1917-12-11 — Page 1

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The Hongkong Telegraph

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Barometer 29.90,

7826 日七廿月十

(ESTABLISHED 1881)

Copyright 1917, by the Proprietor;

December 11, 1917,

Temperature 6mm 61 Humidity

Temperature 6 a.m.)

December 11, 1916,

Humidity

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11,

1917.

二拜路號一十月二十英港香

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

THE RUSSIAN ARMIŠTICE.

British Ambassador'ï Outspoken Utterance.

London, December 10,

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS:

BRITAIN'S WAR DETERMINATION.

A Counter-Blast to Lord Laasdowae.

London, December 10.

56'2 pm. 55 56

SINGLE COFY 10 CENTS

$36 PER ANNUM,

AN ELECTRIC BOAT.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

PALESTINE SUCCESS.

Surrender of Jerusalem.

London, December 10.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Bosar Law onounced that Jerusalem, after being surrounded, had surrendered.

The Announcement in Parliament.

London, December 10,

dermaas Revive an Old Device-

According to Benter's correspondent at Petrograd, Sir George Lord Robert Cecil, interviewed by Reater, and asked about London, Nov. 3.The Ad Bachanan, the British Ambassador, in receiving representatives of certain points of apparent similarity between Lord Lansdowne's miralty anntances that an attack the Russian Prees, welcomed the opportunity to appeal to the latter and President Wilson's message to Congress, said I see it was made to-day on British Russian demceracy against those who had wilfully misrepresented in being alleged, with a certain degree of pleasibility, that there vessels patrolling the Belgian the polioy of Britain. He geured them of British sympathy for the are many points on which Lord Lansdowne agrees with President coast by an electrically controlled In the House of Commons, Mr. Boner Law eated that General Russian people, who were worn out with the heavy sacrifices of the Wilson's message. That may be so, but in the case of President high-speed bost. The atteck was Allenby reported that on the 8th instant be attacked the enemy's war and the general disorganisation which was an inevitable Wilson's message one reads through every line of it not only deter-defeated and the bost was de positions to the south and west of Jerusalem. Welsh and Home consequence of a great political upheaval like the Bevelation. mination to win hat certainty of victory. President Wilson's message stroyed. Ocunty troops, advancing from the direction of Bethlehem, drove We bear them no grudge, and there is not a seed of truth in the has the inspiration of leadership which Lord Lansdowne's Istterlacks. back the enemy, and, passing Jerusalem on the east, established reports that we are contemplating any coercive or pauitive messures This has led to what I believe to be a complete misconception of the Germans of "an electrically Washington. Nov. 3.-Uw by themselves on the Jerusalem Jericho road. At the same time, Lon- in the event of their making a separate peace. The fact that the Lord Lansdone's letter, which has been thought to indicate some controlled boat" off the Belgian don infantry and dismounted yeomanry attacked strong enemy Council of the Peoples' Commissaries is opening negotiations with weakening of determination on the part of this country and it is coast was taken here to mean positions to the west and north-west of Jericho and established the enemy without previous consultation with the Allies is a breach possible that it may produce an impression, of a change of that a device similar to the radio themselves astride the Jarasslem Shechem road. The Holy City of the agreement of September, 1814, of which have a right to attitude. I believe any aach impression is be a profound delusion. controlled torpedo with wi being than isolated was surrendered to General Allesh (Load complain. We cannot for one moment admitt validity of their I know it to be so as far as the British Government is concerned the United States has been cheers). British political officers, together with the British Governor contention that the Treaty was concluded with sa sutocratic and I believe that the people as a whole, including Lord Lansdowne perimenting for some time has presentatives, were on the way to sef-guard the city and the Holy by which that Government has been replaced, 89 sach a principle, conclusion. The fundamental evil in Germany ie State idolatry. The peers to supplement their land and accompanied by British, French, Italian and Mohammedan re- Government and can have no binding force on a democracy himself, are more determined than ever to bring the war to a victorious been developed by German engi Places. General Allenby proposed to enter the city officially, so once adopted, would undermine the stability of all international State is above religion and everything else. It has been well described batteries along the coast. The morrow, accompanied by the commandera of the French and Italian agreements. But while we repudiate this new doctrine, we do not by Otto Kaho, hitself, of German origin, as a demoniacal obsession fact that the boat was destroyed sontingents and the heads of the French Political Mission. The desire to induce an unwilling Ally to continue to contribute her of power-worship and world dominion." That is at the bottom of by the British gunners does not capture of Jerusalem bad been to some degree delayed owing to the share to the common effort by an appeal to Treaty rights. There what we complain of. The submarine and other outrages committed however, suggest a similar fate care which had been taken to avoid damage to the sacred places in are still higher principles on which we might appeal-principles by the enemy during the war are all the on come of a condition by for the American device. "and around the city-(Obserr).

fally recognised by the Council of the people's Commissaries. which no laws of morality are binding if they are against the State, There are those of a democratic peace-s pesos which socords with That is really the foundation of all the trouble with the Germans, the wishes of smaller and weaker nationalities and which repudiates | As long as the governing classes are infected with this doctrine, the idea of extracting plander from conquered enemies under the there will be no limit to the wickedness and orcelties that will in name of war indemnities or of incoprorating in great Empires the time utterly undermine their civilisstion. That is what President Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed raids territories of reluctant populations. Scoh, broadly speaking, is the Wilson bas said over and over again.

THE WESTERN FRONT.

British Repulse German Raids.

London. December 10.

-to-the south-west-of-La Bisses and to the east of Kleinz:llebeke.

The Battle of Guns.

London, December 10,

is

of

A French commanique states: The artillery atraggle cccasionally violent on the right bank of the Mouse in the region Les Chambrettes, and in Upper Alsace. ·

Germany's Aerial Strength.

THE WAR OUTLOOK,

boste, torpedges or airplanes The theory of distant control of through radio apparatus is an old 000. In this country bagio patents were obtained by Rear Admiral Fick approximately twenty years ago. No preotical application of the theory to boats ever, until Mr. John Hays Ham or torpedoes was on record, haw- mond, Jr, began his experiments and worked out the plan with which the Government has been experimenting: Oongrass ap- propriated nearly million dollars for the purchase of the Hammond patepta and a joint army-navy board, headed by was appointed to pass upon the Major General Leonard Wood,

peace that my Government, equally with the Bassion democracy, desires to see secured to the world. The Council of the People's

Aa interesting Speech. Commissaries are mistaken in thinking that they can secure thie peace by asking for an immediate armistice, to be followed by anagree-

Londor, December 10. Unusual interest is being centred in Mr. A-qaith's speech at ment. They are putting the cart before the hores. The Allies on the Birmingham to-morrow, as the cocasion slorde him an apportunity contrary, desire to arrive first at a general agreement in harmony of defining the attitude of himself and his followers on Lord with their declared sims and then to secure an armistice. So far, Lansdowne's letter and also on other imports at war issues which not a word has been said by any German statesmen showing that have recently emerged.. Loudon December 10. the ideals of the Russian democracy are shared by the GermaO Brater's correspondent at the French Headquartera staten: Emperor or his Government. It is with the German autoorsby and According to spproximately exact figures which I have just received, not the German people that negotiations for an armistice are being the German Army pomesses 273 seroplane equadrons, comprising conducted. Is it likely that the Emperor William, whep onca be General German Offensive in the West Foreshadowed, 2,500 machines. The squadrons are divided into ane hundred knows that the Russian Army has ceased to exist as a fighting force,

London, December 10. cheers. There are thirty battleplane equadrona for the protection such as the Russian people desire ? The pesce he desires in review of the war anticipates a general German cffensive on the device before it should be taken artillery spotters, eighty scouts, twenty-three bombers and forty will be disposed to subscribe to a democratic and durable peace, A message from Washington says the War Secretary's weekly of the bombers, The German outpa¡ of seroplanes is reported to German Imperialistic peace. Though the Allies cannot send Western Front and ssys America's military efforts must therefore over. The outbreak of the war be rapidly increasing.

representatives to the armistice negotiations, they are ready, se scoa be speeded up. se & stable Government has been constituted and recognised by the munitions sad men in the West, where there is a relatively greater development of the project.

Germay has concentrated all available guns, prevented any publication of the the Russian people as a whole, to examine with that Government German force than at any time during the war. the sims of the war and the possible conditions of a just and is also concentrating extremely heavily on the Asiago Plateau.

The enemy The Hammond device as or darable peace. Meanwhile, they are rendering Buses the most The full energy of the Allies will be demanded to keep the effective assistance by holding up the bulk of the Geman Armies Austro-Germans from the lateral valleys of Fremcells and Cadens, on their respective fronte,

leading to the maia Breats Valley and the plains below.

THE HALIFAX DISASTER.

Mansion House Fund Opened.

Loudon, December 10. The Lord Mayor has opened a Mansion House Fund for sufferers in the disaster at Halifax, Subscriptions "will be immediately cabled to Canada. His Majesty the King has contributed £1,000.

Casualties and Damage.

London, December 10.

An official message from Canada says it is now estimated that an a result of the Halifax disaster there are 2,000 dead, 3,000 injured and 25,000 desutate. The damage is estimated at 25,000,000, and the need of assistance is great and argent.

FORTUNUFSe affairs.

A Revolutionary Committee Formed,

London, Dicember 10,

Banter's correspondent at Lisbon states that a Revolutionary Committee has been formed, consisting of. Gébers) Pies, Senbör Heobado Santos and Captain Feliciado Costa. Senhor Rodrigues

· Bettencourt will be Premier and Interim President,

F Food Difficulties the Root Cause.

LOBOUL, December 10.

The news from Lisbon is so belated and diej sinted that it is impossible to understand the sequence of evente, Food difficultisa seem to be largely the original one of the trouble, by which certain politicians, discontented with the existing regime, have profited to overthrow the Government. With the axistance of a portion of the Army and Navy, all traine were stopped and Mini tera quietly

· arrested by military officers. The Premier, enbor Affa8o Coets, was travelling to Labon from Paris, but on learning of the Revolution be went to Oporto, which is seemingly quiet

The Revolutionaries talk of dissolving Parliament. Ons fact predominates smides many obscurities, namely, that the change of

· government involves no change in policy towards the Ailïés.

THE MAN-POWER QUESTION.

Age-Limit May bo Raised to Forty-Five Years.

Loudon, December 10.

Armistice with Russo-Rumanian Armies

London, Decimber 10,

A German official wireless message etstes-We have signed an armistica with the Basso-Rumanian Armies between the Daiester and the mouth of the Danube.

A Significant Comment"

London, Defamber 10. Beuter's correspondent at Petrograd states that the Maximalist Government newspaper. Pravda, in the coarse da mgnificent article, indicates that the Russian people will river consent to German conquests of Courland, Lithusais and Pond.

A Regrettable Circumstance,

# London, Pacem ber 10. In the House of Commons, Mr. Balfour confirmed the report that the Rumanian Army had been obliged, by uncontrollable circumstances, to conclude in armistice.

"..

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

The Austrian Emperor's Anxity.

Londo, December 10.

Beater's correspondent at the Italien Hee quarters, writing on the evening of the 2th instant, says the Empepe Kerl is again on the Trentino Front and is most auxinus aboutthe Italian resistance. The present panse is. bad for the Austrians who ostinot keep a farge Army equipped on the Asiago Platean during the winter and soon withdraw to winter quarters or desperately seek a

decision.

Good Work by the Italáns.

Lndon, December 10. An Italian official message state-The enemy gained possession of trenches to the east of Capofle with a small-gerrimo, after a hand-to-hand struggle. Our cinter-attack re took the entire position, patting to flight numerce enemy supports. Dar batteries shelled enemy masses in the C Della Borretta and Mount Tombs region. Tis Navy destroyed a fridge between Visnallo sad Bicca daring intense traffic.

"SILVER BULLETS."

London, December 10. Applications for National War Bade received by the Bank of

Man-power has again become the obief topic and a big debate thereon is expected in the House of Commons on Tsenday. It is understood that the Cabinet has been considering Bir Auckland Geddea' recruiting proposale since the return of Mr. Lloyd George. Labbyists are of the opinion that the military sue may be raised to forty-five years, with the most stringent ambing out in war industries and loxory trades. It is pointed out that the release of the German armies on the Russian Font has raise 1 a particularly England op to the 8 b instant smont to £151,484,000, while difficult problem, bich is not simpt fed by the n-cenity of helping applications reived by the Post Die up to the Lot instant Italty. It is stated that General von Hindenture flang not less than smart to 2274 000 War Saving Certificates sold to the 1st 300,000 men on the Britieb salient at Cambrai, which was only instant toti £131,628,000,

Ted from annihilation by the fice Staff work and the heroic! exploits of the heavily outnumbered Brits-b. Telegrams from

Holland still speak of troops being poured westward.

THE FINNISH REPUBLIC.

London, December 10.

Beatar's correspondent at Hsiangford says that the President)

The Times Faya ibat by the deplorable elimination of the Bassists, the military situation is being turned to the temporary advantage of the enemy, and that during the a n low m n'bs we may have to fare dangers more formidable than those of 1914: The of the Senate has notified the Powrs of the proclamation of the Daily Chronicle Bays the situation on the Western Front makes it Finnish Espublic. He adds the the Finns can no longer be impossible to send any more Divisions to Italy.

dependent upon Bussis, whoes ro, is leading to famine and chaos.

EARLIER TELEGRAMS,

RUSSIAN PEOPLE DISPAYOUR PEACE.

London, December 9. There are indications that masses of Russians are be- coming increasingly digested with the Bolsheviks methods, All parties, except the Maximalista, have boycotted the Municipal elections in Petrograd. The Constituent Assembly meets in a week but will be a farce as the Maximalists will certainly dissolve it unless they have a majority. Meanwhile the Central Committees and most of the Socialist and Pea- sant parties have issued a manifesto declaring against separate peace and denouncing the Maximalists' high-hand- nees in negotiating a separate armistice without the approval of the people or consulting the Allies. The armistice it says, is therefore not binding.

The chief Maximalist delegate at the negotiations an- nounces that the Germans agreed not to transfer troops, to other fronts but refused to give a binding undertaking. The delegats naively complain that they displayed no enthusiasm over the Russian proposals for the fraternisation of the men in order to maks arrangements overriding the Generala.

U. S. NAVAL PROPOSALS.

Washington, December 10. Mr. Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, in his annual report. asks a budget for the coming year of one billion dollars, but explains that it will be necessary to ask for additional funds as the Congressional Session proceeds..

The following are the naval increases from 1st January: Naval force, officers and men, from 19,500 to 322,000. Beserve, officers and men from a few hundreds only to 48,000. Monthly expenditure from $8,000,000 to $80,000,000. Ships, in com. mission from 300 to over 1,000. American patrol stations have been authorised abroad and will be operating in 1918. Secretary Daniels suggests an international navy after the war to keep universal peace, each Power assigning units thereto in proportion to its wealth and population and thereby obviating competitive programmes of costly naval constructionL

TRANQUILITY IN PORTUGAL-

Madrid, December 10. The Spanish Minister at Lisbon has sent a message stating that tranquility has been restored. The Revolutionary Con mittes in a manifesto affirm their determination to 'afand slingwide. Great Britain and the other "Allies and * fulfil Portugal's international obligations. - Senbor Machado - will temporarily remain President of the Republic but Sanbor Pimentado Castro replaces him after the revolutionary cabinet. has been formed,

(Continued on page 8.)

iginally demonstrated was applied: to a swift motor boat. From a abora station the inventor Was able to send the matorboat in sny direction by the use of a radio elegraph key. The little craft skimmed far out, almost out of sight stopped, turned back, circl- ed abouts schooner that was pass- ing and then returned to its dook. The only person aboard was s watchman posted forward, who did not touch the machinery. The boat was under absolute control from shore.

Presumably this is what the Germans have worked out as an added protectira for the shallow waters of the Belgian coast." Thə British employ special monitors for patrol work there. They are:- constructed-with-shallow draft and bare outride air chambers, or "blisters,” as the navy koows shem, to make them safe from submarine mits. These and the shsilow water make them virtually immune from ander water assault. Experts here think probably the Germans equipped a high. speed motorboat with a heavy- explosiva abarge similar to a torpedo and hoped to drive it against the side of the British

hips.

For obvious reasons nothing can be said as to how the Waited Statee proposed to use its ration control plans. It was DOTEK intended, however, to use a sur- face bost, so the German expers ience has no bairing.

DONT FORGE";

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