame. The Germans are also being as May 1st, the ane, and as early initiative on
on tured near Frevent, Pas-de-Calais, on Handy.
to throw in new divisions, of which 15
Allies were identified on May 20th, not includ: these fronts passed to the & the Germans May 29th. Some of the crew were chi
Following
bow serious Great Britain must be taken ing reserves. Valiantly aided by British regrouped about 80 divisions behind the
She has never yet, lost a divisions we are now combating a formid front Roisons-Rheins of, and launch THE ATTACK ON ZEEBRIGGER She able assault over 45
is 30 could be
fresh,
every campaign. Statements such as that no longer doubtful that Germany agained on this front a new offensive on May
AMSTERDAM, Jane 3rd.
a second Skagerrak would shatter ceeks on this new battlefield the decision sist. The Allied front was bent but The Telegraaf's Frontier Correspondent tish naval domination merely suger Ger- nowhere broken. Our losses in men and states that the aerial attack on Zeeman naval men, many of whom have which has always escaped her.
material have beer far less than the brugge, cabled on May 31st, partially already found the British brave and strong ENEMY'S STOPPAGE PREDICTED. enemy. The great reserves at the dis destroyed the De Juegaer Works, which
still of our Generalissimo urg
strength will bo needed to beat them off in the event of another encounter.** -successful, and has given us some high ning at St. Leonard on the Aiste-Marne The Paris Deputy Daubigny, member intact, and the advance realised by the are engaged in repairing guns and sort opponents, and who know that our utmost
phase of the con
TAX ON LUXURIES. ground and two farms which have been Canal, three miles south-east of the city, of the Army Commission, has returned Germans in this second More than 10 ians were killed. An
passes through Betheny to north of from the front. He informed his colleagur text is definitely converted into strong machine gun posts rois Fontaines to the north-west, thence that Generalissimo Foch told him that German-divisions out of so at their dis
In the offensive on March 21st it requir
already been engaged on posal have
LONDON, June 3rd. Our casualties were sisted with con south-west between the suburb of St.
Although the enemy
In the House of Commons, the luxury siderable obstinacy, our raid east of Brice and the main town to 14 Houbette
night of June 1st was a None of these places, except St. Leonard situation. The present offensive began line now runs east of Novon, west of DESTROYER BRINGS DOWNYtax proposals were deleted from the pre- Tilloy
od from 8 to 10 days to re-establish the front. Between Noyon and Rheims the an the
therefore were at
Boissons, cast
of Villiers Cotterets, north most daring enterprise
sent Budget Mr. Bonar Law undertaking- penetrated
north west and the sixth
So you may draw your of Chateau Thierry,
to bring in a separato bill concerning more than a thousand yards and enuresis more than a mile from the city of Monday, and we t
north-east of Ebeims The Allies are
them cleared out 400 yards of German trenches
This is interpreted as meaning that expecting shortly a new enemy attack bombing all the dugouts and blowing up a beary trench-mortar which had been
Generalissimo Foch reckons that in a few between Noyon and Albert The high. troublesome. Prisoners estimate that an
days the enemy will be stopped and the Allied coemand views the coming opera
tions with full confidence. entire German company was wiped out.
EARLIER CABLES,
in this fighting, relieving a Guard divi sion which had suffered heavily in the opening days of the battle,
South of the Ouyed the fighting was A DARING ENTERPRISE.
almost equally obstinate. The village of Passy-en-Vallois and Hill 163 were taken LONDON, June 3rd. Peterans early in the morning, but
4.00 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at British were recaptured later in the day. On the Headquarters,” telegraphing
to-day whole the enemy has nothing to show for states-Our operation in the neighbour the day's work on the Western Front.
The German line round Rheims, begin.
hood of Vicux Berquin was completely.
Wo
Rheims, which is surrounded east, north and west by fully three quarters of an armed circle round the city beld by the Germans, but nothing worth preserv ing is left in Rheims but the Cathedral.
own
LONDON, June 2nd.
situation re-established.
West
this
tured lator.
ing ammunition,
number of soldiers and a few eivi
The Zeebrugge sluices are not yet pro- perly capable of being used.
ZEPPELIN.
Copenhagen, June 2nd. It is reported that west of Jutland, on June 1st, a British destroyer brought down a Zeppelin in the North Bes.
A AMSTERDAM, June 2nd. Writing in the Berlin Tageblatt on the anniversary of the battle of Jutland, the well-known naval critic, Captain Persing sags: It is opportuno again to realise
gal has triumphed at the end of
(Continued on Page 6.)
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