1917-06-28 — Page 8

TELEGRAMS.

[Renter's Service to The “Talograph."}

BARLIER, TELEGRAMS.

THE MESUPUTAMIAN MUDDLE,

London, 'June žti. The Report of the Mesopotamin Commission, constitut-- ing another *instoric war document was issued 10-KAL as a bite Book li comprises 150 pages ana duals compre- UWnBayWay Wild the operations from the origin tarouga the VREIOUS Bages of the auvitav 10. Dagodan ud incidental bappenfigs, and Game at lengta the questions which bave given rise to pupus nuleisel

"

ine, main report, embouying the findings, conclusions and recommendations, is signed by all the Commissioners except Commander lieugwood, Mr., who presented a dr sentient report

SI

The

The Commissioners and that the expedition was a justifiable military enterprise but the division'os responsibility between the Inca Unce and the Indian" Government in connection sherdwith was unworkable and the scope of the exponitiION'S objective was never suiticienny dented insurance. iteport criticises the Commander-in-Chier's or his representa tives failures periodically" to visit Mesopolama. The ad- vance towards Baghdad in October, vis, was an ofensive movement based on political and munitary precaivulations. was attempted with tired, and mšumerent forces and unde- quate preparation resulted the ket unsaster. The weight- Jest share of responsibiuty for the untoward advance Les with Sir John Nixon, whose contigent optimusin was the main cause of the decision. Other responsible my order or Sequence were the Viceroy, Lard Harange, the Commander- in-Chief, General Besuchimp Duff, the Military Secretary of 1e Tudu umce, Guneral zur £. G. Barrow, afr. Austin Chamberium and the War, Committee of the" Cabinet The Commission, point out that the last two are" responsable as poutical reaus, who cannot secure complete mmunity through adopung their expert suboruinates' wrong The general armament and equipment were quite usufficient to meet the needs. Be whole system of com sariat was badly organised during the period of Indian Gov- craiment responsibility "and, though there was no general. breakdown, tus Saula autoonides bestowed meagre autention and illiberal treatment to the expedition's wants during 1914-15. The supply of remutůrcements was alsʊ insunciant. I connection with the advance on Baghdad and the Kut relief operazons the irritazi, military authorities sufficiently realued from the first the paramount uúportance of river and

port alway

L Mesopotamia. Their res. ponsibly was brave. Deneral par John Nixon was respon- sible for recommending the 1913 advance with insufficient transport and equipment. The transport shortage at the baging of 1916 rendered the Hut rehef operationė fatal

advice.

Dealing with the medical provision the Commissioners declare that this was insufficient from, the beginning and ultimately resulted in a lamentable break down after the battles of 1918-1916 and most lamentable and severe suffer- ing. The Commissioners find that Surgeon General Hath.. away showed unfitness for his utice. Lord Hardinge was generally responsible by virtue of his position. The Com. missioners, procee: More Severc ccasure must b0 passed upon the Commander-in-Chief in India, who not only failed to closely "superintend the adequacy of medical provision but, unul the Viceroy s superior authority forced hum, declined to take notice of rumours which were true. The Commission in apportuning the blatne to the Indian Government für ineficiency in the management of the ålesopotaamaz campaign, recognise it

anxieties in other quarters The Commissioners declare that notwith- standing the period of reverses, the success of the campaign as a whole bas been Yemarkable and assert that in the many parts of the world in which the Alles have been engaged no more substantial results or more solid victories have Deep achieved than i Mesopotamia.

The final conclusion seriously ensures the, Indian Gov- erument for vius lack of knowledge and foresight shown in the inadequacy of its preparations and lack of readinesK to recognise the supply defficiencies.

last

The

THE WESTERN FRONT.

important Uperations Near Lens,

London, June 26.

Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters telegraphing ught says the Ligeting continued throughout

العملة

in the neighbʊl novu

where

Leas the Germans contone to yield ground under the britah pressure. We carried the village of La Couette and estab asked the line well beyond in the direction of Lievin, The Ger- mans carried out inuch destructive and obstructive work there and they are fast reducing Lens to a yust mass of rubble but nevertheless there are no dette indications of the chemy s Tummediate intention to abandon the town notwithstanding his uncomfortable and custly tenure.. the is believed to have established new defensive positions to the runed streets and there ale perfect, Bests of`machine guns everywhere, Meanwhile we are steadily extending our crab's claws " formation around the environs of this mining ventre. Fur ther south our operation this morning beyond the Hirden- burg line neur Fontaine-fox-Groziles in reported to have been' completely successful and has, considerably improved our”, position over a treat of about a thousand yards. We took.. a good batch of prisoners and machine guns and thus we are continuing our policy of ceaselessly worrying the Huns striking him bere and there so that he never knows where the next blow will fall.

1)

• Huge Enemy Losses,

London, June 26. Reuter's correspondent at the French Headquarters says it is known that between 0 and 100 enemy divisions have been withdrawn from the battle since the beginning of the British and French April offensive. At a safe calculation they bave suffered 250,000 casualties. There are 155 German divi- sions now in France compared with 147 in April

German Fear of the British.

Paris, June 26.

Le Gaulois" estimates that 51 German division oppose the British on a frout of 140 kilometres, 102 divisions face the French on a front of 570 kilometres. Thus the Gormans are twice as strong against the British.

A Successful British Thrust.

London, June 27.

Fiold Marshal bir Douglas Haig reports: We gained all dur objectives in last night's operation to the north-west of Fontaine-lez-Croisilles. Our losses were slight. Two strong counter-attacks were driven off. We extended our gains to the south-west of Lens sad captared positions astride the Bouchrez river on a two miles front for a depth of a thousand yards. We occupied the village of La Coulotte. We brought down two and drove down three German seroplanes. One of ours is missing,

THE HONGKONG TEENGRAPH THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1917,

TELEGRAMS.

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

ENEMY INTRIGUE-IN NEUTRAL COUNTRIES.

What the Propaganda Costa.

London, June 26. In connection with German intrigue in Norway, the finds comprised some rolls of twist tobacco and bundles of cigarettes all containing palverised carborundam which ruins all machinery. This discovery and the report that Germany intends to demand something like an apology for the opening of the official mail by which the discovery wes made has created strong resentment in Norway.

Meanwhile French newspapers are again calling attention to the immense German propaganda in neutral countries on which she is spending over Fa. 2,000,000 monthly in Spain alone and altogether £16,000,000 yearly.

Official Implication.

མན་

Christiania, June 28. The newspapers state that von Rautenfels possessed a German courier passport, while his luggage was lead-sealed, bore a German Foreign Office stamp and was addressed to the German Legation whose couriers have been abusing the immunity of their luggage from inspection since February. The Legaton rade no attempt to disavow the courier or the contents of his luggage and refused to send a repre- sentative when the police opened the trunk.

OUR ABRIAL DEFENCES.

Loudon, June 26.

In his speech regarding reprisals, in the House of Lords, Lord Derby said the Government had given the military- authorities an absolutely free hand in the use of their aircraft in order to best secure for us military success. Everything possible was being done at present to secure the defence of the country against aircraft and there was the closest co-operation between the army and the navy.

Referring to the question of warning of air-raida Lord Derby stated that the conference of naval, military and civil authorities to-day had unanimously agreed that the giving of warning might do inure harm than good.

INTERESTING MARRIAGE.

Lugano, June 26.

Lord Abinger to-day marries Madame De Serignac who as Madame Steinheil was the central figure of the sensational trial at Paris in 1909.

HONOUR FOR THE PREMIER,

London, June 16. Mr. Lloyd George receives the Freedom of the City of Glasgow on Friday,

WAK PRISONERS CONFERENCE.

The Points for Discussion.

London, June 26. The following questions will be discussed by The Hague War Prisoners Delegation--The resumption and extension of repatriation of combatant and civilian prisoners-under "the existing agreements, the transfer of combatant prisoners to neutral countries in addition to Switzerland, interament of civilian prisoners in neutral entries, more expeditious and satisfactory delivery of prisoners' parcels, punishment of prisoners, reprisals on prisoners and delays and failures in reporting the capture of prisoners.

Reason for the Conference.

London, June 27...

Reuter learns that the Anglo-German War Prisoners Conference at The Hague was decided on with a view to Avoiding the delays inseparable from correspondence through intermediaries and the consequent hardships to prisoners whom it was desired to benefit.

'KING GEORGE VISITS THE FLEET.

London, June 26.

H.M the King having just concluded a second war vixit to the Grand Fleet, accompanied by H.R.H. Prince Albert, commented on the great expansion and improvements of the past year to the Fleet.

His Majesty inbarked on a light cruiser, escorted by destroyers, at a certain port, reaching the Fiset during terrific thunderstorm. He dined on the flagship and made a two hours tour of every part of the Bagship. He witness- ed wireless work and practice with the large and small guns. He remarked upon the new white canvas head gear of the guns crews giving them a monk-like appearance, which are a protection from the guns back Bash, and also. the gas masks and improved organisation in the treatinent of the wounded.

VOTES FOR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

London, June 27.

The House of Commons rejected by 141 votes to 71 an amendment to the Electoral Reform Bill disfranchising con- scientious objectors aftor Sir G. Cave had declared that ite adoption would-wreck the measure.

STRENGTHENING THE RUMANIAN ARMY.

Jassy, Jine 24.

Many contingents of Rumanians from Transylvania and Bukovina whom General Brusiloff took prisoner last your have enrolled in the Humanian Army and taken the oath off fidelity to the King of Rumania amid stirring scenes.

M. HOFFMAN'S SUCCESSOR.

Berne, June 16,

M. Gustar Ador, President of the International Com mittes of the Red Crom, has been elected to the Bris Federal Council in place of M. Hoffmann

AMERICAN HOMES,

GERMAN DYE DEAL.

NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

The Progress of a Domestic Bateate..

Interesting Summary

«Court Claim,

It has taken a world's war to do it, but it is done.

At last the Englishwoman is Americanised, in the very best

tener

Letter from Former Hongkong,

Policeman.

At the Summary Court this. News has been received this. morning, before Mr. Justice week from the front this week, Gomperis, Paisae Judge, a claim from a former member of the was made by the Hip Hing Firm, Detective Steff of the Hongkong: She is realising that her merchants, of 6, Bord Street, for Police Force, Cor¡L. L. P. Lane, great-grandmother was simply a $730 against the Tsai On firm, who writes from Francs andar slave-driver living in cobealthy of 75, Queen's Road Central date of May 15. He is attached to.. conditions, with a deaf ear and a The plaintiffs claimed the sam as the 41. Company Chinese Labour closed eye in is bour-saving. Tears Deing balance due for goods sold Corpe and wae formerly in. 1.

go the slaves freed themselves and delivered; $880 being the Guards Regiment. He anyo sad the English-women was agreed price of one case of "Boy is rather a long time ince I wrote left, surrounded by freed servants and Baterfr" brand of scarlet tasnyanain Hongkong, but I have ard few labour-saving appliances, dre, less $150 desposited by the been so much on she move of lasa The more advanced English defendants,

that it was difficult to fad time. woman got what appliances there Mr. W. E. L. Shenlon appeared to write to anyone. I had one were, but her freed servants, with for the plaintiffe, and Mr. A: M. letter written during a spare half- the blood of their great-grand-Preston defended.

hour in the trenches, but when I mothere in them, refused to gee It was alsted by Mr. Shenton returned from my dug-out one them, and the position became that the dye was a German dye fine morning, found it cared in and sometime ago bie firm bought by, a shell and the letter and In the Sicles, it was rumoured, two cases from a firm called the undry parts of my equipment there were all kinds of wonderfal Tei Fling Koitting Factory. On are there yet.

We were ex apparatus--yee, you; but Mary May 16, a representative of the pecting the

retreat to come won da't even Be B carpet- defendant firm called and spoke some time tsfore it actually did, sweeper. After many years, Mary about the parchase of

and when our battalion was in did use a carpet-sweeper, and of these cases, and it was the line the Intelligence crowd liked it, but then came horrid agreed that the plaintiffs should got plant to do every night in gossip about an electric cleaner. sell one of the case for $4.40 trying to find out was going on în That was simply silly to think | per tin, there being 200 tine in s

the Germans linea. We word of, and probably both expensive case. Delivery was given and always in the same piece of front and dangercus, so the cleaner the price was paid. On the same ad finally got so familiar with was not pursued, and some of day, the defendants said they No Man's Land that we matched the most wonderful labour sarete wanted to bay the second tin, but across it every night with car

riflee across in the world took years to push could not pay for it then. It was

shoulders their way into even a limited decided that they should take and our hands in our pockets. market bere.

del very and pay for the case by We stood looking over the Ger When we came back from May 20, making a deposit of mans' wire like cows looking into summer in America before the $150. On this date, negotiations turnip field. It was dirty, cold. war I was full of tales of labour took place and the result was and miserable work, and we Javora, Seven women friends that the cass was delivered to never did anything more wonder-

one

002

lunched with me shortly after, the defendante, the foki fall than to chase an enemy and I talked eagerly of mops and making the delivery being told wiring party back home. Oar. nails of boiling water for kitchen to wait for the money until the artillery did some great work there, or in lieu of our usual sa came who had the key of the shelle making about fifty Ger back-breaking arrangements, of a the safe. He waited from 5 30 to mans rup out into the open from window polisher on a stick with 9.00 pm, and then went back and an advanced poet one and day, we a swivel, of a parquet mcp, of a reported to bis employers his picked quite a few off with our fireless cooker, and of a dish and failure to get the money. The rifles, at about 200 yarda. To silver washing machine, to me the return of the goods was requested, give them their due, they car- the ideal of after-meale comfort. but this was refused and a man ried out the retreat very well, and I My gbeste were frankly was sent to the Police Station and think our attack was well-arran bored; these odd thinge might a detective came down and wit-ged, too, for we made consider- be satisfactory over there; the tossed the demand for the money able advance with very little lows, seven Contrary, Marys of my or the goods, both being refused. friends had their own ideas about The defendants still had the kitchen Hoors, and people's cases and had not paid for them. windows were cleaned by con- tract.

"We got to the second line on March 16 and on the 17th of "Oald Ireland" we had chased him from that bit of country. I was in Mr. Shenton went on to state charge of my company's scouts, that he believed the defence and we had a No. 1 time on our

Evidence was then given. The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday."

We still cling to white table cloths and table napkins like

20

er same in for so much cars- crond got across and found han ing before or since as when ont dreds of empty bottles and jars-*** collected quite a lot of souvinars never s one with a drop in it. We

which were all turned over to our 0.0. to put in some kind of

■"Guarde' Museum, When we got back we were put to work building roade sad railways and worked very hard for some weeks.

My name was taken sometime connisation with previous in

But now, now that women are would be that the dye was not up own, sending book occasional doing and doing well a great deal to quality, but that was not stated

messages to the company. A of their own work. they have at the time. Two samples of a

couple went up into a booby, tarned their clever braize to the dys had been sent to Hr. Dovey, trench and one

two were problem of esse, efficiency and the Government Ansiyet, but he wounded, but nothing really Fpeed. There is a slightly oily could not say whether they were serious occurred. The Germans daster on the market that removes Bamples of the same dye as the rast and polishes at the same plaintiff sold. At any rate, Mr. time. He for the duster," as her Dovey's report stated that they sister in the States would say; the were pure. electric cleaner runs over çarpets with never an electrocution in а щор ite career. and with and pail

the front steps lose their terror Five years ago the demonstrator of any labour-saving device in any big London shop had an nahappy life; women were either conyoung sheets, and most of me: temptuous or seemed to think have never heard of a dining- they were watching a free conjur- room table with a glass top. We ing show. I once heard a woman are rather, shy of owning that we the Chinese Labour Corps, say as she saw a panful of dust wash our blouses and our babies and the next thing I knew I was and dirt vanish into the maw things ourselves, and an electric

chased out of the battalion along of an "abeorber," I think it was iron in our bathrooms, with a with King of the Singapore called; "Yes, but there mast be diaky little ironing table, is still Police," and sent to join shis something special about that novel. But we are desply inter- job. The Chinese are all dirt." But they are on better ested in the American woman's

from the North, but some of the lerms with their audiences now, Į home life; we know now of her interpreters who had came aboard. Lately, a demonstrator was prais determination, since help was so at Hongkong gave me a lot of ing her specialty, an am zing hard to find, and so troublesome vegetable peeler and cutter it wee, to keep, to be her own help, and be surprised to hear that Inspector "I seked my brother's wife to come we have learnt of the clever | Lawrence, of the Naval Yard · and have a sok at it when it fret architects who built the houses Police, was sent here from the came out," she said. "She came over there, with that ideal in Canadian Highlanders and is and bought one, and she says she view. In the future we shall

Sergeant Major in his Company. have tower wouldn't be without it for any.

carpete,

He is anxious to be remembered to far fewer thing. And you know what furniture,

all his friends in Hongkong. The ments, and many more remainder of the European tal sieters-in-law aro."

But these doubting Thomasines boards and contrivanos, Knives have gone, and before the world that don't need cleaning, silver is year older I dare swear we that needs no polishing because fifteen of us to x company of 500 abell be able to buy easily a dish. it has been washed in literally Chinese. Your humble is at the.... washer whose praises I cheat boiling water, and stairs without old trade again--Provost Corpor daily. It will take some time carpete or rode are a big weight with ten Ühinese coolies,

before the average Englishwoman of e house.

Lega

orne-

news about the place. : You will

are nearly all men who havebeen in China and there are about

making proper Guardamen of

The writer concluded by sand-

will be able to do without servants I forsee when building begins them, and they don't drink Con and to entertain se brilliantly álagein ·strenuous time for gee on duty like my 'chap chais an Americas, but we are on the English architects. During their used to. right road. These nest little (enforood leisure they would do plate-stands, one beside the host, well to concentrate on dinner-lifts, ing his best wishes to all his the other beside the hostess, on durt- shoots, speaking tubes, friends in Hongkong, which ell plates are piled after rounded corners, capboards, every course, peed à certain pantries, electric contrivances, education, to manipulate; it is and other side to simplicity; and not every house that has, or oan if they could pateat some inven- have, an electric cooker in an tions that their own wives have at Nawosstle, the Archbishop of elegant kitchen next door to the suggested, or at any rate approved Armagh said he had two sons and dining-room. The little capboard of, it would be an excellent thing 10 nephews in the service." Two- on wheels containing tips of every for their professional reputation of the nephews had been killed. kind of dry grocery, that you The Americanised Englishwoman There was not a clergyman in move to the kitohen table before koows more to-day than she did his diocese who had a son of beginning to cook, is not popular three years ago..." 4. 4. A.” military age who was noI IN More yet.

in the Daily Chronicle,

Army or Navy,

Clergy and the War. At the Missionary Conference'