1917-04-21 — Page 1

EXCHANGE:

Closing Quotations ---- T.T. London 25,440.

On Demand 2a. 4.9-16).

The Hongkong Telegraph

April 21, 1917,

7642 日一初系三

Coprsta 1917,

Temperature 6 . 70 Humidity

97

SATURDAY, APRIL

1917.

TELEGRAMS.

TELEGRAMS.

[Reuter's Service to The Telegraph."]

AMERICA'S ENTRY.

Concentration on Shipbuilding.

London, April 20. According to Benter's correspondent at Washington, Mr. Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, announces that he is considering the temporary swapension of the construction of capital warships, in order to concentrate on the building of merchantmen..

Nicaragua's Approval.

London, April 20,"

Beater's correspondent at Washington says Nicaragua has notified ber approval of the United States' declaration of war. against Germany,

The Raising of Troops,

London, April 20. According to B.ter's correspondent at Washington, the Ohairman of the Military Committee of the Beaste has reported in favour of the selective draft system for the raising of troope. He Bays :-"It would be folly at this late day, in the light of Britain's experiez ce, for us to begin with volunteering."

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE,

British Gala Mors Ground. ·

London, April 20.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in a communique, sinish:00- We gained ground last night in the neighbourhood of Villars- Gainisin.

THE PIRATES.

Chip Robbed and Lifeboats Fired On.

London, April 20, According to Beater's correspondent at Christiania, an enquiry into the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Sær, confirms the report that the sabmarine fired on the lifeboats, while the German szilors robbed the ship. Four of the crew were killed in the lifeboats.

THE CHANGES ÎN RUSSIA.

French Mission's Visit.

London, April 20.

Beater'a correspondent at Paris states that the French Mission which is bound for Petrograd inalades M. Thomas, Minister of Munitions.

American-Pussians' Appeal

...

increase of militarism and delay the social revolution.

[Kenter's Service a The “Telegraph."]=

THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

Irresistible March of the French,

London, Ap-20-

A French communique says: Between the Samme and the Oise there has been lively artillery firing. The eneiny north of the Aisne, under vigorous pressure, continued his retreat towards Chemin Damea. We occupied the villages of Airy, Jouy and Laffanx and captured Fort Conde.. We main- tain close contact with the enemy. We captured, after a sharp, action, a strong point north of Hartebise, taking fire hundred prisoners and two guns We greatly progressed, west of Bermericourt. A most violent artillery duel has been in-progress in Champagne. In Moronvillers and Massif 'we' extended our positions north of Mont Haut and repulsed- two counterattacks. We brilliantly carried a strongly forti- fied trench system on a front of two kilometres connecting Auberive Woods and Moronvillers, and drove the enemy back towards the outskirts of Vaudesincourt, taking one hundred and fifty prisoners. Our artillery is active on the left of the Mease in the direction of Korthomme.

The New Assault:

London, April 20.

Reuter's correspondent at French Headquarters says:— The French are entirely satisfied with the resultà of their new offensive up to the present. The capture of the Ostel- Courtocon line is of first rate importance. Those places were formidably strong positions and the compulsory retirement of the enemy imperils their most powerfully organised line from Vaux Aillen to Port-de-Conde. The capture of Nanteuil la Fosse threatens the centre of the enemy defence system. The whole enemy line facing the west is threatened from the rear by the capture of Yailly and the advance beyond Ostel. The Germans are bitterly contesting every yard of ground and crowd their lines with men fighting until the last- moment. They are often obliged to abandon their guns Two divisions which counter-attacked Juvincourt were liter ally cut to pieces by the French artillery. Eighteen new divisions have been identified from the prisoners taken since the beginning of the battle.

ANCRE DEATH-TRAP.

Retreat Forced Up n

- The Germans,

The enemy now generally prefers so counter by means of a namber of separated units converging on one spol.

"}

One attacking pistoon jast 40 atrong met a patro' of six of our soldiers, took item prisonere, and wat bek with them, as they 4. Some hing was said in 'supposed. But they had lost their telegram yesterday of the spectacle besringe, and the whole of the

With the British Army, March

April 21, leig

Tamparskura

Humidity

大洋路 𫘝一廿十月四英浩費

TELEGRAMS.

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

THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE,

“Hindenburg's Policy of Evacuation."

London, April 20.

The latest French communique shows that the Franch have extinguished the salient south-west of Laon and con- quered the plateau, and from Jouy and Aisy,, its highest points, they have a commanding observation over Chemin Dames and the great road running from Laffanx west to "Craoane. On the east the ccantry from the road slopes downward to Laon, the citadel of which rises abruptly for five hundred feet from the plain. West of Laon is the power.. fal fort of Laniscourt which protects the outlet from that huge obstacle, St. Gobain Forest. As there have been no recent reports of fighting at Coucy or other points fronting St Gobain it would appear that the French are engaged an a movement between Laffanx and Craonne which is designed to tarn St. Gobain.

The fighting is again general along the whole front from Soissons to Auberive and east of Rheims. The progress on Bermericourt marks fürther stage in the envelopment of Brimont, which is south of Bermericourt and north of Costy mentioned yesterday morning: While the conquest of the dominating positions has broken the Moronvillers country, regarded by the French themselves as impregnable, it not merely deprives the Germans of their most important obser vation points but threatens the forts averlooking Rheims from the East

The German press comments on the battle, while pro- fossing that the Allies have not attained the great objectives ascribed to them by the German communiques, explain to their readers that the Hindenburg policy of evacuation of front positions is the only remedy against the Anglo-French enormous superiority of men and materials.

Congratulations ferm Russia.

Paris, April 20. General Alexeieff, the Russian Commander-in-Chief, has telegraphed to General Nivelle the Russian Army's joy on learning of the magnifceat French successes. Its ardent wish is that these efforts in which the Russian army has resolved to participate at the earliest moment will be crown- ed with final triumph.

General Nivelle replied congratulating General Alexeieff on his definite appointment as Commander-in-Chief and says that the French Army will rejoice to learn that the Russian Army will soon join their efforts against the common enemy.

GERMANY'S MERCANTILE

MARINE.

Demand for Surrender of Whole Fleet,

was, the losses which were being ir flicted were a very small per centage of the total arrivals and sailinga.

.73 % J.. 93

SINGLE OOFY 10 CENTR

436 PER ANNUM,

DONT FORGET.

TO-DAY.

Hongkong Gymkbara Cluh- First meeting of the Besson.

Victoria Theatre-=-=-1.25 purs Bijou Theatre---9.15 p.r.. New Hongkong Cinemato -9.15 patie

TO-MORROW. Hongkong School Sports" Victoria Theatre-9.15 m. Bijou Theatre-AI« pm. Now Hongkong Cinemato graph: 2.15 p.m.

Monday, April 23, St. George's Day celebration in Hongkong.

the nation. The high price of almost every commodity was not down as the direct outcome of high freights. No regard memed to be given to the immense and” indispensable service which the British marcantile marine bed rendered.

Speaking for the general body of shipowners, he said anheuitate, ingly that these high freights had been se much a matter of concern to them as to any section of the community. They never liked them, and would have been much happier bad it been possible for a moderate level to have been maintained. He had always be-- lieved nationalisation of shipping to be the last undertaking thst any mase State would embark on. The only instance in which it had been attempted" was in Western Australia, where it

and the President paid him had proved a ghastly failure.

Hr. W. Runciman was prosen arm tribute, acknowledging the courtesy of the officials of the On the question of tonnage had received the Chamber's re- varions State Departments which. sapply they all recognised that prosen'atives, and stating that the Admiralty must have the first they must not lose a chance of call apon shipbuildera and expressing their high spprecia +agineers, but if Admiralty and tion of Mr. Banoimen's unwearied of the Ge.msn deserted lines 46 landed in the midst of our

commercial work had been pro labours and the practical know- towards Bapaume. We should lines. The 40 became prisonere, Chamber of Shipping in Loa-vibuted things would not have handling of shipping affaira dur- At the annual meeting of the perly and discriminately die ledge which distinguished his all endure to hear what others the six were free again. One of don last month resolutions were been in the unsatisfactory con- ing his term of fice. have endured to suffer and some the other attacking groups waec rried recording the debt owed dition London, April 20.

fortber detsile of this battlefield annibila ed by cu fire, and an- by the nation to the Royal sad to-day.

which they were

zi A New York message says that the Committee of the leading will give a more real explanation other fell back, a emell remnant. Allied navies and to the Auxiliary only scarcity of materis!, but a president, Sir Kenneth Ander- In proposing the reflection, There W49 not which was carried, of Mr. Raeburn American-Russian Socialists has telegraphed to M. Kerensky of the German retreat than the Daring this retreat we have on Forces, and viewing with great scarcity of mer, and there was no son said, that in the future they arging that every effort be made to prevent the conclusion of a most perfect theory of separate peace with Germany, which would only result in the why and wherefore led bat Boishorough was the prisoners given by the Government to amoon: (f work put in a week was on the wider aspects of shipping

it the whole taken very few satisfaction tre

recognition use disguising the fact that the would have to keep's closer sya been and is being carried on So thorough was the clearance in the with mathematical precision, but Gommeccart that only one msa cantile marine. The members The amount of tonnage likely to state of the race in international services of the mer much less than it ought to be. from a continueue survey of the Io one will see the battle in term and he was blind fell into our also pledged themselves to bear he turned out this year would be competition for maritime tri fic. of disgrame and theories who is hands. The citadel of Serre was their pars in co-operation with very considerable, though far onawtie of the muddle and tangle not lees completely cleared, but the State in providing for the short of what it ought to be resolution recording the opinion Sir Edward Hsin moved, a of the graveyard labyrinth from neither Gommeccart nor Serre maintenance of those ft helplase Scarcely less important than that the output of mercantile which the enemy fled in rest was voluntarily abandoned. Life through the loss of their natural shipbuilding was the work of tonnage fell far short of what horror and disgust.

there was unendurable in itself, protectora as a resalt of the hostile repairing "lame ducks." The men should and might have been The enemy,driven down the hill and in a military sense impossible operations... to the valley in front of Bapaume, The danger of a moral collapse

were making enormous wages and constructed if foresight had been was so hemmered day in sac was imminent, Flight wse the dent of the Clyde Steamship.

Mr. T. Paterson Pardie, presi- giving less and less work in return. exercised, and urging the Govern day out by our powerful artillery only possible alternative to defeat. Owners' Association, who second- that he bailt few alleys of com

As to the loading and discharg- ment to aae that such steps as From these slougbe and salients ed, read a letter which he had ing of ships, the position was very were necessary were taken to munication, and had much ade sud sepulchres the to keep his fighting and, fappor soldier looked back as we now who stated-

German received from Sir John Jellicoe, much better, but there was still ensure the speedy completion of trenches. He did nothing which look forward to gentle hills green

room for improvement, especially the programme laid down by the military necessity did not compel and pretty with the work of are such as to appeal not only to was now much less cause for com

"The terms of the resolation in some of the allied ports. There Shipping Controller.

The withdrawal for military Men were killed by shell-fire cultivation, and dotted with an- the Chamber of Shipping but to plaint against the Admiralty in service of skilled workers, ha in trerobes and alleys, men wen damaged village. He was told the whole nation. The Royal and respect of its management of said, from the large shipbuilding eniped in the open by sharpshoot that among these he would be Allied Navies and the mercantile requisitioned ships, but under yards explained why the outpat ere and indirect machine gun fire safe from shells and infantry marine are working together to State control it was falile to expset of tonnage bad not been greater Some of the dead in the trenche stack, and that every desirable orcome the greatest menace with that the same efficient use could in the past. There was go were thrown out on to the parape communication line had been which this ecuatry and the Allies be got out of shipping as if the reason to fear that Golows the or over and left there, sometimes tunnelled out by captive work- have ever been faced, and the management were entirely in the military authorities would amist ball covered by tranch repairer men. throwing cat mad, sometimes lef

heroism shown by officers and shipowners' hands.

by returning the requisite mume With some caacing the remen of the mercantile marine in antouched by sheltering earth treat has been used so a method their

bar of skilled workers to the yarde They had hailed with asticise. Those who fell in the open were of retaring confidence in deserve not only the confidence Admiralty were

dafaltering recolation tion the vigour with a bich the all the efforts of the Shipping Oon

troller would have no better re- left where they fell. If they were the soldier as well as sat-bat the gratitude and sincerest merchant ships armed. They

now having gulta, Mr. Bantimen did his best wounded they were still left, and ing men. It may have some admiration of the whole nation." had been begging for gans for year ago to accelerate the output sometimes, dragging themselves auch effect; it has certainly saved away, were drowned in the shell the Germen army for the moment, Clagga in his presidential ed this to be one of the best have succeeded better had Mr. William H. Raeburn, of more than a year, as they believ. of mercantile sonnage, and would made marshes. Night and day and in this place from a pitiable addrees, said that the new and preventatives of U-bost attack.

suficient labour-been available. platoons going up and coming defest. But there is aarcely a barba:oas method of ses Warfare Were they too sanguine in Lord Lochcape secured the down stumbled through new Cherman soldier over the line who is practised by the enemy, hrd expecting that one of the condi.doption of a resolution that the has not known the depths of the played a certain amount of havoc, tions of peace would be the proposals for State ownership of When the word was given to terrors of war and does not har but he should think there would handing over by the enemy of that the Mercantile Marias were 000- leave the sepulchral swamp of bour a lasting dread of our be no more interesting and entire mercentile fleets, which

trary to ostional interest, there daily death the men went rather artillery. He is worse soldier marvellons revelation when the smounted so a very considerable between inland comme

bring no basis. În com too quickly, as if indeed, the than he was Active victory, war was over than the history of total ? Why should any compune-and interactional pestilence were behind them, and alone, not confidence, and only the methods by which this menacetion be abowa to a nation whose the villages of Le Bar qtes and nader the cover of vistory will the had been, coped with, Though record on the high seas surpassed Ligny-Thilloy were, thus lost by full extent of

FRENCH SHIPPING AND SUBMARINISM,-

London, April 20.

A French official message states:-The arrivals of ships dating the week ending April 15 were 750. There were 803 Bailings. Four vessels were sack, rad five uneaccentful stticka were made.

SULTAN HONOURED FOR BRAVERY!

London, April 20.

Great amusement has been caused by a legram from Con stantinople which says that Prince Cyril, on behalf of the King of Bulgaris, has presented the Saltan with an Order for bravery.

[In the event of telegrams arriving too late for lusertion on this page they will be found on na Extra),

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

GERMANY AND RUSSIA.

Petrograd, April 20.

The General Staff communicates that the Germans are concentrating naval and military forces on the northern tront,

Numerous transports, including river steamers, have "amembled, at Baltic porte

A portion of the Fice eft Kiel for Danzig, whence they have proceeded to Liban.

It is opined that the Germans are contemplating a des- cent on the rear of the Russian right flank in the neighbour hood of the Gulf of Finland, threatening Petrograd

SPANISH POLITICAL CRISIS.

material at each ventura.

retreat is the loses to Allied shipping in infamy Unything..

public daring the last, two- or trafod ?

counter-attack, Four bodies of Where wilt he ask that vi trad

mistake. 8 they attempted acknowledged

Madrid, April 0. Don Prieto, President of the Senate, has formed Ofbineti

men advanced from different dit tory?

ections in the Gurmanzmanner; correspondenk

months we had Guardian serious there was nothing

been conting

transports

The Ghamber also pinion thas it was onl