1918-03-21 — Page 1

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The Hongkong Telegraph

WEATHER FORECAST

OVERCAST.

Barometer 29.91.

Temperature 6 nima

(ESTABLISHED

1881)

Copyright 1918, by the Proprietor

March 21, 1918,

Temperature

69 1p.m. 64

Humidity

· March 21, 1917,

Humidity

7897

日元月二

THURSDAY, MARCH -21,

1918.

四拜禮、 號一廿月三英港香

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE PLAGUE IN NÖRTH CHINA.

Shanghal Taking Precautions."

(From Our Own Correspondent).

Shanghai, March 21, Railway, steamship and Manicical officials have met to consider the closing of all trafis from Nanking, in order to prevent the spread of plague from shas oity.

(Reuter's Telegrams.]

THE SIBERIAN SITUAȚION,

An American Investigating Mission.

London, March 20, Reater's correspondent at Petrograd says that en American Mission is going to Siberia to investigate the reports of the arming. of prisoners of war.

An Agreement with China.

London, March 20. Beuter's correspondent at Petrograd saye that it is officially announced that the Soviet authorities in Siberis have concluded so agreement with the Chinese Government,' regulating frontier ¿questions.

.0

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

Germans Expected in Petrograd.

-London, Marob 20. The Daily Chronicle representative at Petrograd states:-The Germans are expected here in two or three days. It is reported that & German Control Commission will sit here.

To Oppose the Germans,

London, March 20,

Renter's correspondent at Fetrograd says that the Left Social Revolutionaries who are quitting the Government are proceeding to the south to organise detachments against the Germans. The Razzians in the Pekoff sector have retired seven miles.

Swedish troops in the Aaland Islands have been withdrawn. The total Russian war bill amounts to £5,060,000,000.

Operations Still Continuing.

THE ENTENTE AND HOLLAND.

Conditions Unlikely to Je Accepted.

London, March 20. Reater's correspondent the Hague says it is anderstood that the Entente is unlikely to accept the conditions laid down by the Datoh Foreign Minister (cabled on the 18th inst.), excepts possible concession not insisting that the vessels which are fakad, over, be armed.

More German Threats.

London, March 20. Beater's correspondent at Amsterdam states that the German threats, if Holland acquiesces in the shipping arrangement, are becoming more menacing.

The Tager Zeitung says that Germany, in her vital intereats, will draw the necessary conclusion from such a violation of neutrality.

A LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Lord Lansdowns Outilaes his Views..

London, March 10.

In the House of Lord, Lord Parmoor moved a resolution approving of the principle of a League of Natione, Lord Lorebare, supporting, urged that foreign effaire should be brought under direct Parliamentary control.

Lord Lansdowne said that a League of Nations, in the first place, must be open to all nations. In the second place, there must be armed sufficient Powers to secure unquestioning obedience. He believed the omens at present were favourable to the creation of a League. The most hopeful sign was the United States approval, because bar weapon of economic pressure was unrivalled in the whole world. Lord Lansdowne concurred with President Wilson'a warning that the League may be compelled not to admit Germany posed to admit Germany to a Lesgas merely upon a German pledge to free economic intercourse after the war. Anyway, nobody pro- and a German signature. The essence of the proposal was that the nations admitted partnership would partially relinquish sovereigo rights by undertaking to conform to the International Coda laid down by the League. He desired the inclusion of the Central Powers because Chermeny had hitherto always been the great anar- chist of Europe and because her inclusion would do more to wipe) out Prussian militarism than anything else. Nevertheless, & Longus of Nations was no substitute for a satisfactory territorial settlement. The latter must precede the establishment of a League, after which disarmament would follow automatically. He concluded by eloquently pleading for the League as the only means of saving their children and grandchildren from a recurrence of the present troubles and Reuter'a correspondent at Petrograd says that the Austro-1814, the moral of which was that poses was not recursble by quoted the cses of Prussis after Jens as compared to her position in Germans have occupied Soány, five hours from Kharkoff. The enemy is also moving in the vicinity of Dao, on the Petrograd- Moscow Railway. These facts are arousing serious suspicion. The Austro-Germans, despite the Peace Tresty, are planning the * on flanking of Moscow. This explaing the arrival of M. Trotsky at Moscow. He has submitted a Bill for the defence of the Dountry. If the enemy's operations continue, the Government will probably be transferred to Baratoff or Nijainovgorod,

Loudon, March 20.

Beater's correspondent at Petrograd states that, despite the Peace Treaty, enemy operations are continuing. It is suspected that the intention is to outflank Moscow: M. Trotsky has arrived at Moscow.

Peace Not Recogafsed."

London, Marah 20. ..

The Patriarch of the Russian Church announces that the Church cannot support a peace which threstens to dismember und snslave the country.

.

The Three Commissaries who were entrusted with the reorgani- sation of the Navy have been mysteriously murdered.

SPANISH AFFAIRS.

The Postal Strike Settled.

London, March 20. Renter's correspondent at Madrid says the postal strike has been settled, the Government conceding all the demands, including an increase of salaries and the removal of military control.

The Cabinet Rosigns.

Later. Benter'a ocrrespondent at Madrid says that the Cabinet has resigned, following the resignation of the War Minister, Signor

Haciorila.

SUBMARINED SHIPS.

A Year's Figures Published.

London, March 20, The Daily Mail'e Paris correspondent states that the following figures have been published of ships sunk by German submarines

in 1917

For the quarter January to March.—Torpedoed, 203; sunk by gunfire, 579.

For the quarter April to June-Torpedoed, 428; sank. by gunfire, 674.

For the quarter July to August.-Torpedoed, 339; sunk by günäre, 292.

For the quarter September to December. Torpedoed, 311; enak by gunfire, 114.

This makes a total of 2,938.

+

The Daily Mail, commenting on the figures, saye that even if the British sinkings last year averaged twenty weekly, that would be 1,040 lost; hence the figures may relate to all Allied and neutral ships, including fishing boats,

THE MACEDONIAN CAMPAIGN.

London, March 20. A Balonica official message states:-Our seroplanes bombed Angista and Porna stations, derailing and bombing a train near the latter. They also machine ganded a Bulgarian Company at Sires and brought down a hostile machine.

successful war operations,

The debate was adjvarned.

THE WESTERN FRONT,

Belgians Recapture Treach Elements..

London, March 19,

mente which the Germans penetrated yesterday in the region of

A Belgian communique slates :—All the advanced trench ele Nieuport have been recovered. Enemy attempts to capture advanced found in the re-occupied trenches. posts at Baverdyk were repulsed. Numerous enemy dead were

Artillery Liveliness.

- London, March 19.

A French communique states:-There are lively artillery sotions on the right bank of the Mouse, between Bares and Badon- Villera in Lotraine and at some points in Upper Alsace.

« ́ More Bomb-dropping,

London, March 19.

Field Marshal Sir Dongles Haig, in a communique, states **** We drove off raiders north-east of Armentieres. Esemy artillery is active at Ypres, Cambrai, Vermelles, and the Labasses Canal, At Armentieree we dropped nine tons of bombe on billets and dumpa, on Busigny railway station and on two serodromea. The air fighting is very intense between large formations. We brought down nine teen and drove, down nine enemy machines and twelve of oure are missing. Our night fliers dropped six hundred bomba on two sero- dromes used by enemy night fliers. We sleo bombed dumps and billete. All our machines returned........

Portuguese Repuise Raids,

|

London, March 20.

The Portuguese repulsed raide in the neighbourhood of Fauquisert. "Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, in a communique, states :--

There is reciprocal artillery firing in the Passchendaele sector.

U. S. War Secretary in Battle Zone

London, March 20.

Beater's correspondent with the American Army in France says that Mr. Baker, Secretary of War, on Tuesday visited the from! lins trenches. He remained ninety minutes under brisk enemy shell-fire before returning to Headquarters. A German four-inch abell burst within forty yards, but did not damage the car or the öccupants.

The Enemy Lylog Löw,

London, March 20.

Reuter's ocrrespondent at the British Headquarters states that very wet weather is restricting operations. It favours enrprise. tactice, but the enemy does not show any signs of emerging.

"DIRTY WARFARE.

Germans' New Use of Aeroplanes.

London, Marob 20.

Beater's correspondent at the American Headquarters statee that a German sirman has been dropping rubber balls, eighteen irobes in diameter, filled with liquid mustard and gar, over the American sector to the north-west of Toal. So far sa is known, this is the first time aeroplanen kave been employed in such an operation. Reuter learns that a Swedish-Allied agreement is pending, Luckily, the action has so far been without result. The Americans Amuring Sweden of supplies of wheat, maize and oste.

are furions at this "dirty warfare.“

A SWEDISH-ALLIED AGREEMENT.

London, March 20.

WOMEN BOLICITORS.

London, March 20, The House of Lords has passed the Third Reading of

roman to become solicitara, by 47 vote to 19.

THE RUMANIAN MINISTRY?

ondon, March 20.

According to Benter's correspondens at Bale, a messge from Bill Jasny via Vienna, states that the Marghilloman misley consista

exsinaively of partisans of the Central Powers,

BRITISH AIR RAIDS IN GERMANY.,

:

London, March 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. Macpherson announced that British acroplanes raided Mannbeim on March 18 and dropped over a ton of bombs, with excellent resulta. Hitz were obtained on the Badische Soda Fabrik An enemy formation attacked the Britian squadron and two enemy machines were driven down. The remainder were driven öf All our machines returned safely..

!

Mr. Macpherson stated that since October To had made thirty-eight effectiv air raids on Germany under the most dificult conditions, We had dropped forty-eight" "tons" of" " bombs and lost only ten machines in 250 flights (cheers) The number of raids and the amount of explosives dropped had steadily increased whilst the increased distance to which the raids were carried into Germany was most satisfactory, The majority of the raids were carried out in broad day. light. The bursting bombs were photographed completely confirming the reports of their effectiveness. Attacks were concentrated on military and important objects, strikingly contrasting with the enemy's promisenous - methods. Our night raiders dew down and fired at searchlights, trains and railway stations. The enemy's anti-aircraft defences had steadily increased and the enemy aeroplanes ware defeated with loss whenever they attempted to intervene. Our air men occasionally attacked enemy aeroplanes preparing to raid in France, In the Mannheim raid eight direct hits were obtained on the Badische Soda Fabrik, causing an abnorm- ally large column of smoke to ascend; also two bursta were seen at the docks and one on another large factory.

The "Times"-correspondent at the Hague states last- a neutral who has returned from Germany gives vivid Eccounts of the panic in Rhineland in the air raid of July 18. All the factories were stopped for hours. Fifty were killed at Coblenz Very beavy materia] damage was done and there were many fires..

COUNT HERTLING ON PEACE PROSPECTS.

Copenhagen, March 19. Count Hertling, speaking in the Reichstag, made a vitriolic attack on the Allies, to whom, he stated, hypocrisy has become second nature. Their untruthfulness was aggre- vated by their brutality towards a neutral country. The Eusaian treaty did not contain conditions disgraceful to Bus, sia, which herself had permitted her provinces to break away, He mentioned that Esthania and Livonia

were eat of the frontier fixed by the Brestlitovsk treaty; "but we hope to have close friendly relations with these countries." He declared that Germany's enemies had not yet shown the least inclination to finish the terrible war: bence the rea- ponsibility for further bloodshed was on their heads. (Load"), cheers except from the Lett

He affirmed that ita necessary to polica. Esthoniz and Livonia until internal security was guaranteed.

The destiny of Courland, which had old cultural relations with Germany would be reserved. till the conditions there were consolidated. - As regards Lithuania he referred to the resolution of the Lithuanian National Council for close union with Germany and fore- shadowed ultimately an independent". Lithuania. The independence of Poland was proclaimed by the two emperors in 1816; hence further shaping of that State was only pos sible by negotiations between Austro-Germany on the one hand and Poland on the other. Speaking generally of Russia Count Hertling said Germany did not contemplate opposing the "justified wishes" of liberated "Russia.

Count Hertling concluded: When peace with Rumania is signed then peace will reign on the whole eastern front; but do not indulge in delusions. A world peace is not yet accomplished, sa our enemies' ains seem still to be to fight till we are destroyed. We shall not lose courage. We are prepared for everything and ready to make further heavy. sacrifices. (Cheers). God will continue to help us. We hare confidence in our incomparable army and stedfast nation

THE WAR CABINET'S METHODS.

London, March 19.

The War Cabinet's report for 1917, previously briefly reviewed and now published in extenso, contains illuminat- ing information regarding the War Cabinet's working me thods. It describes how each meeting begins with the bearing of the reports of the progress of the war since the previous day. The Cabinet then deals with the questions. awaiting decision, unless wider questions of policy are dia cussed. In the former case Ministers and the chief depart- mental officials concerned attend. Important matters of administration are deliberated with a view, to departmental co-ordination so as to form part of a consistent war plan and the Ministers" are invited to bring outside experts if desired. Two hundred and forty-eight outsiders thus attend- ed in 1917 and tendered their views on foreign, Dominion Indian, Colonial and Home affairs. The Foreign Secretary, the First Sea Lord and the Chief of the Imperial Staff attend every meeting to communicate the latest war intel- ligence and consult with the War Cabinet on new points. The War Cabinet met three hundred times in 1917. A con- siderable number of less important but highly complex ques tions were referred to individual members of the War Cabinet or to Committees of Ministers or others, with or without power to adopt the conclusions.

THE RUMANIAN, PEACE OUTLOOK.

London, March 19.

The present position of Humanis appears to be that following the resignation of the Averescu Cabinet, Gwing to the refusal of M Averescu and all the politicians who favoured Bumanie's entry into the war to sign the peace treaty, an attempt is now being made to form a mínistry to make peace with the politicians who opposed Romanian intervention. M. Marghiloman, the prospective Premier, is friendly with the Germans. Consequently it is thought he may be able to obtain better terms than M. Averescu.

· **** Bukharest telegrams vis Austria-Hungary state that M. Marghiloman opposes the handing over of Dobrudja to Bulgaria, but would consent to its being administered jointly by the Central Powers.

SOUTH FINLAND;

phic communication with Bouth Finland has been.

SINGLE COFY 10 OENTE

$56 PER ANNUM:

GERMANS SUED FOR RENT,

Case from Hongkong at Shanghai.

Before the Mixed Court st. Shanghai on March 15, a'osse WAS began in which the Hongkong Central Kita Iid ened Strackmeyer, E Siebertand A Biebe, partners in the German firm of Siemen and Co., for the sum of Hongkong $6,275,45 for the rent of the (fices in Queen'a Baildings, Hongkong, under a lease entered into on July 1, 1913. Mr. G. H. Wright appeared for the plaintiffs and the defendante appeared in person,

The plaintiffs' petition was as follows:-

.1-That the plaintiffs are British company carrying on bus- iness at and incorporated under. the Companies Ordinances of Hongkong.

2.That the defendants are res- pectively German subjects reside. ing at Shanghai and carrying on business with other persons in cc-partnership as.Siammen and Co. at Shanghai sad elsewhere.

3-That the plaintiffs are the owners of a block of buildings sitaate at Victoria in the Colony of Hongkong, and known as Queen's Buildinge which they acquired by purchase in the year 1814 from Bir Oatchick Paul Chater and the estate of Bir Hormasjee Nowrojes Kody deosared, subject to all existing

tenancies,

4. That on the 14th day of July 11913 the emid Bir Catobiok Panl Chater for and on behalf of him. self and the estate of the axid Bir Hörmusfen Nowroje Mody deceased entered into a tensnoy agreement with Messrs. Siemisen. & Co., whereby the ground and first floors in the north.. east section of The asid Queen's Buildings were lot to the said Messrs. Siemen and Co. for the period of five years from the lat day of July, 1918, at the rent and on the terme therein contain- ed.

5That on the 31st December; 1913 the eaid Mosers. Siemssen and Co, exercieed the option given them by the said agreement of renewing the said agreement for s further period of two years:

6. As a result of the wAT existing between Great Britain and Germany the said: Hoeura. Sismssen and Co. had to ruspend business and on or about the 30th. day of October, 1914, MessrN, Alexander Ross and Co. of Hong- kong were appointed liquidatorn of the said firm of Kesers. Siemseen and Co. by order of the. Colonial Government of Hong- kong.

7.-The said liquidators entered into the premises the subject of the said tenancy agreement, retain«. ¡ing part thereof for their own was. ma liquidators and letting the remaining part as "opportunity offered at such rents as they could obtain and all rente received by the said liquidator in respect of: the said premises were paid by them to the plaintiffs towards satisfaction of the rent owing under the tenancy agreement. Buch rents did not however amount to the rent due under the asid tenancy agreement. 201

8.In or about the month of November, 1916, the ssid l'quid- ators requested the plainnffs. to obtain tanants for the whole of the said promises with a view to the Lenancy agreement Leing cancelled. The plaintifs în dos course rélet the whole of the said. premises and on the 16th Decem» ber, 1916, the mid liquidatorn. vacated the said premises,”

1.On or about the 22 ad December, 1915, the

the

agreement was ca

plaintiffs of

from the 1st

of the