1918-08-26 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE

HONGKONG "DAILY. PRESS. „MONDAY, AUGUST 261u, · 1918

(veroton RaVAS ADENCY, Ì NOYON DOOMED.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES:

BRITISH WITHIN TWO MILES OF BAPAUME

ENEMY UNABLE TO PROT CT HER

AIR FRONTIER.

SENATOR LODGE ON PEACE.

Franco-Helgian kront

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.) BRITISH FRONT. BRITISH NEARING BAPAUME.

LONDON, August 24th.

9.30 p.m. The British are within two miles of Bapaume,

MANY VILLAGES CAPTURED.

Losos. August 24th.

12.05 m.

Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig ports: During the day we pressed our attacks vigorously and successfully on tore than a 30 miles front from Likons

to Mercatel

Heavy rifle-fire and machine-gunning. greeted the entry of our troops into Albert AL ten in the morning on Thursday. and by eleven, after street fighting, we had driven the enemy out of the town and captured 100 prisoners, including a batta: lion commander and his staff.

We captured a few guns and numerous machineguns, "The Germans had pre- viously evacuated the stores.

Today's advance by General Byng's Third Army has so far resulted in the capture. Boiry, Becquerelle. Boyelles, Hamilincourt, and Gomiecourt, webere 300 prisoners were taken. FIFTY-FIVX ENEMY DIVISIONS IN

"A FORTNIGHT.

General Byng's advance is progressing in southeasterly' direction from Gomie. court and is now fronting the Albert Bapaume Cambrai road.

SPLENDID WORK IN THE AIR

LONDON, August 24th. 2.50 n..

states :--An

A French communiqué expedition in great force attacked the important Marsiatour nerodrome. Bombs

PARIS, August 23rd. The Germans are in full retreat, an both sides of the Oise over a front of 30 kilometres.

The Boissons region is being gradually freed by the Allies, while their menace upon Noyon is being necentuated. In considerable material

Italian Front

THROUGH KEUTER'S 'AGENCY.} ITALIANS CAPTURE VILLAGES

Losboy, August 83rd. An Italian official report states:-Wo have captured the villages of Livalta and Sasso Stefani, in the Brenta Valley. General.

[THROUGH RAUTER'S AGENCY)

caused a fire among the hangars and hats Aided by the light flames the remaining seroplanes bombed very effectively the addition to other hangars, huts; and numerous ma abandered, of which 200 guns were cap The Australians and New Zealanders chines on the ground were seen on fired in two days by Marshal Foch, the SENATOR LODGE ON PEACE are participating in General Byng's Altogether tons of explosives were fic in human material to cover, by rear

enemy is still making tremendous seri-

operations, while the Chondials are in employed yesterday. General Rawlinson's Army,

General Mangin's Tenth French Army Hit patrols to-day is also progressing. crossed the Aisne at several places north of Soissors, hut the German line here strongly held.

GERMAN TRENCHES IN LORRAINE PENETRATED:

LONDON, August 24th.

11.50 p.m.

A French communique saites: In the

guard actions, the retirements forced upor hin, but yesterday again, the actions proved futile, and the Allies continaed) their progriss,

TERMS.

A DICTATED AND NOT NEGO- TIATED PEACE.

WHINGTON. August 24th. Senator ladge, speaking in the Senate, General, Mangin's troops made a rapid for the Foreign Relations Loumittes," in advance along their whole frout, widen-support of the ian-Power Bill, warsed

The Germans since August Sth hatre/region of Lassigny and between the Oiss reaching Ailette, to the north and west i poisonous German pence propaganda. He

launched 53 Divisions against the Allied and the Aisne the night was marked by

fairly lively artillery fighting.

hartleine..

11

GERMAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

LONDON, August 24th,

1:00 .

A German official statement says:--The) British attack north of the Anere, begun on August 21st, continued in full for

Although at some points north of the Soumn we are still eling our way through the enemy's deep outpost zone. we have nevertheless made useful gains of ground with hundreds of prisoners, and and extended north of Albert as far as inflicted, very heavy casualties. Our own the Albert-Some sector, bat ha's col losses are relatively light, 23 we were lapse. guided by the doctrine not to be ton ambi- tious when success was likely to be too cretly.

The English. Scottish, and Australian troops attacked to the south of the Somae at 4.15 this morning and captured Her. laville, Chignes, and Chuignolles, also For this reason we did not attempt to The wonds between these villages. and push through At Achict--Grand between Chuignolles aad the viver.

Wednesday. The enemy here were in During the advance of over two miles great strength and are still counter- he killed great numbers and captured attacking with fresh reserves.

many prisoners.

COMMECOURT STORMED.

on

Last night's attack by the Third Army troops went beyond the Arras-Albert

"Ten minutes later the English and Railway and gained portant positions,

Brottish Guards attacked on the left of the battlefront and' stormed Gommecourt, Ervillers, Hamelincourt, Boyelles and Boiry-Becquerelle. W raptured many! prisoners, and during the remainder of the day we progressed to the can. If these villages.

Meanwhile in the right and centre of the battle front the English and Welsh attacked enemy positions on the east bank of the Ancre from the south-east of Albert to the "neighbourhood of Grandeurt, gaining ground, after heavy fighting.

We beat off a counter-attack to the south

We have pushed south of Gommecourt,

her heavy fighting continues. The weather is mercifully cooler. The Germans are rushing up strong lacul "reserves to oppose the British approach to Bapaume. Strong opposition was encountered at Behucourt, where the enemy holds a big sugar factory and re doubt. Beyond Doinfecourt our patrols were been as far as fory.

As illustrating the spirit of initiative aliong our troops it may be stated that one Australian division yesterday seized, an opportunity and successfully advanced

We forestalled an enemy assault and attacked the enemy between Moyenneville and Miraumont and threw him back at some places a distance of two kilometres.

We repulsed attacks from Puisseux Beaumont Hariel and Albert.

Our detachments penetrated several points of the enemy's trenches in Lorraine and brought back prisoners.

The night was quiet on the rest of the

front.

HOW BEAUVRAIGNES WAS CAPTURED.

י,

LONDON, August Bith.

3.10 p.

ing their hold on the Oise bank and the Senate against the insidious and

of Coney.

declared that peace must be dictated to While these operations were in progress and aut negotiated with Germany, in General Humbert's men were clearing order to place her in a position where she the ground south and south-east

of never again can disturb the world's pence, assigny. and pushing toward Noyon, Senator Lage specifically detailed the and captured the bright of Le Plemons, peace terms which must be forced on Ger- one of the outer defeners of Noyon on the many, including the complete restoration west. This town cannot hold out much of Belgium, the unconditional return of longer in face of the successes reported Alsace-Lorraine. the Italian eredienta, yesterday.

the safety of Greece, the independence of Serbia, Roumania, Poland and the Slavs, and the freedom of Russia from German domination, including the return of the Russian territory wrested by the Brest- Litovsk treaty.

Coucy and Chauny are also closely menaced, and only an early retreat from these towns can save the Germans from

Reuter's correspondent at the French 20 increasingly perilous situation. Headquarters Kay':-

The accounts of the capture of Beau- vraignes by the troops of General Hum bert's army amid a terrife bombardment recall the descriptions at the Verdun fighting.

{THROUGH BAUTER'S AGENCY.). FRENCH CARRY LINE FORWARD PARIS. August 23rd. A communique states: During the night there were violent bombardments between Beauvraignes and the Oise, not ally at Le Plemont, Passel-Chiry and Curacamps.

*

The enemy crassed, the Albert-Bray

A French Division nicknamed La road. Our counterattack threw him Gauloise," of Verdun fame, was given back.

the honourable and dangerous task of taking the place. When the moment

We hold the southern banks of the Oise came for the final advance the men, and the Ailette from Sempigny as far as of fighting in pitiless hunt, leapt to the east of Selens, parched with thirst and tired with days the railway from Coucy-le-Chatena to the

We have withdrawn our troops behind the Ailette. Our troops on the west bank of the Ailette retired before strong attacks

between Maricamp and Pont St. Mard. BRITISH CAPTURE COMMECOURT

LONDON, August Bath.

General Rawlinson again attacked, t day wouth of the Somme on a frontal seven miles and penetrated two miles.

So far 1,500 prisoners have been taken. General Sir Julian Byng also again at tacked to-day towards Bapaume and cap tured Gommecourt

SAERIAL ACTIVITIES.

assault, telling their officers that they no

longer felt the weight of their packs, so ager were they to get at the Bocles.

MARSHAL FOCH'S STRATEGIC PLAN..

E

LONDON, August card. The ultimate aim of Marshal Foch's

and Paris,

We carried wur line forward to the one

skirts of Guny and Four St. Mare. Naval Activit es.

(THROUGH EXCTER'S AGENCY.] FUTILE GERMAN RECONNAIS- SANCE NEAR DUNKIRK

Furthermore, Constantinople must be nude a free port. Palestine must never be returned to Turkish rule, and, most in- portant of all, the great Star populations under Austria, namely, the Jugo-Slavs, and the Czecho Slovaks, must be estab lished as independent States These, with Poland, would stand across the pathway of Germany toward the East.

He added that nobody dreamt of anni- hilating the German people. We are not gaged in this war to try and arrange a Government for Germany. The Corinan people must do that themselves. HOLLAND AND THE ALLIES PROPOSAL TO RE-OPEN ECONOMİC

NEGOTIATIONS.

Losos. August 24th." The Warning. Post carrespondent at Amsterdam states that the Dutch Govern- ment has proposed the resumption af ecunomic negotiations with the Entente. THE TORPEDOING OF THE

KONINGIN REGENTES."

THE HAQUE August, 24th. strategic plan, which he is working out

Lospos, August 4th."

2.35 p.m. in the present series of battles, is a sub

The Foreign Secretary has issued tho The Admiralty states:-Germán moter-finding of the inquiry by the Dutch Ship ject of much speculation alike in London boats yesterday morning attempted a "re

ping Council as regards the sinking of the Koningin Regentes, cabled on June. Broadly, the opinion of connaissance in the neighbourhood of 6th. namely, that the ship was sunk by

They LONDON, August 3rd.

were driven of by.

torpedo, experts is divided between those who Dunkirk.

British and French patrolling vessels, 11.35 p.m.

believe that Marshal. Foch is striking a Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, renumber of hammer blows with the objectssisted by the land defences,

One motor-boat is believed to have been porting on aviation, states:-There was of weakening the enemy numerically and

destroyed. Beuter's correspondent at British Head- a busy and successful day on August 22nd. in his positions, and, as regards mera!,

-Thero wa 12: of the battle-front along the railway to quarters, telegraphing to-day, states:-Dur airmen constantly

the Allied jutud harassed the preparatory to, a decisive blow, at some absolutely vital spot, and those who

Aerial Activites, We dropped 25 tons of hombes during

think he is at present merely endeavour- the day. We attacked Gondecourt der German retreat, or

{ing ta' disorganise what is really a great an intention to Crume, with good effect: also many dumps, retreat on large sector and being con stations and bridges and Bruges docks tent to reap the rich fruits of this dis We destroyed 20 "aeroplanes and drove organisation in the shape of big haula of down four out of control. Three British prisoners and material, and to allow machines are missing.

of Grandeurt.

About even o'clock in the morning the English nitarked on the left and sentre,

the north of Grandcourt, and captured Achiet-le-Grand and Bihacourt and the ridge overlooking Irles...

We continued the attacks during the zvrn.com.

Beveral thousand prisoners have been ́ captured during the day, and beavy

casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

THREE DAYS' GAINS

"

LoxDos, August 24th.

1.15 p.m.

a third of a mile on its own responsibility. BRITISH CAPTURE BRAY.

We ngain attacked this morning.

Wä

captured Bray, which is an import-1 ant position, also Ovillers. We surrounded Thiepval The Australians yesterday made a fine advance in the old Somme desert, cap- turing 2000.prisoners from ten regiments. GERMANS LOSSES TERY HEAVY.

1.30 a..

LONIX, August 24th. Reuter's correspondent at the British Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re. Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday, poits:-We progressed in the Albert says:The heaviest fighting has been sector during the night, taking prisoners around Boiry and Becquerelle where the The attack was resumed early this mora. enemy counter-attacks, in dense forma

tions, were devastated by our, machine Runs and rifles, whole battalions being reduced to skeleton strength.'

jog.

the morning of August 1st in ince three days' fighting we captured 14.000 prisoners and a nimber of guns."

The enemy resistance on the Chuignes Ridge was similarly very costly.

We carried out a successful local-opera- tion last evening to the north-west" of

It is certain that in yesterday's and Neuf-Berquin, and repulsed, after sharp

to-day's fighting the Germans lost very fighting, local attacks at night-time to the heavily. Our casualties are relatively north of Bailleul, to the south of Locre, light.

and to the north of Kemmel.

Fighting took place to our advantage this morning to the north of La Bassce Canal, in the Givenchy sector.

THE ATTACK ON ALBERT.

Loszos, August 2rð.. 6.00 p.m. Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, telegraphing to day,

enemy.

Our night bombers dropped 19 tons of bombs on selected targets, including the railway junction at Valenciennes, Souain,

later results to guide him in the matter of more decisive action this year.

Some able French erities hold the latter withdrawal gradually going on to some view, which is based upon the theory of Doual and Cambrni All our machines new Hindenburg Line, which is prob returned.

ably of great depth Those who argue We brought down one enemy machine, that we are at present bombed within our lines.

FRENCH FRONT.

FRENCH CROSS THE DIVETTE,

i>

PARIS, August 24th.

damage or casualties to

(THROUGH RECTER'S AGENCY.] EIGHTY THREE GERMAN PLANES DESTROYED IN

A WEEK

Sixty-two enemy machines were de stroyed and 31 were driven down out of British machines missing. control during the week, against 23

Moreover, while the enemy's concen

The Dutch Government asks Germany to re-open a thorough inquiry as to whe ther it was a German submarine Seeing immunity of hospital ships. that Germany does not recognise the

Great Britain has assured Holland that no British torpedo was £fred in the vicinity.

GERMANY S

AFRICAN

EMPIRE"

LOND ROBERT CECIL'S REPLY TO DR. SOLF.

In the course of an interview with Heuter's Agency, Lord Robert Cecil,, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, referring to Dr. Bolf's observations re garding the German "Colonies"

at

LONDON, August 24th. The British airmen had another success-rabled on August 21st, said Dr. Solf was ful week in the heavy fighting, notably indignant between Albert and the Amiens-Hoye German rule was inhuman.

the

suggestion that road."

4I don't believe anyone knowing the facts will Accept Dr. Bolf's view. Government will shortly publish a Blné The British Book about German rule in the Colonies, some of the evidence of which is a fearful record of brutality. I cannot accept Dr. Solf's doctrine that the Germans wanted

peaceful African Empire. On the contrary, we know that one important German section advocat German African Empire to dominate Africa militarily

and to furnish a great store for military pur- poscs. Moreover, the possession of coastal ports would be a very great danger to the British Empire and of the greatest im- portance to Germany.

preliminaries to a "docessing thetration was achieved by inactivity in

other sectors, the British firmen did not stroke base abate their destructive raids on the

enemy's territory.

their belief upon the facts that the Allies, presumably, are employing very (considerable forces in the aggregate in the present battles, that they are exploiting their gains to the utmost, that they are A communiqué states:-Between the already, threatening vital enemy posi. Matz and the Oise there were violent tions, and that, moreover, it would be artillery actions.

folly not to push to the last degree this We crossed the Divette during the day year the immense advantage of their re- gained initiative, superior moral, and

15.

Haids on London have ceased for the time being under the pressure of events on the battle-front, while the British aerial offensive on Germany grows daily in deadlines and power.

It can hardly be disguised that Ger many is no longer able to protect ade. quately her immensely long air frontier The Balkans.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

ed

Dr. Solf's allegation that Mr. Balfour.

Our tanks and "whippets" againțin the Evricourt region; and made prothe enthusiasm for the offensive, especial. AUSTRIANS REPULSED NEAR ther Mr. Balfour nor Mr. Lloyd ci

wrought great havoc among the machine- gress between Ailette and the Aisne

gun nesta.

The Surrey, Essex, Welsh troops and Royal Fusiliers distinguished themselves in to-day's fighting.

The progress to-day has been authorita tively summed up as " another good day.” GENERAL RAWLINSON'S ARMY".

GAINS ALL OBJECTIVES.

We continued east of Bagneux and west of Crecy-Aumont.

among the Americans.

proposed the annexation of Germany's African Colonies by the British Empire is inaccurate. Such a proposal has never been. made by Mr. Balfour. Others have said that it is impossible for Germany to resume control of her colonies; beyond that,

George have gone. The Prime Minister said the PETOVIA.

future of the German colonies would be It is pointed out that other con-

decided at the Peace Conference, Clearly, LONDON, August 24th,' a great world issue cannot be settled by Quiet prevailed elsewhere.

siderations, apart from weighty poli

4.50 p.m.

this country alone. It has to be settled in An Italian official statement from tient reasons, are that the Germans Albania says:-The enemy renewed fin

concert with the Allies. owing to the favourable weather.

There was much aeroplaning yesterday have atill many divisions in Russia, strong attacks from the Lower Bemeni marka about common-sense, the horrors Dr. Solf's peroration comprises re ind it is possible they have still to the heights of Mali and Tomorice. He

of war, etc. These We carried out numerous reconnais more divisions booked for a surprise attacked near Petovia,

are general pra was repulsed and sanguinarily counter-positions with which everyone sances far into the enemy lines and our enterprise this year on some other front.

in this country is always agreed. Their photographers brought back thousands of Hence, it is not absolutely certain that a

force is entirely destroyed by the fact that until the tide of war appeared to change, LONDON, August 23rd.

we heard nothing about such doctrines. 8.30 p.m.

better chance will offer in 1919, for the

We all remember the staff said about the Information was available in London and set fire to nine balloons

Our chasers felled 14 enemy acroplanes German front; is now more or less Fairly

such diabolient trash, bat just after the glories of war, its educative effects and at "three o'clock this afternoon that it

liquid."

beginning of the German offensive, we well remember, there was an outbreak Opposition from the direction of Bray Fourth Army which gained all its objec was General Sir Henry Rawlinson's

LONDON, August 24th

throughout Germany of the old demand 2.30 p.m.

for world domination, This sudden strong but the enemy artillery retalia

An Eastern communique states:-There anxiety for peace, if singero, shows that tives. They captured the high ground

was more active artillery fighting, on the Dr. Bolf is either the subject of us sudden actively continued during the

Barbian Front

conversion, or that he is almost alone, howitzers from well back, as the bulk of Chuignes and Herleville.

Enemy activity in Albania has revived among the Germans. enemy. His desperate resistance at night, when 25 tons of bombs were Achiet-le-Grand, where the main defen-various points.

I am profoundly the German field-guns had been with Usna Hill, north-east of Albert, has been dropped on stations at Lace, Ham, etc, sive positions of Bapaume are located British neroplanes, in spite of bad wesby Germany of her defeat."

Their reconnaissances were repaised at convinced that peace is not obtainable There is an unconfirmed report that

without victory, and an acknowledgment captured.

causing fires.

shows that he realises this,

ther, bombed enemy depots in the Struma Valley

In the attack in the Albert sector some Tanks crossed the Anero in darkness and 'advanced under cover of the early morn ing mist.

exposures,*

Our bombers in the day-time dropped, 18 tons of bombe and fired thousands of

tion consisted mainly of firing from heavy south-west of Cappy and also capturidges on troops and convoys.

dravn

IN

As regards the latest developments of the battle, one of the most important is the British threat upon Bapaume, the fall of which will be a disaster for the

of Bavalica and in the region of Point He slightly, advanced north of the bend 1,150. The enemy's loans are heavy. ALBANIAN FIGHTING

REVIVING.:

ני

(antinued on Face 4.)