1918-07-20 — Page 5

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THE HONGKONG – DAILY PRESS.

SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, 1918.

THE WAR.

BENCH COMMENCE CONSIDERABLE

ATTACK.

ELIEVED TO BE PROGRESSING WELL. MERICANS RECOVER GROUND SOUTH OF MARNE

GIMAN AIR RAID ON PRISONERS' CAMP. UOAT MENACE DECLINING DAILY

GERMANY'S WAR AIMS.

Brico-Belgian Front

LATEST CABLES. HROUGH ZEUSER'S AGENCY) ME BRITISH FRONT, GRE HOSTILE GAS SHELLING.

LONDON, July 17th.

10.20 p.m. Sir Doughne FinMarshal

Haig state-Wo secured prisoners in patrol encorers northward of Bethune and wested of Merville

The was great hostile gas-shelling on also front, the Villers-Bretonneux

Bosti artillery and trench-mortar

activ in the Albert sector,

ASTRALIANS' SUCCESSFUL

ENTERPRISE.

BATTLE CONTINUES WITH UNBROKEN DETERMINATION.

LONDON, July 18th.

-1,25 a.m."

FRENCH START ATTACK,

LONDON, July 18th

52.40 p.m

The enemy's attempt in the region of Prunay to reach Beaumont, which was repulsed with heavy loss, was doubtless intended to complete the isolation of It is authoritatively stated that the

Rheims.

French started: a considerable attack this morning between Chateau Thierry, and Sissons. It is believed they are progressing well.

The enemy, despite the most violent efforts, did not progress on the Marne front this morning.

The importance of the battle as a So far 27 Cornhin divisions have been whole lies in the proximity of Montagne- | identifed as having bren actually engag- de Rheinis to the scenes of the fighting in ed, while, including the reserve divisions, the Marne Valley. A serious advance probably about 50 enemy divisions are eastward in this direction will not only participating in the offensive Prince imperil Eporing, but Montagne itself, | Rupprecht's reserves have not been suffi- which is exposed to being turned from ciently drawn upon to exclude the the south,

possibility of an attack, in the north. -

The German estimate of 13,600 prisonera, is. exaggerated.

BATTLE DEGENERATES INTO LOCAL ACTIONS.

LONDON, July 18th.

4.35 p.m.

Reuters Correspondent at French Headquarters telegraphing at eight

A French communiqué states: The o'clock on Wednesday evening, stated ;-- battle is continued with unbroken deter-The situation is entirely favourable mination along the whole front west of The enemy cast of Rheims has not moved Rheims, but notwithstanding their since the collapse of his abortive thrust efforts, the enemy have not succeeded in

this morning in the direction of Beau- Our troops mont Fighting

continues between increasing their advance. heroic resistance and incessant counter-Rheimg and the Marne and south of the attacks have stopped the enemy thrust river, but the enemy has not seriously. alter all the Juctuations of the advance advanced anywhere. and retirement of the day.

Actions are progressing south of the Marne, on the wooded slopes northward of St. Agnan and Monthodon Chapel Very sharp fighting north of Camblizy mni Teamy line resulted in holding the LONDON, July 18th.

1.00 p.m..

unemy to the southern outskirts of Bou- The Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, requigny and Chataigniers woods. port The Australians, in a successful enemy has succeeded cast of Ocuilly in locgenterprise last night in the neigh regaining a footing in Mouvoisin. bousod of Villers-Bretonneux, advanced. *the ne south-eastward on upwards of a miléront and raptured two field-guns, a numr of prisoners and machine-guns, V slight improved our positions ensted of Hehuterne and successfully raid southward of Hebuterne.

Between the Marne and Rheims the battle continue north of Reuil in King's Wood, which the Germans have penetrated and which we pre defending foot by foot The Forest of Courton is the theatre of furious combats, but the onemy continues to be held. Westward of Anteuil the Giermans have not succeeded in reaching

A drove off raiders southward of Pourey ditch, which has been the objective Basutoy.

of several renewed powerful attacks. A

Tere was considerable hostile artillery | brilliant Italian counter-attack westward By northward of Bailleu

AERIAL OPERATIONS.

LONDON, July 18th

12.15 a.m. Thuder and rainstorms on July 16th. "Wineryd our nir work.

Wedropped 13 tops of bulls on Zeebrugge Mole, billets at Estairs and Merille, also aerodromes and dumps.

W brought down ten aeroplanes and drove down four We shot down Kix balling in flames Nine of our machines -are missing.

r night-fiers dropped 500 bombs on radway junerions - at Seelin and on. bills. All our machines returned.

A large enemy bumber descended be king

our lines. GERMAN OFFENSIVE HAS. MISCARRIED.

AMSTERDAM, July 18th.

of Antheuil drove back the enemy.

Enemy corpses lying in front of the lines in the valley of the Arbre de

Ombreux testify to their heavy losses.

The situation is unchanged in the Vrigny sector and south-west of Rheims -East of Rheins we broke the attack

between Beaumont-sur-Vesle and Sillery Our positions are intact on the whole Champagne front.

AIM OF THE OFFENSIVE.

LONDON, July 18th.

6.45 p.nl, The Daily Chronicle's Correspondent at French Headquarters, referring to the apparent aim of the offensive, namely, to seize Chalons, the wooded plateau called Montagne Rheins, Epernay and Mont mirail, says this would secure Rheims by envelopment.

The Correspondent says this

The battle is more and more degenerat- ing into a series of local actions, in which the French infantry has asserted its superiority in turning the German infiltration tactics against tho enemy

DOWNPOUR SLOWS UP

The situation is officially regarded as distinctly good.

FRENCH AND ITALIANS RECOVER POSITIONS.

The French have retaken Mouvoisin

and Chenelareinc.

The Italians have retaken Clairizet, south-westward of Rheims.

-

Aerial Activities,

LATEST CABLES": (THROUGH VEUTIK'S AGERUY.1 GERMAN WORKS BOMBED.

LONDON, July 18th,

The Air Ministry's official report states:-Aeroplanes on Tuesday night bombed the works at Hatcendingen and Burlach, with good results and appreci able damage

FRANCE'S NATIONAL FETE.

LONDON, July 10th. President Wilson, in a telegram to President Poincaré, says that July 14th,

like the American Fourth of July, had taken" a new signficance, not only for France, but for the world. The ocean seoim very narrow to-day and Franke is close a neighbour to our hearts. The war is being fought to save mankind."

M. Take Jonescu addressed a message to the members of the Roumanian Colony." They also bombed an aerodrome, with assembled in Paris on the ocension of good results.

All returned.

Our aeroplanes on Wednesday success- |fully attacked railway sidings at Thion

ville. All returned.

GERMANS RAID PRISONERS

CAMP.

PARIS, July 17th. The Germans raided the prisoners camp at Troyes and, as a result, 91 Ger- mans were killed and 74 injured.

Italian bront

LATEST CAHLÈN.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.].

The Germans progressed slightly north- BRITISH PENETRATE LINES. ward of St. Agnan

LONDON, July 17th.

7.30 p.m.

AMERICANS REGAIN SOUTH

BANK OF MARNE,

LONDON, July 18th,

2.10 u.m.

An American communique slates:-The Amerjeans in the Marne sector entirely regained possession of the south bank of the river.

The enemy

north-west of Chatenu Thierry again attempted to attack near Yaux.

EARLIER CABLES.

GERMAN REPORTS.

OPERATIONS.

LONDON, July 18th

4.35 p.m.

The attack was completely broken up Reuters Correspondent at American Hendquarters, telegraphing on Wednesby infantry and artillery fire before day afternoor, sinted:-A downpour of reaching our lines,

in slowed up operations. Fighting continues in the region where the counter- attack was begun yesterday. Many Ger mans between the railway and the south bank of the Murno apparently escaped to the north bank during the night.

ENEMY PRESSING RAID:

LONDON, July 18th.. Renter's Correspondent at French

was heavy

Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday afternoon, stated:--There fighting this morning from Comblizy to Vrigny, about 20 mile

The

south enemy is pressing hard in a easterly direction on the left, and menac ing Rheims from the west. The right is pushing eastward along the Marne Valley in the direction of Epernay.

South of the Marne the Germans are endeavouring to push on towards the south in order to enlarge their holding on the south bank, to obtain manœuvr- ing room for their divisions marching up the river, but the French are strongly posted on the heights overlooking the river which separates the German left and right wings, and so it is doubtful whether such an attempt will result in a serious gain.

LONDON, July 17th 1.45 a.m.

A German afternoon official report claim 18,000 prisoners..

LONDON, July 17th. 10.50 p.m.

Awireliks German official report

the French National Day, saying, I should have considered it a great honour" zu minku a speech on the occasion of the French fête, which heuceforth will be a universal National Festival:

The pre- sont conflict cannot end except by the

complete defeat of Germany. A triplo wall must be built around Germany

economic, separate her from free democratic man-- kind"

to

NEXT GENERAL ELECTION,

LONDON, July 18th The Timer states that a General Elec tion is probable in November..

The Nationalists will return to the House of Commons on Tuesday.

INTERVENTION IN SIBERIA

LONDON, July 18th

An Italian official report "states: The British penetrated the lines south-east- ward of Asiago, inflicting henvy losses and capturing 24 prisoners.

The enemy heavily stormed our ad. approve of tim Government decisions in

A message from Tokio, dated July 5th, stated that the Diplomatic Advisory Council should have met that day, to

vanced line southward of Col Tasso, conection with the American proposala hut were driven back,

EARLIER CABLES.

AUSTRIAN REPORT.

LONDON, July 10th.. 9.20 p.m.

A wireless Austrian official report states:We repulsed four powerful Italian assaults at Monte Pertica and Solarolo, with very heavy enemy losses,

General

LATEST CABLES. THROUGH ELUTER'S AGENOY.). AMERICANS DECORATED,

LONDON, July 17th. The Press Bureau announce that Gene ral Pershing has been appointed Grand

for joint American-Japanese interven tion, but it was postponed owing to the opposition of two members, who consider- ed that the situation was not ericient. enough to necessitate Japanese action.

BRITISH TRADE.

The

LONDON, July 17th. increnses In imports. Wero $15,598,107 and in exports £1,374,008 compared with June last year.

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.

NEW - PEASANT MÖVEMENT.

ZURICH, July 17 The Cracow Crna reports a new praw. sant movement in the Governments of Kieff and Podolin. They are well-armed,

states: Southward of Courtement we Cross of the Bath, and General March, including Artillery, and have occupied

advanced as far ng the Surmilin sector. Violent enemy counter-attacks south of the Marne broke down. We extended our successes north of the Marns. We advanced to the heights northward of Venteuil and fought our way through the Rodemat and Roi woods. We threw back: the enemy on Montagne de-Rheims and captured the fortified heights north-west. ward of Massiges. Our prisoners are nów 18,000 We shot down further 36 acroplanes.

Chief of the American General Staff, and General Tasker H. Bliss, Representative at Versailles, Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George.

EXCHANGE OF WAK

PRISONERS.

several towns. They have stopped all agricultural work and compelled this landowners to take hurried flight.

CHOLERA · RUSSIA:

COPENHAGEN, July 17th. Travellers from Petrograd state that there are 500 cases of cholera in Petro- grad daily, thousands at Saratov, and that the epidemic is extending to Fin land

CZECHO-SLOVAKS ADVANCE ON

BAIKAL

Losnos, July 18th. The Times Correspondent at Peking, on July 15tl stated that the Czecho Slovaks were advancing from, Irkutsk. along the railway south to take Baikal.

General Semenoff is again engaging the Bolsheviks,

AMSTERDAM, July 18th It is officially announced in Berlin that Germany's ratification of The Hagu prisoners agreement depends upon Gə satisfnetory settlement of the position of We broke in the enemy positions south. Germang in China. westward and eastward of Rheims.

ALLIES HOLDING AUSTRO- Yon Boehm crossed the Marne between

GERMAN FLEET.

LONDON, July Jaulgonne and east of Dormans, and stormed the slopes on the south bank,

The Haras Agency at Paris, on July penetrating the stubbornly defended 15th, stated--M. Leygues, French Minis- woods and driving back the enemy to

tor of Marine, stated that while the words Conde-Le Chapelle, Comblizy and British Squadrons were holding the Ger-

A wireless Russian official report Marquil. We also won a France-Italian man ficet prisoner in the North Sen, the

states: Germany requested Russia's position between the Ardre and the French Navy was, barring the Otranto consent to the despatch of a German Marne. The armies of von Mudra and Channel and keeping the Austrian fleet battalion to guard the Embassy at Mos ron Einem attacked from Prunay to prisoner in the Adriatis, also guarding cow and disclaimed any latentie to Tabure, but the enemy avoided our the Eastern Mediterranean, a task in occupy Moscow, attack, and we captured the first post which they are helped by the American The Correspondent says this strategy,ing in their communiqués that the attacktion. We pushed forward south of

and Japanese Naval Forces, the Marne the Germans attacked last" in the opinion of competent soldiers, is

here was merely a diversion. This is Nauroy Meronvillers across Cornillet night with fresh forces north of St. an extraordinary lapse on the part of murge, for evidenco gathered from and the Keilberg heights as far as the

vast

The principal Dutch papers are of stretch of the French centre, when sopinion that the German offensive has

occupied, would be a base for further .miscarried.

and final operation, the nature of which can only be gucsacd. Possibly it would hes either an attack westward against Paris or castward against. Verdun, Toul and Nancy.

THE FRENCH FRONT,

„THE STRUGGLE FOR MOLVOISIN.

LONDON, July 17th.

5.30 p.m.

A Freach communiqué says:—South of

CREDIT FOR FRENCH VICTORY.

It is important to remember that the. credit of the French victory must be assigned to General Gourand, east of Rheiras, because the Germans, who failed everywhere in this sector, are pretend

The French together with the Allied

RUSSIA DECLINES GERMAN

-PROPOSAL

LONDON, July 18th.

The Government replied that it was prepared to furnish a trustworthy and sufficient Russian guard. It could in no case permit the presence of a foreign

hoped Germany would not insist.

Agnan, Chapalle, and Mouthodon, and Ludendorff, and savouring of infatua- the battlefield leaves no doubt that the Roman road, north-west of Proses Squadrons, has held in check the sul military detachment at Moscow and

East of the river Suippe we progressed between Auterive and south-westward of. Tahure. The enemy maintained his the bank of the Marne and await a sup second position northward of Prosses, porting division before crossing. The Souain and Perthes.

gh Command intended to

succeeded in penetrating La Bourdonnerie.tion as a last stake. It is already docin-enemy intended to reach the Suippe on The battle continues bitterly on the ed, and there appears to be no immediate the first day. One division, whose Orders “wooded slope immediately south of these prospect of the carmy reaching Chalons,

we captured, was instructed to halt on points.

Epernay, or Montmirail, but if they did Farther cast, despite very lively so at a huge cost they would be no nearer attacks, we held the enemy on the south victory, however much they incon German High -ern edge of Bouquigny, and Nesles Woods.venienced the French communications occupy Chalons to-night.

The Germans also attempted a powerful and ravaged the countryside.

ENEMY'S effort in the direction of Mouvoisin, ITALIANS FRUSTRATE GERMANS. which they

they seized, but a counter-attack

LONDON, July 18th,

1.00. p.m. Between the Marne and Rheims violent Reuter's Correspondent at French fighting is proceeding in Courton Woods. Headquarters, telegraphing at midnight, An enemy attack in the region of save it was the brilliant Italian counter- Vrigny completely failed..

attack that prevented the Germans from Fast of Rheims local enemy attempts reaching the important point of Courey flank in the final march to Paris. The

drove them out.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE.

It is increasingly clear that the enemys strategic objective is the occupation of the whole of the right bank of the Marne from Chalons to Chateau Thierry, using the river as a shield for his uncovered

The French are delivering counterattack in the field was mainly because were resultless Notably in the region of attacks as frequent as, and more vigour. Prunay, the Germans, who were endea vouring to renew their assaults on Beau. ous than, the enemy attacks, especially General Gouraud was constantly posted mont, sustained a sanguinary defent. We south of the Marne, where there are in- regarding the enemy's intentions and his entirely maintained our positions every dications that stablisation is near st

sector was thoroughly prepared. ・where.

hand

Naval Activities,

LATEST CABLES? (THRODER KRUTER'S AGENOT-)

THE "KAWACHI" DISASTER

TOKIO, July 17th. The Karachi (battleship) sank in four minutes.

The cause is unknown.

maripe piracy which in 1917 Germany pretended to be a menace to the Entente, ut is now declining daily. Certain of the utmost importance for wators navigation are being so well kept now that the U-boats scarcely dare venture there. In three months more than 4,000 vessels have traversed these waters, and not one has been torpedoed.

BANKING

AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS.

FIELD MARSHAL RELIEVED OF

COMMAND.

AMSTERDAM, “July 17th.

A message from Vieang states that the Emperor Karl has despatched a letter tes Field Marshal Conrad Hoefdendorf granting his request to be relieved of hás Command appointing him Colonel of the Imperial Bodyguard, and creating him a hereditary Count

AMALGAMATION.

LONDON, July 18th. The Times states the Government has sanctioned the amalgamation whereby Lloyd's Back takes over the Capital aad Counties Bank and acquires the control

Dr. Seidler suddenly convened a meet-. of the National Bank of Scotland anding of the. Cabinet and party leaders on the London and River Plate Bank, The Saturday night to consider the meurcing

CABINET MEETING.

The captain and 400 of the crew were proposal to include the National Bank food situation and the naws from the

of India in this combine was not sans South-Western Front, saved.

tioned.

The whole complement was 1,100,

(Continued La Pogo al