1917-04-18 — Page 1

EXCHANGE:

Closlog Quotations — T.T, London 28, 4348..

On Demand 28. 4. 5-16d;

The Hongkong Telegraph

WEATHER FORECAST

FAIR.

Barometer 29.80.

(ESTABLISHED Copyright – 1917, by

1881)

Proprietor.

April 18, 1917.

Temperature 61.00 67 2 p.. Humidity

70

97

91

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1917.

7639"日七十月二潤

TELEGRAMS.

[Renter'e Service to The “ Telegraph."]

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

100,000 Germans Out of Action,

London, April 17 A gemi-official message issued in Paris states-The Germans have magad at least twenty Divisions and all their available

batteries on the Soissons Reims front.

Our advance has reached depth of between three and four kilometres at certain points.

Altogether, the Allies have rendered hors de combat 100,000 Germans during the past eight days,

Another British Capture."

London, April 17. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: In the neighbour hood of Epaby, we captured Tomboie wood, on the Lempire Fandhuile road, and progressed along the spur to the north-east of Epeby station. We took a few prisonera. The weather is stormy.

French Organise New Position.

London, April 17. A French communiqus "states:-We organised the position

mos between Soissons and Rheima,

A strong German counter-attack on our new line in the region of Ailles was broken ty oar curtain of fire and machine-gan ice, which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Other enemy counter attacks in the sector of Courey also failed.

The weather continues very bad. There is a fall in the artillery Bring in the sectora wat of Auberive and in Champagne-

Nine enemy aeroplanes were brought down, including Captain

·Guynemer's thirty-sixth.

German

Explanations."*

London, April 17.

TELEGRAMS.

[Reuter's Service to The "Telegraph."]

HOW GERMANY TREATS HER DEAD..

A Limited Company's Gruesome Activities.

London, April 17.

details of the revolting treatment to which the Garmans sabot A sensation has been created by the publication of soms of the their dead soldiers in converting their bodies into pigs' food and

PASUNTO.

The Lokalantiger's correspondent on the Western Front, in in here, as if lime were being barned. We are pusing the great describing the town of Evergnicourt, says: "There is a dull smell Corps Exploitation Establishment of this Army Group.”

The newspaper La Belgique, of Leyden, however, contains a full version of the ghoulish process. It says:-"German ediende is reap asible for the idea of the formation of, the German Ofal with a capital of a quarter of a million, the first factory of which Utilisation Company, Limited, which is a dividend-earning Company has been constructed at St. Vith for dealing specially with the dead from the Western Froat. If the results are a god as the Ompany hopes, a second factory will be established to deal with corpses from the Eastern Front.

"The factory is invisible from the railway. It is placed deep in forest country with a specially thick growth of trace around, Live wires surround it. In the north-west corner, the discharge of trains takes place. The trains arrive fall of bare bodies, which are unloaded sile and masks with mis eye-pieces. Equipped with long booked by the workers who live at the works and who wes: oilskins, over poles, they push the bandles of bodies to an endless phain, on which there are hooks at intervale of two feet, these picking up the bodies, which are transported thus into a long, narrow compartment-passing finally into a digester, or great cauldron, an apparatus detaching through a disinfectant bath, then through a drying chamber, and the bodies from the chain. The bodies remain in the cauldron from eix to eight houra and are treated by steam which breaks them up, being slowly stirred by machinery. The resultaat prodacte are fate, which are broken into stearine in the form of slow and oils, requiring to be re-distilled before use.

April 18, 1916.

Temperature 6 am. Humidity

71. 2 p. $4

=#1 BA+A SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS,

TELEGRAMS.

(Renter's Service to The "Telegraph.”"}

AMERICA'S INTERVENTION,

$36 PER ANNUM,

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

A Slightly Firmar Tendency,

Meears. Snowman and Ca., in 14, state their freight circular dated April

British Parliament's Congratulatioas.

London, April 16. United States will be moved on the 18th inst., being proposed by The following resolution relating to the intervention of the Mr. Lloyd Georgs and seconded by Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons, and moved by Lord Ourson and seconded by Lord Orewa in the House of Lords: This House desires to express to the Go at the action of the Government injining the Allies, thus defend-ginning of the fortnigh', has since vernment and people of the United States its profond appreciation ing the high cause of freedom for the rights of hamanity against the gravest menace by which it has ever been imperilled."

THE LIFE OF PARLIAMENT.

An Election Not Desired.

since when a certain amount of We Inst reported on 81st alt. trip business has been negotiated and the Saigo:/docgkong rate, although it weakened at the be

firmed slightly. A large Japanese vessel was fixed at 80 cents per picul, a medium sized ontsiderat 90 cents, 3 smaller ones at $100 and a small ore and a regular liner at $105 per pical. The local rice market improved alightly, a few days ago, sad has since remained London, April 17. more or less steady. Time-obarter Bill prolonging the life of Parliament until November 30, Mr. Bonar the vessels fixed having been In the House of Commons, moving the second reading of the rates still conticus firm, one of Law said it would be a misfortune if an election were forced at closed on the basis of sa high as present, when we were in the crucisl phase of the war and when $17 50 per d. a. ton and although which they had been successful beyond bis expectations. aar troops were engaged in the greatest operation since the war, infarther requisitioning of tonnage

would not trustworthily in ficate the feeling of the country.

bas taken place: since we last re- Mr. Asquith expressed the opinion that an election at present ported, tonnage, on time-charter basie, could still possibly be the non-settlement of the Irien question.

Mr. Dillon moved the tej csion of the Bill as a protest against secured at last mentioned rate.

had not indicated its intentions regarding Ireland, said he hoped Mr. Bonar Law, replying to complaints that the Government that it would be possible, early next week, to indicate the Govern- ment's policy. The Government was devoting earnest attention to the problem.

Mr. Bonar Law referred to the prevailing atmosphere of good

seen the beginning of the war would also see the end. at some solation. He added that he hoped the House which had will, and said that there was no need absolutely to despair of arriving

-Later,

The Parliament Prolongation Bill was read a second time

A German official message states:-One of the greatest battles with carbonate of soda, some bye-products of which are used by "The process of distillation is carried out by boiling the oil of the mighty war, and therefore one of the greatest in the world's German soapmakers. The oil distillery and refinery ligin the south- history, has been progressing on the Alene since the 6th inst. The eastern corner of the works. The refined oil is sent out in small artillery firing and mine-throwing are apprecedented in duration,casea like those used for petroleum, and is yellowish born in colour. by 226 votes to 52, the minority being composed wholly of mess and intensity.

The fames are exbansted from the bail linga by electane and are Nationaliste. Yesterday morning, the Frenc, in deep colamo, attacked from sucked through a great pipe to the north eastern cawhere they' Soopir to Betheny. During the afternoon, the Freach threw in are condensed and the resultant refuse discharged into a sewer. fresh masses, carrying out lateral attacks between the Oise and There is a laboratory. The chief chemist in charge of the works has Conde-sur-Aine.

two anai-tours and seventy-eight men-all soldiere, of eight Army Corps. There is a sanatoriam near the works. No man is permitted to leave the latter, they bring guarded as prisonere at their appal!- ing work."

The artillery firing continued to-day, levelling the positions and rendering an obstinate defence no longer posible. Fighting was no longer against a line but over a deep and irregular fortified De. Tae battle swayed backwards sod forwards around the forammer positions, our objest being, even if war material were lost, to spare the lives of our forces and to i:fl et losses on the enemy. This was achieved, thanks to our heroes. A French attempt to break through failed. We inflicted esogainary losses and took over 2,100 prison ers, Where the enemy penetrated, the fighting continues. Fresh. attack; ara expected. Fighting between Pranay and Auberive bas developed, the battle-line therefore extending from the Oies into Champagne. We have entire confidence in the coming heavy fighting."

The Huns' Costly Fa'lures.

London, April 17. Renter's correspondent at Headquarters remarks: When the Germans make un their minds to cease attacking Mouchy-le Preax their caensities will amount to an appalling total. The lare is still atrong upon them, despite their very costly failures, and prisoners atale that, if the attack in which they were captored was unsuccess ful, other attempts will be made.

We need not complain of the enemy's continuing to give as opportunities to panish him. The beaviest and most determined German effort to retake the key position was male on April 14, at Roeux, which lies on the north bank of the Scarpe, two miles from Moochy. This barboured maay German batteries which were able to sweep the intervening valley.

ww

The Daily Mail, commenting on the subj ct, says: -" Civilisel races have alwave regarded dishonouring their dead as cannibalism. That the Hoberzillerna ebold, after "asing their subjecta se pun fodder, treat their bodies as offil, more than outrages all our ideals of faith."

FRANCE AND AMERICA.

Co-operation on Technical Measures.

London, April 17;

According to Raater's correspondent at Paris, the distinguished political writer and Deputy. M. Kardies, is proceeding-as ligh Commissioner of the French Republic to the United States, being entrusted with plenary powers to co-ordinate all technical measurei of co-operation,

AERIAL RAID ON GERMAN TOWN,

Reprisal for Torpedolag of Gloucester Castle.

The country is most favourable to open fighting and afforde

London, April 17. good over for the concectration of troops, Sart wood lies north-attacked Freiburg-in-Breiagaa on Saturday, 11 people being killed A. Berlin official message states:-Twenty-three aeroplanes east of Vert woord and south-east, at no great distance, we lay along and 27 injured. The University was considerably damaged and this ground on April 14, with other forces to the north of Monchy, the Municipal Theatre, institutes and infirmaries attacked. preparing for a nutcracker advance. The Eune could not have timed the effort to retake the villa ze more opportamely, for it was at the very moment that we were ready to advance. The Germans massing in the two woods, were holly bibarded. The enemy advance from the south was beaten bok before reaching within 150 yards of

our position.

The Hans, emerging from Vert and Sart wonda, were caught by the tombardment, and the shells tore their ranks meat devastat ingly. We suberqasatiy learned that they were picked troope. They gained our front trenches before the village, after fieros hand- to-band fighting. The British were ordered to allow the Bochas to eater the long trench as thickly as they pleased; then, terribly en. filaded, these withered and fed in disorder. The enemy loat 2,500 killed alone. One officer claims to have shot forty before the latter balted.

Bitter. Fighting.

London, April 18,

A German official wireless message states After their failure, with heavy losses, to break through our lines on the Aiene, the French have not renewed their attacks.

There has been bitter day-long fighting on both sides of the Auberive in Champagne.

THE FOOD SUPPLY QUESTION,

Reciprocal Scheme 'Between Allies.

London, April 17,

the attack, a British Lieutenant Colonel, taken prisoner. According Three British aeroplanes were brought down, and the leader of to his statements and a fly-sheet thrown down, the attack was a reprisal for the torpedoing of the Gloucester Castle. The statement vigorously conteste such justification and declares that, Britain most misuse of hospital ships. It adde that a revengeful attack on an take the consequences of despising Germany's warning against the open town in which there are no militarily important objets is cheap glory.

THE MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGN.

British Still Advancing.

London, April 17.

A Mesopotamia official message, sent by General Mande yesterday, reports an advance by night on the right bank of the Tigris to within a mile and a half of the position occupied by the 18th Turkish Army Corps, covering Istabalet Station, on the Bagdad- Samarra Bilway. The enemy fell back without offering any opposition.

*

THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES,

London, April 17.

Food prices in Canads have increased by forly per cent., in the Reuter's correspondent at Ottawa says that the Government has United States by twenty-fire per cent., in Italy by seventy per cent., pat on the free list wheat, wheat flour, and semolina, in accordance and in Vienas by one hundred and seventy-one per cent,, since July with the reciprocal, agreement with the United States. to send 1914. provisions to the Allies.

THE PEACE MOVEMENT.

Closely Followed by Austria and Germany.

London, April 17. that the peace movement is being followed with the closest interest. It is apparent from various indications in the Garman papers The comings and goings of Socialists of different countries is Scandinavian clies dem patrate that, despite the numerous deniale, and despite the German affectation of indifference, Germany and Austris are equally anxious to establish a bridge for communicating with the Russian pacifiste."

The latest enggestion from the German publicists is that they must not sroute the suspicions of the Russians, by over-eagerness, but must leave them time to reot where their real interests lie, namely in friendship with their neighbour, Germany.

ALLIED LABOURITES.

Enthusiastic Congress in Russia.

H

London, April 17. Rea er'e correspondent at Petrograd states that the Anglo-French Labour deputations were given a most enthusiastic reception at the Congress of Workmen's and Soldiers' delegated,

M. Tcheidz, the President, warmly welcomed the deputations, and Mr. O'Grady replied saying that henceforth Britain and Bussis would fight side by side for the destruction of the oppressor of the world, William Hehesz llein." and sang the Internationale."

Finally, the British, French and Russian delegates joined hande

ROYAL MOVEMENTS.

London, April 17, Every movement of a crowned head is regarded nowadays as

Stockholms week hence. posses-ing some significance.

The King of Denmark and the Crown Prince are going to

[In the event of telegrams arriving too late for insertion on this page they will be found on an Extra].

2

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE SILVER MARKET.

London, April 17. Messrs. Samuel, Montaga and Co. report: Business has not been active. The market is so narrow that'a sudden movement in price either way need not be unexpected.

A further purchase of 450,000 ounces was made last week by the United States Government and such support, though not large, is likely to impress the American market owing to the quarter from which it emanates.

Shanghai exchange has remained fairly steady in the neighbourhood of 3/8.

An unusually large reduction of 191 lakhs occurred in the Indian, Treasury's holding of silver, which is now lower than at any time since the 15th February,

(Continued on pasa 8).

ary, 1917, amount to total 115,057 Exports of "rice from Saigon from 1st January to 20th Febru tone as compared with 101,574 one for the same period last year. Quotation for No. 2 white round sified rice stands at $3.49 per shipment picul f.o.b. Saigon for April/May

Bangkok/Hongkong:

This market has remained more or lese

reported daring the interval steady, little new business, being.

although the berth rate, which bad previously slightly weakened, bas gradually ewung back to the rala, which -kas practiusiły” held good for some little while, vis :-) #130/$120 for inside/outside the bar loading respectively.

Siigop/Java: - We have norbing to add to our last advices. Saigon/Philippines:-Referring

to the report in our last circular of Philippine owned tonna ge having been fired forward, the following is the actual business reported, viz :- steamer 6 trips at Pesos 1.30, a steamer 12 tripe at Peas 1.271, & ateamer 2 trips at same rate, a steamer 4 trips at Pesos 1.40 and 5 centaros extra for second discharging port and sleo another vessel accepted one. trip at Peros 1.45 per pical. No farther business is reported in the meantime,

*Nowchwang/Jonton :-The in- ability of owners to provide tonnage is thisdirection is mainly responsible for the lack of busi-

Dear.

demand for tonnage from Japan

Goal:-A certain amount of ~ still remains unsatisfied and rates therefore, Japan southwards, still Jast before going to press we maintain their strong tendency,

bear s ramour of a fixture having been negotiated, Karatna/Hong- kong, on the basis of Yen 13.50 per too. Rites for local southern business still remain firm but with little done.

Fixtare reported -Hongey/ Hongkong $9,25 per ion.

DON'T FORGET.

TO-DAY.

Victoria Theatre -9.15 p.m. Bijou Theatre-9.15 p.m.- New Hongkong Cinematograph -9.15 p.m.

.TO-MORROW. Professor Danenberg's concert in aid of French Relief Fand... City Hall at 5 15 p.m.

Victoria Theatre-9.15 p.m. Bijon Theeite 9,15 pm. New Hongkong // Cimernal graph.—2.15 p.m.

Friday, April 20, Hongkong School Sport Saturday, April 21. Hongkong Gymkhana Olf First meeting of the Besson-