1916-12-22 — Page 1

EXCHANGE :

Closing Quotations:— T.7. London 2a, 43⁄44d. ̧

On Demand 2.4.13-16d,

The Hongkong Telegraph

WEATHER PORECAST

FAIR

30.03.

· (ESTABLISHED

Copyright 1918,

1881) by the Proprietor.

Desember 22, 1916,

7545 日八十月一十

Temperature Humidity

6 a.m. 62

+

TELEGRAMS.

[Renter's Service to The "Telegraph."}-

THE PEACE QUESTION.

PRESIDENT WILSON SOUNDS THE BELLIGERENTS,

UNITED STATES BEING DRAWN TOWARDS WAR.

December 21, 9,20 p.m. According to Renter's correspondent at Washington, President Wilson has os bled all the belligerents and neturals suggesting that the opportunity is propitious for a comparison of the views of the belligerents regarding terms which must precede the conclusion to ultimate pesos. He emphasises that he does not propose a PaLOS Note, or.evan mediation, but that he is merely taking soundings.

What the Note Contaiøs,

FRIDAY,

DECEMBER

22,

1916.

TELEGRAMS.

[Beater's Servios to The "Telegraph,”]

THE GREEK CRISIS.

What the Allies Demand.

December 21, 9.15 p.m. Reator learns that the Allies' new Note to Gisson in expected to be delivered to-day. The principal demands are the prohibition of reservist messings, the Allied control of post offions, ielographs, and railways, the reissue of the imprisoned Vanisəlists, and an enquiry into the disturbances of December 1 and 2 by a Mixed Commission.

IRISH PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED,

December 21, 11.25 p.m.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Dake announced that all the untried prisoners concerned in the Irish rebellion were about to be released.

GERMAN SUBMARINE SUÑK.

December 21, 2.50 p.m.

December 21, 10.10 p.m. President Wilson's Note has been immed in London. It ex- presses the hope that the Government will consider the action suggested in the most friendly spirit. He says he is somewhat embarrassed to offer the suggestion at present, becsuse it may seem Renter's correspondent at Paris says it is reported that torpedo prompted by the recent overtures by the Central Powers, but it is boats have sank the submarine U46, which sank several vessels off in ng wife associated with those overtures. He would have delayed S, Nazaire. the suggestion till the overtures were answered, except that they had the same object in visw.

The President expresses his willingness to take the initiative, but enya ha domu not desire to determine the method or instrumen- tality. He draws attention to the point that the objects which all the belligerent statesmen have declared to have in mind are vir- tually the same, and mys the United States in as vitally interested in the measures to be taken to secure future world peace as are the belligerents. He adds that the concrete objects for which the war is being waged have never been definitely stated.

Sir John Simon's Views:

December 21, 9.20 p.m.

COLLISION WITH ITALIAN-TROOPSHIP.

December 21, 2.50 p.m.

A telegram has been received at Marseilles that the French battleship Ernosteran has returned to Toulon, after colliding and sinking an Italian troopship.

Fifteen were drawned and 115 mared.

NEWS FROM MESOPOTAMIA, ·

December 21, 9.30 p.m.

In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon expressed desired river craft to the west of Kat el amara.

A Mesopotamia official messagonaya:-British seroplanes bomb. to voice the whole of the United Kingdom's acceptance of the Prime

There were strong reconnaissances to the west of Sumran, on the

Minister's speech of December 18. The German Note contained no bend of the Tigris." terms lending themselves to consideration, and the communication /was in nó wins a pesos proposal. The Prime Ministar had not

The enemy's positions at Sannaiyst, and Kui el amara wers slammed the door on pesos. The nation was agreed that it would heavily bombarded and a bridge on the Hai river was set on fire,

be an unpardonable crime to allow the war to continus one un- necessary hour, but it would be the deepest tresabery, by fighting -or otherwise, to falter in securing the essentially defensive and.

naggressive objects for which we entered the war.

America Belog Drawn Towards War.

ARMED MERCHANTMEN.

Beltalo's Attitude Explained.

December 21, 6.00 p.m.

December 21, 11.00 p.m.

In the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson, referring to the Beater's Washington correspondent states that Mr. Lansing reply by Germany regarding Captain Blaikie, declared that Britain hai issued a statement explaining President Wilson's Note. He did not admit any distinction between the rights of unarmed declares that the situation for neutrals is becoming increasingly merchantmen and those defensively armed, Doubtless Germany critical, the United States itself drawn near the verge of war. aimed at confusing offensive and defensive action, with the object of inducing neutrals to trant defensively-armed vessela as warships. Oar position was that merchantmon.enjoyed an immemorial right to defend themselves against attack, visit or search by an enemy, by any means. He believed all neutrals socepted this view, which, moreover, was embodied in the German Prise Regulations. He seared the House of the Government's continuous attention to the question of protectively arming merchantmen..

Sensational Share Stump to New York.

December 21, 6.40 p.m. Renter's correspondent at New York reporta s sensational slump, bordering on demoralisation, in war shares. They have fallen from two to eleven points. A feature was the offering of 50,000 United Staten Stool abaree at 1041, against yesterday's price of 108. A single block of such volums had never previously been recorded in the history of the Stock Exchange.

POLITICAL UNREST IN ‘AUSTRIA.

Another Change of Premiership.

December 21, 1.35 p..

The difficulties of the political situation in Austria are illustrated

by the sudden and anexplained change of Promiership.

#:

Herr Martinio becomes Premier instead of Herr Spitzmuller,

who takes the position of Minister of Finance.

The Cabinet is otherwise little altered.

A NEW PEER.

December 21, 6.15 pm.

Mr. Lewis Harcourt has been raised to the Peerage. (The new Peer was formerly first Commissioner of works and Ester Secretary of State for the Colonies. He was responsible for the arrangements of the Imperial Conference in 1911, and was for many yeara private accretary to his father, the late Sir Willam Harcourt.]

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Much Aerial Activity,

Demoeber 21, 4.40 p.m.

A French communique ways :-There is a comparativo calm on the whole front.

Four enemy aeroplanes were brought down on the Somme, including Sab.-Läsut. Nungesser's twenty first..

▲ French pilot collided with an enemy machine which It was parsning, and both machines foll,

Our seroplanes heavily bombed several railway stations, also hatments, bivousos, and convoys on the miroh.

THE BALKAN STRUGGLE.

Snow and Rain to Macedonia,

December 21, 4.40 p.m.

-A Paris communiquə mys;—Bnow and rain have fallen on the Macedonia front, where there is only artillery sotivity, ·

NO CHRISTMAS NEWSPAPERS.

December 21, 12.55 p.m. No newspapers will be published at Home on Christmas Day, sad no evening papers on Boxing Day.

[in the event of telograms arriving too late for Insertion on this page they will be found on an Extra].

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Vigorous Bombardment.

December 21, 12.05 mm.

A Paris communique staten :-South of the Some there has been an enemy bombardment, particularly in the sectors of We Belloy-en-Banterre, Bermy, Proscire and Ablaincourt, vigorously replied.

There has boon intermittent artillery activity elsewhere.

British Inflict Damage,

December 21, 12.45 a.. General Sir Douglas Haig reporte-We raided lines in the vicinity of Gouancourt, inflicting considerable dam- age; also northward of Arran, whore we took a number of prisoners.

The leader of a German patrol nogihward of Neuvo Chapelle was killed and his men captured..

A GERMAN LIE.

Desember 21, L10 a.m. A wireless report of an interview with Herr Zimmer mann, the German Foreign Minister, quotes him as saying that the German steamer Kolga was sunk and seven periahod English submarinse alsored around without attempting to rosene the crew.

The British Admiralty declarós that the tendition of the Nary is mufficient refutation of the statement · Farther- * mom, the British submarines have sunk no Gorman ship namod Kolga.

of

Desember 22, 1915,

Temperature 6 aan. Humidity

58. 2 p.m. 64 36 H

£#1 #=+=+= SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS.

TELEGRAMS.

--(Bouter's Service-10 The “ Talegraph."]

EXCHANGING PRISONERS.

Dormbar 31, 125 2.0

In the House of Commons, Mr. Hope, on behalf of the Foreign Office, replying to Mr. Hunt mid that the Captaik of the Blucher and an officer belonging to the Zeppelin L15 had been removed from Donnington Hall to Switzerland in exchange for British unfit prisoners, from Germany,

The responsibility for the selection of the prisoners to be exchanged rested with the Anglo-Swiss and Teuto-Swiss Medical Commissions.

War

THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

December 21, 1.25 a.m. Beater's correspondent at Corunna states that a submarine escorted a Danish steamer, flying the Garinan ing, to Finisterre, carrying 49 of the crews of other ships,

The captain of the British ship Blair Hall was taken prisoner.

The submarine subsequently pursued two other steamers, and gun firing was heand

"

FRENCH BILL REJECTED.

December 21, 1.25 1.m. Reuter's Paris correspondent says the Council of National Economies has rejectad, by 24 votes to 12, the Bill introduced, by the Government seeking to authorise the Government to take, by decree, measures necessary for national defence, especially regarding agriculture, industrial output, recruiting labour, and the sale and distribution of commodities, as depriving Parliament of constitutional power.

RUMANIAN CRISIS PAST.

December 21, 2.35 m.mi. Bouter's correspondent at Jassy ways the ministerial crisis has ended, the Cabinet withdrawing its resignation. M. Bratians has returned to army headquarters.

DISTRIBUTING RUMANIAN FOOD.

December 21, 2,35 a,m.

According to Reuter's correspondent at Amsterdam, the German Food Controller, Dr. Batocki, is visiting Viruna and Budapest to negotiate for the distribution of Eumenien food and booty.

Interviewed, he said it was big enough to please the most pessimistic.

A GERMAN CLAIM,

December 21, 355 a.m. A German official mosmage claims that the Germans tor- pedood the French battleship Suffren, mentioned on 5th inst as having disappeared, fifty miles north-west of Lisbon on 20th November,

RUMANIA'S RESUMED RESISTANCE.

December 21, 2.55 a.ta. " A German communique states that the enemy in the most northerly part of the Dobrudja, who were hitherto re- tiring, have resumed their resistance. Strong hostile attacks in the Cerna Loop were repulsed.

BRITISH AIR SERVICE,

December 21, 4.50 sm.

It is understood that one of the last acts of the late Gov- ernment was to transform the Air Board into an Air Ministry, ranking with the Boards of Trade, Agriculture and Educa- tion, to consist of a President appointed by His Majesty and members appointed by Order-in-Council.

The final report of the committee of investigation into the Royal Flying Corps generally vindicates the conduct of the administration of the Corps and pays a tribute to the recent wonderful improvement in efficiency, which is due to the unremitting labour of the Directorate of Mili- tary Aeronautics, and is not a spasmodic effort resulting from agitation.

The report refers to the criticism of a certain machine na ill-founded, pointing out that it was employed in the destruction of three Zeppelins in England.

It says further that the Admiralty's purchase of Ameri- can machines at the outbreak of the war was a discouraging experience and was wisely not repealed.

The committee's chief recommendation is a separate equipment from the executive command.

MEN'S CLUB.

Another Enjoyable Social Evening.

men on

$36 PER ANNUM,...

· THE MONEY MARKET.

[Messrs Moatagu and Company's Report.

Moown, Samuel Montagu and

Co., in their report dated Norsm»

Cheld.

ル

The bolding of gold by the Bank of England against ita note issues shows an increase of £248,- 695 sa compared with lart wüsk’a

return.

Silver.

The tendency of prices has been upward from the dead leral of 32 |1/81 which was maintained for four days in envosssion, namely, from the 24th, to the 27th, ultimo Inclusive.

The four days however audiced to demonateade that the price knd, risebad too low s figure to tempt sellers, and a recovery exausd.

On the 28th slámo 32 1/43 was rɛcorded and on 31st, 32. 1/2d. The price remained at this figure until to-day when offerings being somewhat, frose a rosation of 1/18 took place.

WIS

The upward movement encouraged by buying on account of the Indian Bassars, and ming by some enquiry by China. The importance of this latter, as az indiestion of market tendency; does not depend so much upon ita nisa sa upon the fact of its occurrence, and the possibility of its_recurrence on a more mb- stantial scale.

The stock in London on the 27th. ultimo consisted of about 7- 3/4 million standard ounoseman | increase 'aïsos last month of shout |3/4 million standard ounces.

The stock in Shanghai on 28th - October consisted of about 23,000,000 ounces in «yose and. 16,000,000 dolises, as compared with about 24,000,000 ounces ia #yose and 18,500,000 dollars on October 14th, 1916.

The look in Bɔmbay oɑnzists of 4,000 bars, the mma sa lant week,

Daring the week a ahipment of 200,000 canoes was made from San Franciseo to Calcutta,

Statistics for the month of October are appended :---

Highest price for cash, 32.7/84. Lowest prime for ouch, 52.1/8. Arengu prion for cash, 32,360, Quotations for bar silver per Ounce standard :-October 27, |32.1/8. ossh; October 28, 82.1/4. cash; October 30, 32,1/4 oxab; October 31, 32.1/2. cash; Novem ber 1, 32.1/2. cash; November 2, 32.7/16, caab.

Aretage for the week 32.343d. No quotation fixed for forward delivery,

1

Bank rate, & per osat,«

Bar Gold p.o.atd. 77/9,

The quotation to-day for omah delivery in 5/183, above that fixed a week ago.

DONT FORGET.

Wharlage Rates at Seattle. An lavestigating committes of the Seattle Chamber of Commerca. has recommended that the Port Lient. Exham, who well deserved Commission increase its wharf. his ancoran; whilst the program age rate to 40 cents per ton, me was completed by an amusing which figure is double the present quarletts in which Opl. Arms. rate. It is pointed out that the St. George's Hall, Seamen'strong, Pies, Simpson, Braddick rate enforced by the private wharves for some time past kas Institute, was again well filled and Copeland provided some been 50 cents per ton. with an enthusiastic audience clever scling, singing and dan- The oing.Once again thanks are due 185 BOMB occasion of the eighth of the to the Robinson Piano Co. for the suries of winter social even of a gramophone and records, ings, held on Wednesday night. Pte. Meredith for his able accom In spite of the difficulty cf pro Morris, Pte, Roberts, Pe. Thomas paniments at the piano, Opl,) viding new turns, there was notas! dali moment from start to finish,Pts. Collis, Los. Opl, Jones, Lee. and much credit is dus to Cpl. Wycherley, Pie. Joyos and worked other men who helped in different the performera, who untiringly in their efforts to ways to make the evening amuse. The honours were divided 1000a. between Cpla. Brittle and Arm- At the social next Wednesday, strong, Loe. Opl. Freemer, Pies. the programmns, which will begin Simpson, Braddick and Copeland: at 8.15 p.m., will be entirely nr. | Loading-Seamsn Parrot gave two ranged by the "Gjón. Party ""

pleasing songs and recitations, from ÉL.M.8.-,"ipolading,} and an excellent exhibition of box: amongst other attractive turns, an |ing was provided by Pies, Corbet exhibition by * Han-Icul and Cotton. A mach-appreciated] Wizard;” All-Berrios men had i fouture was, two songs by 243|their families are invitada ko

TO-DAY.

Victoria Theatre--9,15 p.m. Bijon Theatre-9.15 p.. New Hongkong Cinematograph -9.15 p.m.

TO-MORROW. K.0.0, “at Home,” Vistoria Theatre--9.15 p.m. Bijon Thestra-9,10 p.m. New Hongkong · Cinau graph.-9.15 pom.

“Kismet."-Fasl Performanos at the Thesize:Royal ; 9 p.m.