1918-03-25 — Page 1

EXCHANGE 1. Cusing Quotations:

T.T, London 38/114d On Demand SuJIŠTA.

The Hongkong Telegraph

(ESTABLISHED

WEATHERRY

OVERC

March 23, 1918.

7900 日三十月二

Temperature Humidity

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

FIRST STAGE OF GREAT BATTLE.

72 p.m.

95

BRITISH TROOPS STILL MAINTAIN - MAGNIFICENT RESISTANCE.

GERMANS CLAIM CAPTURE OF PERONNE, THIRTY. THOUSAND PRISONERS AND SIX HUNDRED GUNS.

Loudou, March 23.

1881.)

Copyright 1918, the Proprietor.

MONDAY, MARCH 25,

1918.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS,

FIRST STAGE OF GREAT BATTLE,

March 25, 1917,

Temperature- 6 Humidity

63. p. 63

60

-拜禮 號五十月三英港香

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

SINGLE COFY 10 CENTE $36 PER ANNUM,

TELEGRAMS.

(Reuter's Sorvios to The "

OBITUA

THE DUTCH SHIPPING QUESTION,

A Baieless Fear.

Lunton, March 23. London, March 23.

The death is announced of According to Heater's correspondent at the Hague, an American Vice Admiral W. Usborne Moore. Legation communication to the Presa says the fear that the requisi The Daited States has not taken say title to the ships under the tigned Datoh ships are permanently lost to the Dutch flag is baseless. 10. S. K. BUROPEAN SERVICE, Frendent a Proclamation, but merely their temporary ass. Liberal It is officially, announced that

Landon Mami 132- chartering rates will be paid and the ships will be returned on the

The German Plan Miscarries.

"London, March 21. Renter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, wiring on Siturday evening, anys that captured copies of the German plan of the offensive show that he enemy objetivos volg: First Care penetration of the whole frost to a depth eight kilometroa, and day, penetration to a farther depth twelve kilometres and third twenty kilometres. The scoses attained hitherto falla much short of these obiectives. The captared machine-guns include some that are identified as having been used in the Balkans last year.

An enemy attempt to cross the Somme by means of four bridges, which were throws soros last night, was detected and frastrated with great loss by our artillery. All the roads on which We stormed Roisel and Murgasix and encircled the Eashy the Germans advanced are blocked by cofumus of troops and guns United States until a suitable opportunity for repatriation. heights from the north and south and drove back strung counter and transport, targets on which we are making deadly play. Bangh estimates of the caenalties inflated vary between 30 and 60 per

evacuated positione, south-west of Cambrai and we pursued him for what they may be worth. They are probably based mainly 90 | Minister, in a letter to the Datch Foreign Minister, atates that the market is firm.

We stormed heights to the north of Vermand. The enemy cent of all the divisions hitherto identified, but I give the figures

prisoners' statements.

A German wireless official massage Blates:We stormed heights to the north and north-west of Croisilles and penetrated the second position between Fontaine-les-Croisillas and Moeuvres. Wo captured Vaulx Vraucourt and Morebies and also heights to the

weat of Gus 3800art, Headiceart and Villerefs0000.

attacks.

41

soros Demicourt, Flequieres and Rib court.

We crossed the heights of Savy and Bapy and also broke through south of the Somme and drove the enemy over the Crozit Canal. Jaegers crossed the Oise and stormed heights west The prisoners hitherto have been 25,000 and we have captured 400 guns, and 300 mschine gans.

of Lx-Fere.

+

British Falling Back in Excellent Order.

London, March 23,

day, beyond which the scheme does not appear to be carried, termination of the present emergency, not later than the end of the the Oaks Shosen Kaisha has war. The United States assumes all war and marine risks, and in the decided to inaugurate a monthly event of loss by enemy action in the was one, the owners will be freight service between Bombay given the option of receiving payment of the value of the vessel or and Marseilles, vis the Sacs Csal of having the reseal replaced as soon as possible after the war, meantime receiving interest on the value of the vessel lost. The Datab crews-sad-officere will be maintained at the expense-of-the

Special Prayers.

London, March 24.

all the Churches on behalf of the Army and the righteous cause for The Archbishop of Canterbary bsa ordered special prayers in which we are fighting.

•

The Kaiser in Command, Tane

London, March 24.

A Fresh Polat Ralsed-

THE-SILVER-MARKET,

London, March 23.

London, March £5.

Landon, March 23,

-Silver is quoted, at 45d. The According to Renter's correspondent at the Hague, the British conditions are analtered and the Associated Governmente believe that the Dutch ships now at their silver is quoted at 461. There porta do not fully correspond with the tonnage anticipated under is contioned scarcity, and the will be found to exceed the tonnage needed for imports by the the agreement, and that the vessels in, or bound for, Datch ports market ie firm. Netherlande and her Colonies, csicalated on the basis of the original tonnage proposals and provisionally agreed to by the Dutch dele gates. If it should be proved to the estisfaction of the associated Governments that this not the case, the latter will be ready to make up any deficiency of tonnage left at Holland's disposal on the lines of the general arrangement regarding the ass and distribution of Dach tonnage as soon as the Netherlands Government supplies the figures of tonnage now in or bound for Datoh porte.

AIR RAID ON PARIS.

London, March 23.

For the first time this year, a German commanique yesterday described the Kaiser as commanding the battle, bile the captures Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, telegraph-recorded sra credited to the armies of the German Crown Prince and ing to-day, esya: There is new no doubt that the Garmans are Croma Prince Rupprecht. Thas the opinion in Allied ospitals is masking their supreme effort against the British Fifty saamy Divi- confirmed that the Kaiser has staked all on the present offensive, sions, have already been flang into the battle whilst there are pro hoping to secure for the dynasty the glory of the vintory be expects. The situation is viewed most seriously in London, bar in ho bably twenty-five more in close reserve. The Germans are crushing on regardless of the cost. Under the tremendons onslaught, our wise pessimistically. That the British line would bend was expect troops in many places are very slowly falling back, voluntarily and ed. hat confidence is felt that it will not break, The losses which in exuillent order, so as to maintain an unbroken front to the denes the Germans claimed to have inflicted are not regarded as out of

proportion to what was to be expected in such a vast conflict. Yesterday, and throughout the night the battlefront continued The Sunday Times says: The German military casts are out to extend southwarde. I hear that the French are now engiged on for victory, even if to gain it they must destroy the p:ople to whom our right. There is most intense fighting around Risel sad Tin- its fruits have been promised. They must continue to #ing fresh- sourt where, with indomitable valour, every foot is being contested. divisions into the blood bath, for the simple reason that they mast A French official announcement says:-Enemy seroplanes The slaughter of the enemy is appalling. Twelve times did are daily suocesses to obronicle, bat with sims on our side and crossed our lines at 8.40 laat evening and bombarded several every available gan in this area concentrats upon the solid massed fewer troops to meel, our generals may reasonably copot on holding localities behind the front, not causing much damage. The raiders bodies of Germana. Our airmen are weary with emptying machine enough reserves to deal a crushing conter-stroke when Hindenburg did not reach Paris. All clear”- we sounded at 10.10 p.m. drame and bomba into dense grey assemblies and are returning for has shattered his last legions against the impregnable British wall." The Observer says:There is nothing in the figares mentioned more ammunition to enable them to repeat the operation.

enemy massEB.

A Paris official message etstes:-Several enemy aeropisses fɔw over Paris at 8 30 this morning, inflicting several casualties. They were chased off by our machines and "All clear" was sounded at 4.20 in the afternoon.

London, March 24.

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

London, March 24,

To the north, the enemy is pressing hard upon the defenders. by the enemy to shake the nerve of the nation, bat atern At Hermies they got into Mory, but a most dashine counter-attack eve calle the country to the greatest moral uprising drove them out and a large party were surrounded and probably since the first months of the war. Beserves, reinforcemente, out loss, destroyed eight enemy machines and brought down A British Italiso official message saye;-Out aeroplanes, with captored. The scenes of sotivity behind the battlefront bei der numbers and munitions must be met in the conflict. The nation another uncontrollable, cription, but everywhere there is the same well-ordered organisation must take the last ounce out of itself during the next few months." and quiet confidence. The weather remains wonderfully fue, although visibility is somewhat bampered by local ground mists. -

First Stage Ended.

London, March 23.

A German official wireless message says that the first stage of the great bastle has ended. We won engagements near Moneby, Cambrai, S. Quentin, and La Fere. A considerable part of the English Army is beaten. We are fighting approximately on a line north-east of Bapaume, Perrone and Ham.

Work of the Aeroplanes.

41

London, March 23.

a

A Surpreme Test.

London, March 23.. Renter's correspondent at the British Headquartere, telegraph ing in the afternoon, saya;-We are confident that the Germans' tremendous, but probably despairing, eff ict will fail, but the tast is supreme one. Further more our soldiere, rightly or wrongly, feel that they are engaged in the last great battle of the war and are thus stiffening their will to sacrifice to a degree inexpressibly meguifcant. The enemy's greatest preasure is against the desolate tracts scrose which the Germans retreated after the battles" of the Somme. Heta neither tactical nor territorial gains can be of much value, bat for possible spectsonlar motives he desires to claim that be bas retrieved his former losses sa outweighing a more drfaite strategic purpose. The news comes out of the thunderous vortex in disjointed sorapa and is diff alt to piece together.".......

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports on aviation A thick morning mist yesterday prevented our aeroplanes leaving the ground during the early part of the day. When the mist cleared, aerial activity, beosme very great. The enemy's low flying machines were At 10.30 in the morning the enemy was advancing in grest The masses both north and south towards ot. Leger. At 11.15, dense particularly active in machine-gunning our forward troops. enemy's messed troops offered good targets to our low-fijing sero columns were reported to be marching from lagnicourt down the planes. The location of large bodies of troops and transport were Bapaume-Lagnicourt Road the agh Vaulz Vrancourt. In the after- reported by our machines to the artillery and successfully engaged. noon, bodies of cavalry were seen moving down the Ham-Metiguy Eight and-a-half tons of bomba were dropped on hostile railway and Ham-St. Quentin Roads, and it is ramoured that some infantry etations near the battlefront, and also on billets, high velocity guns, have crossed the Somme Canal. If this is correct, is suggests that troops and transports. Almost all the combats took place between the Germans are attemptings turning movement, piroting on Ham, Arrea and St. Qrantin. We brought down twenty-seven, drove in which case, owing to the asses at their disposal, the situation down twenty and our sutiaircraft guns shot down three machinee. here may prove less promising than along the rest of the line of Eight of oura are missing. Dar night-fliers dropped fourteen tons withdrawal. Meanwhile, the weather remsing brilliant. The ter- of bombe on billets and damps in areas where the enemy's attack-rible slaughter of enemy hordes continues from the ground and air. ing troops were concentrated. All of our machines returned.

"

The Great Gallantry of Our Troops. ·

London, March 24.

•

"No Material Change.

リ

London, March 24.

Field Marshel Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been no Field Marshal Sir Douglas Esig reports: The battle is material change in the battlefrost during the night, though further continuing with the greatest intensity along the whole front south fighting has occurred at a number of points. We are holding a line of the Scarpe River. Our troops have taken up their new positions from the Somme River to Faronne. Small parties of the enemy Bouth and weat of St. Quentin and are heavily engaged with the endeavoured to croes in the neighbourhood of Pargay, but were enemy. Strong bostile attacks daring the night in the neighbou: driven back." We are in touch on our right with the French. hood of J398y were repulsed with great enemy loss.

North of the Simms River, our troops at Paronne held their "On the northern portion of the battlefront, the enemy's attacks position after beating off a number of attacks at different portions were pressed with the atmost determination, regardless of the losses on this front during the estly part of the night. Heavy fighting Our troops have maintained their positions on the greater part of must still be expected. this front after a fierce and prolonged struggle. Great gallantry was shown by the troops engaged in fighting in this area and to

London, March 24 the south. The Nineteenth and Ninth Divisions have distinguished A French, communique enye:-There are artillery actions, themselves by the valour of their défence. In one sector, there sometimes violent, south of the Oise in the region of Rheims, and in were six attacks, in two of which German cavalry participated. Larraine between Banacourt and the Vosges, Ao enemy coup de These were beaten off by one of our infantry brigades. The enemy's main at Hinziach, in Upper Alsace, broke down ander our dre attacks continue with graat violenos.

Big German Claims.

London, March 24.

A German official wireless messge claims the capture of Peronne and that the prisoners taken have ingressed to 30,000 and the guns

Sir Douglas Haig's Congratulations.

10 600

:

·

The French Front.

..

An Attempted Surprise Attack.

London, March 24...

A French communique alates After s violent bombardment, of Javincourt. There is somewhat lively artillery firing in the the enemy unsuccessfully attempted a surprise attack, to the south regions of Bois le Pretre, in the Voeges, and pear, Ly Fontenelle and Hartmannsweilerkoof.

AMERICA'S SELF-DENIAL

London, March 24, 2

London, March 24 The Press Barest Bunounces that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, on March 21, telegraphed to the Generals of the Third and Tilth Armies, congratulating the troops on their splendid defence furnish the Allies with necessity wheat fill the harvest, the Food Bouter's correspondent at Washington, says that in order to arving that he relies on their continued steadfastness and valon

this now silack and with it the enemy's last hope of Administration has ordered the Ameries consumption to be

wood by onShins

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

ISISH AFFAIRS,

The Convention's Decisions,

London,, March 23.

The "Daily Chronicle says: The whole Empire, the United States and the Allies learn with relief that the Irish Convention has reached "decisions on all material points.". It has been generally known lately that the points of difference” which have delayed the decisions now announced were of minor importance.

A Stan Fela Defeat:

London, March 29, The Waterford bye-election result is as follows Captain Bedmond (Nationalist), son of the late Mr. John Redmond, 1243,"·".

Doctor White (Sina Feiner) 784.

ENEMY'S AERIAL ADVENTURE,

Paris, March 23.

A group of enemy aeroplanes crossed, the lines and bombed Compeigne and various towns and districts. Some pushed southward, but gun-fire compelled them to retreat. The alarm was given in Paris but "all clear" was signalled... in half an hour.

"י

BRITISH TROOPS CROSS THE JO DAN.

London, March 23,

A Palestine official message says: Our parties crossed the Jordan despite a strong current yesterday morning. The river was then bridged. We established ourselves on the left bank and made progress eastwards encountering con-

■iderable resistance. The operations continue.

NEW AMERICAN MEASURES,

Washington, March 23. President Wilson has issued a proclamation restricting the imports of non-essentials in order to prevent draining the Allies and to facilitate the quick return of ships to 'America for re-loading.

REPATRIATED OFFICERS,

The Hague, March 22, Nine British medical officers have arrived" from "Gez- many for repatriation, including Lieutenant Ajab Singh Garewal.

PENDING OFFENSIVE ON SALONIKA

London, March 23, According to a telegram from Paris the "Figaro" pert says the German and Balgars are preparing a big offensive on Salonika for the spring. Their forces in: Macedonia are estimated až 400,000.

THE SPANISH SITUATION.

Best Madzid, March 23K Premier Manra, addressing enthusiastic Houses of Parliament, hoped the country would settle, down quietly under the Coalition. He announced that the recent decre dissolving, and militarizing the

services and

cancelled

(Conti

YESTERDAY'S

TELEGRAMS,

THE IRISH PROBLEM,

London, March 22, Mr. Asquith, to a speech sí a National Liberal Federation meeting at Darby, asid an An glo-Irish reconciliation was most urgent in the interests of the Allied csure and the future of the world. Despite disquieting reports, he refused to believe that an honourable solution could not be found.

The Press Baresu says the Irish Convention has concluded ita disonazione and a atstarent [received- from the Grand Ma

mittes shows that decisions have been reached on all material pointe. It has been agreed that draft report. The Convention the Chairman shall prepare a will reassemble on April 4 to consider the report.

AMERICAN SOLDIERS. Good Impression In First Aitack.

London, February 15.-Ia a leading article on the Americana in action in France the Manchester Guardian says that more note worthy than the ground gained, valuable sa ia every inch on this Champagne front where American batteries were engaged in sup porting the French raid of Wednesday, la the fact that the Americans for the first time took part in the fighting.n

"There have been American assualties in France before now,” continues the Guardian," but they have been in German attacks by air oz by artillery fire.

This is the first inst ance in which the Americans. have taken part in a formal attack. The French are a polite people, but for that very reason they do not waste complimente, and their praise of the part taken by the American heavy gum in this action may be taken exactly at its face value.

"We have peraistently warned the people not to expect the Ame rican assistance to develop its fall value early, but when America does develop her military power we place no limit on what it can socomplish. We must remember that the Americans are the eq zain of the Germans in pride. and energy, and their superiore in population, material, resourc and mother-wit.”

DON'T FORGET.

!, --མཾ

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