1918-04-04 — Page 1

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Closing Quotetions: 1.4. London 38.MA

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The Hongkong Telegraph

(ESTABLISHE

Baronder 20 011

April 4, 1918,

Temperature Humidity

| 3,03

7908

Bath=

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

A LULL IN THE BATTLE.

HEROIC DEEDS BY BRITISH TROOPS,

Temperature é am.”

Copyright 1918,

April 4, 1917,

Humidity

THURSDAY,

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

APRE,

1913.

四拜禮 四月四英港香

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA,

Austro-German Prisoners at Irkutak

London, April 2

London, April 3. Beater's correspondent at the British Headquarters, wiring on Beater'e correspondent at Tokyo, states that a train-loss of the evening of April 2, says: This has been the quietest day sincs ifteen hundred Austro-German prisoners and twelve machine game the cffensive, began, excepting the tireless activity of our sirmen, arrived at Irkutsk. Thier destination is believed to be Vladivostook. who continue to barage the enemy alongs front of miles and in the All wear Russian uniforms and possess new are. There are now Four. It should be remembered that in conrequence of the salient 16,000 prisoners of war at Irkutsk, where the military organisation the enemy has extended his front about thuty miles and the is purely German. protection against counter-stacks meses drawing largely upon his reserves. Australiane we participating in the battle sone in

EL

Murman Railway Menaced.

Lának, April S. considerable numbers. The quality of the reinforcements which A telegram from Petrograd mys that as the Finnish White are arriving from Britain is highly praised. The comparative Gaard advance from Tommerfors towards the White Sea is menacing rest of the last few days bus rested and recuperated our troops, who the Railway, the Anglo-French authoritas have effected an ready for farther eventualities. A most trying feature of understanding with the Murman Soviet for the protection of the line. sustaped operations in the want of sleep: Incidentally our airmen

are curtailing the slumber of the Eune.

Our Heroic Troops.

Intervention at Vladivostok?

London, April 3 A telegram from Tokyo says there are rumours that Bolshevik excesses in Vladivostok may foros Allied intervention.

London, April 3, Details of the bergism of English, Scottish and Irish troops to Esos the first German onslaught alioited by correspondents are most

THE U. 5, SENATE. thrilling. Ulstermer, whose right flask was pierced, fought continual rearguard actions for five days for thirty miles, eluding

An Impressive Scene.. envelopmant To the left of the Ulstermen were, British unita,

London, April 3. including the Manchesters, Soota Fasiliers, Bedfords and Yorkshires,

According to Renter's correspondent at Washington, the who held on though the flanks were pressed back. The outstanding Archbishop of Yo at sa impressive scene in the Senate, delivered spisode was the last stand of the 18th Manchesters in the Manchester

Story of the Allied arme and a lasting and Redoubt, west of St. Quentin, so-called because the Kanchester prayer for the *captured it a year ago. When attacked by the German hordes, the righteous peace for the men defending the case of truth and Wapchesters settled down to steady resistance, communicating freedoms in the great battle overtess. The invocation closed with

the Lord's Prayer, Senators and spectatore joining. regularly with Brigade Headquarters by a baried cable. Their

War on Turkey and Bulgaris. Colonel reported that the Manchesters would hold the redcabt so

@

London, April 3. the last and subsequently reported that nearly all the men were hit, Reater's correspondent at Washington states that resolution including himself. Messages came regularly for four hours, bot not a Bordof arreader. Then silence indicated that the redoubt has been introduced into the Senate proposing a declaration of war gainat Turkey and Balgaria. The resolution has been referred to had fallen

One platoon of Scots Fusiliers, not receiving an order to refirs the Foreign Relations Committee.

AUSTRIA AND PEACE.

London, April 3.

as the runner was killed, remained behind some hours and then merched back right, through the Germen lines, rejoining the bar talion intot. At one point on the march they ambushed and stam péded a column of transport, shooting the drivers and capturing a

Count Cxarnin Baid he did not intend begging for peace but number of wagons. As regards the Ulstermen, two hundred Ger would anizon it by moral and material strength. He defended the mans once got behind the Divisional Headquarters but were flang Russian peste terms and denied ghat Germany wanted annotations, out after skarp fighting by staff officers and men. - A feature of the bat admited that certain precenste had to be taken for military retreat was the gallentry of a miscellaneous force of pioneers, clerks, warrants and signaller who were given rifles and held a part of thecurityHe affirmed that Ametrin had recently been almost on the railway until it was relieved. While these troops are resting Ang point of entering negotiations with the Weaters Powers, but the latter suddenly veered round, deciding to await the internal collapse tralians and New Zealanders baye come into the line fresh and keen of Austria, Count Ossain extolled the Austro-German Alliance, and have already done much execution among the enemy. The which had splendidly stood the test of war. most successful enterprise was the New Zealanders' raid on [The first part of the above message.ia. to. Est Höbaterns, when in seven minutes they ejected the enemy from nearly a thousand yards of road, taking two hundred prisoners sad one hundred and ten machise-gana. Later detail exemplifies the extraordinary nae the Germans are making of machine guns.

No Bulgarian Troops.

Loudon, April 3.

EKT}

MILITARY CHANGES.

Lasion, April 3,

The Daily Chronicle says that General Sit Henry Barlinson According to Esater's correspondent at Washington, the As will command the Fifth Army, which has been absorbed. Lat.. socisted Press says that the American Consul at Sols, writing on General Sir Habert Gough will be temporarily employed. Marah 21. declares that no Bulgarian troops have been moved to the Western Front for the German cffensive,

British Captures.

London, April 3.

PRINCE LICHNOWSKY DEFENDED.

London, April 8.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports:We repulsed, after According to Bester's owrespondent at Amsterdami, Harr sharp fighting, a determined attack in the neighbourhood of Fam- Harder, writing in Dis zukunft, defends Prince Lichnowry. He poaz, killing & number and taking a few prisoners. We took 100 says:It is unnecessary for each a man who is weally and prisoners in capturing Aystle and also took a few prisoners in yes holding such a high social and political position to prove that he terday's enterprise at Serre and in a successful raid to the north-loves his country which is the source of all his power and glory. east of Poelospelle. The Lincolnshires raided to the north-east of Moreover the essential facts were admitted by Dr. Von Bethmann Bollweg in the White Book." Her Harden cinta passage proving Looe, taking thirty-one prisoners. ...';

that Germany sasented to Austria Hungary's an an agains: Serbis knowing it might lead to war with Bassis. (adda that Prince Lichnowsky merely amplified this.

General Smuts Tribüte.

London, April 3. General Smuts, in a speech ́at a Tüzcheon of the Clothmakers' Company, on the occasion of his being made a Liveryman, referring | to the German offensive, pointed out that during the past year the British Army bad barne the brunt of the heaviest fighing of the war and suffered the heaviest casualties. It had stood in the breach in order that others might recuperate. The enemy, thinking our morale had suffered and that the time had come for a knook. out again singled out the British for the greatest blow of the war and was confident he would overwhelin na. In 's little over a week, Vezamy hurled against the Third ́and Fifth Armies over fifteen hundrba ihohamad men in an attack whoms fory was probably

spreobilén teil in the homary of the war.

French Activity

London, April 3.

A french communique states per Thers in growing reciprocal artillery, firing on the wouthern front. Tre, enemy by an attack south of Moreuil, between Molisel, Meilly and Raineral, gained a footing at one point of the sévanced line, but was elsewhere repul sed. We also repulsed su attempt to the north of Nollet. By minor operations north of Piemont we widened our positions, taking sixty

2

Our air squadrons on March 31 dropped twelve thousand kilogrammes of explosives on the railway and cantonments at Ham, Chaines, Noyon eta great fire broke out in this railway station ki Ghamlaen,

Enemy cantonme in the region of Roye wete plet tifully gems at low altitudes. Our chaser-planos ibarded frota Tundsin

sugagements, bringing down" eight enemy ansi suremalt guns destroyed two others.

GERMAN LONG-RANGE GUN BURSTS.

that one longX and Kys of the are

London, April 3. says that German prisoners was bombarding Paris burst,

HPPING AGREEMENT.

London, April 2 York asys that app

| komu: nill he obtains, fruiti

EABLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE LICHNOWSKY DISCLOSURES.

London, April % The Garman newspapers `contain lengthy "observations" "by Jon Jagow, the German Foreign Secretizy, between 1913 and 1916 on the Lichnowský disclosures. His intention is to confute some of them, but incidentally he confirms s great deal. For instance he speaks of Sir Edward Grey's "Love of peace and desire to reach an agreement.”2 He also says: “I am by no means willing to adopt the opinies at present widely beld in Germany that England caused the war.

BRAZIL WARSH PS FOR EUROPE

London, April 2 The Press Burten states that replying to the President of Brazil's announcement of the early departure of warshipt to Europe, the King says the Navy is anticipating their 'co-operation with profound satisfaction, adding that Brazi

lian sirmen are receiving an enthusiastic welcome by the Royal Air Force.

GERMANY AND RUSSIA.-

London, April 2

A wireless Eassian official message state: Replying to Berlin the Bastian Government has promised to take the

severat » measures to prevent the Bed Gussly entering

Finland.

BULGARIAN THREAT

The Bul

The Bulgarian Generatissimo Behekor, in ́s "blustering interview published in the “Neusfreispre BATÍAS AZZý în rejdy to give Grasce a

JAPANESE POLITIC

The topark skat. Burnet Uchida

THE GREAT BATTLE.

Crack German Soldiers Beaton,

London, April 8: Renter' correspondent at French Headquarters, tele- graphing to-day, states The enemy having failed in. yes- terday's attack on the Lassigny-Montdidier line, shifted his weight according to his tactics of alterative strokes, to the line of the Avre from Montdidier to Morem. In coUND- quence of the capture, of Montdidier the Germans were able to dig a pocket into our line on the west river bank which they are persistently seeking to enlarge. Having aptured the village of Malpart, a mile west of the Avrs and three miles north of Montdidier, the Germans 'on Sunday sewed their attack with the object of extending their position west of the river. The enemy incessantly- assaulted the village of Grivesnes, which is on the high road- from Montdidier to Amiens. They used their best troops and fought with great fury. The first Guards Division, which is the very elite of the German Army, after terrible hand-to-hand fighting took the village, but two hours later a splendid French counter-attack retook the "village at the point of the bayonet. The Germans returned to the assault with extraordinary fury. French armoured cars with their machine guns were brought up and drove back in disorder assaulting waves of the First Grenadier Regiment and the Prussian Guards. The battle is not yet concluded.

Two British Successes-

London, April 2.

Benter's correspondent at British Headquarters reports 10 to-day: During the past twenty-four hours there have been only comparatit ♬ minor affairs with the balance of success very largely on our side. We carried out two very smart little' enterprises yesterday. A small infantry attack south of Hebuterne, mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig to-day, im- proved our position amongst the quarries. It is stated that at least a hundred German dead were counted along the front of this attack. Our osaualties were quite slight. The second affair was an attack on the wood south-west of Hangard, wherein two battalions of Germans penetrated during the slight enemy advance along the Luce River on Here we took fifty prisoners and Saturday afternoon. thirty machine guns.

The general situation momentarily is that the main. movement of fresh and moderately fresh enemy divisions continues to be towards the zone between the Somme and Moutdidier, whilst north of the Squime we succeeded, any- way temporarily, in stabilising our line. Further insight into the extent of the German lossen is given by the follow- ing figure: It is estimated that the 208th. División lost 70 per cent of its effectives. The 35th. Division lost 20 per cent. in the first day's attack and 40 per cent. in the attack- on Mezieres on March 29.

:

The attack of the Fourth Division north of the Scarpe collapsed owing to the casualties. The Fifth Division had 50 per cent of casualties in 'taking' Ham and farther losses in forcing & passage over the Somme. It is noteworthy that a considerable increase in enemy artillerying at Pass- chandsels and Goudberg Spur is reported, but the Ger mans are so heavily committed upon the present battle front that it not eary to believe that they will now try an offensive elsewhere. It is now permissible to say that it was the New Zealanders, who carried out the attack st Lacigne Farm, taking over 200 prisoners and 109 machine gune

Other Reports.

London, April 2. The Press Bureau reports: The day was quiet on the whole British front. There was no serious fighting on the

French front.

A winless German official message says: The position is unchanged. Stubborn enemy counter-attacks near He- baterne and between the Luce and Ave broke down heavily. The French continued shelling Laon, where there were numerous civilian victima" We shot down twenty-two nero- planes and five balloons.

A French communique states: The night was relatively calm on the front from the Oise to the Somme. The artillery -struggle uumed a certain activity on portion of the battle-

field

Franco-British forces made some progress during the night between the Somme and Demuin

Bombardment of Paris.

'Paris, April 2 The German long range bombardment re-started at 10.20 this morning....

A British Capture.

London, April 3, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We captured a German póst in the neighbourhood of Serre.

French Batteries Busy.“

London, April 3

A French communique says: There if a somewhat lively artillery duel, especially between Montdidier and Lessigny, Our batteries caught under fre enemy concentrations esst of Cantigny. A strong German reconnoitring party attack- ed but wu repulsed by our troops on the left bank of the Oise, south-west of Gervais.

Aerial Activity

London, April 3. Field Marshal Sir Douglas. Haig reports: Our lowfliers dropped seventeen tons of bomba and fired thousands of rounds at infantry and other targets. Bome" low, flying hostile two senters on the southern portion of our front machine-gunned our men. We downed sixteen. The infantry brought down another within our lines. Eleven of ours are mission. Our night-fliers dropped many tons of bombs on the railway station at Cambrai, on a railway station south- east of Donai, the railway southward of Douai, also, on billets and transport. All returned.

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

London, April

A Palestine official message states: Our raiding opera tions against the Hedjar Railway were successfully-abcom*^ plished on March 30 and we commenced "our" retirement towards Essait. We effectively demolished several of railway and in important bridge. The enemy, stubb resisted in prepared portions or and about Amman, whi the attack was not prosed. We canly rep Tarkish attack on our reargated.""We "took

d-four gans between March a

SINGLE COFY N QER

PER ANNUM

TELEGRAMS.

(Reuter's Bervice to The “Talag

FORMER PUGILIST'S DEATH.

-London; Apall 1.

The death is announced of Charlis Mitchell, the famoan former pugilist.

NATI-HAIG PRESS

CAMPAIGN.

Mr. Bonar Law's Strong Condemnation.

Questions arising out of the Cambrai debate usused some ex• |citement in the "House of Come mons recently, and drew from Mr. Bonar Law a trenchant and strongly expressed protest against disocasions on strategy or the Army Command either in the House or in the Press. The House grew impatient while ́a saxlas äf supplementary questions* ware fired at Mr. Law, and it was plaisa that the great majority of the members endorsed his views, S

Mr. George Lambert aaked whether Sir Wm. Robertson and | Bir Douglas Enig were considered: | by the War Cabinet to be the best men for their respective positions, and if unfair attacks on soldiers who had no opportunity of reply ing would be prevented. ⠀ "fir Hedworth Menx æked whether, in view of the public anessin’bea: which was being chased by news- paper sitaoks on higa naval and military officera, say atspa could be taken by the Government ta stop such aussoka.

Mr. Bonar Law replied follows.

“As long as Generals in the held hold high positions under the Government, it must be sesamed that they retain their confidence. (Obeers.) The dis tinguished officers referred to certainly form to expeption so that rule. As to Prom "attacks," I sbould like to take this opport anity of deprecating in the strongest possible manner the discassions which have appeared. jin the Press for some time-upon questions of the strategy ud qualifiastinesofindividual oficare

hath of them quortiona unsuited for publis disonsallin and embarraming to the Goveza« ment (obe?)-—in the discharge of their onerous and dificult duties. Once these discusione "begin it is obvious that they can never be confined to one paint of view. The responsibility: must rest ja these matters with the Gore! erament for the time being. They alone are in possession of the! facts, and they cinnot disclose them without injury to the public interest, and I would appeal to the Pres on both sidew to refrain from criticisms of this character, which are not only unfair to public servanta - but detrimentäl to the national interesta. Ba *Does the haver msan Bir Douglas Haig and Wm. Robertion pousser the fall co fidence of the Government t saked Sir Bedworth, Meux, “Ta anawar I gave stated that moat clearly

-"- answered - Mr. - Bogar Law.

Sir Henry Grail then asked Mr. Bonar - Law ghather, if his sppeal to the Premislitánswered and complied with; be would instruct the Censordo take seYITS

(Osatinnad on page 3).

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TO-DAY.

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