1918-04-15 — Page 1

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The Hongkong Telegraph

(ESTABLISHED 1881) Copyright 1918, by the Propriator

WEATHER FORECÄIT

FAIR

omster 29 98

7917

1日五月三

April 15, 1918,

Temperature Humidity

63 3 pm. 69

68

MONDAY, APBIL 15,

1918.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

GERMANY AND REPRISALS.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

THE BATTLE IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS.

THE STRUGGLE. PROCEEDING DESPERATELY.

Numerous Aerial Fights.

Londos, April 14. Field Marshal Sir Daoglas Haig reporting on vistion, Forty hostile aeroplanes were brought down and twenty driven down uncontrollable, in addition to which two were shot down by Rafi-aircraft guas. Twelve of our msohimes are missing. facerat bombice was carried out all night long over twenty-two tons of bombt bring dropped on different targets, including Don and Donai Railway Stations, two important railway junctiona buwan. Mezieren nað Bbeime and roads leading up the battle front in the neighbourhood of Estaires.

Three hostile beloona wwe destroyed also

Paris Bombed at Night.

Loddon, April 14, Reuter'a correspondent, at Paris states that the inng range bombardment continued yesterday. There were no casualties. The bombardment was resumed late last night. This was the first time Paris had been bombarded at night.

A GermanTM Message.

London, April 14.

Effectiveness of Allied Air Raids.

Lendon, April 14, The oliveness of the Allied sir rxide on Germany is farther, illustrated by the fact that the Second Obamber of sha. Bavarian Diet ware unanimous in regressing the Goremment to urge the Imperial Apthorities to try sad arrange a genetilagreement for the

ation of battle air raids on places onterde the area of military welcomed the motion and stated that the Minty of the Interior operation Tas Representative of the Brian Governmmal k was already commaniching with the War Minary on the question.

STORY OF AN "ATTACK?

Imaginative German Official Mâiere.

Loudon, April 14.

A German,fficial masssg8878:-British monitis and seroplanes on the night of April 12 tooked the omst of Flanders and bombarded Oatend and bombed Zebrugge Batteries repulsed" the stacks. Ää enemy torpedo boss approached Ostand and was shot at and set on fire. She was abandoned shd captured with fall equipment.

The Admiralty saya with referenss to the above that a small-

THE REQUISTIONED DUTCH SHIPS,

A Garman wireless official message stater:--On the battla. fields of Lys our attanks against the English Divisions have promoter host is missing." The relatives have been informed. gised. From the heights of Messines we pushed forward sorosa --Steenbach sad reached the eastern border of Wulverghem. We surrounded and captured Ploegstest Wood and took the fortified beight of Bodignol. Between the railwaya leading from Armen- tieres to Bailleul and Merville"we carried our attack forward so far. as the railway leading from Bailleul to Merris and as far as the gastern border of Hieppe Wood." Bouth of Merville we captured the Clarence River and took Locon by storm. We resched the La B18200 Canal north-west of Betbune. We took four hundred prisonera on both sides of the Lucosnrook.

On The French Front.

London, April 14. A Frensh communique stateof-There is reciprocal artillery fighting north of Montdidiar. The French west of Lamigny stucked the woods north-west of Orvillers and Sorel ons front of twelve hundred yards, We took prisoner some Germia storm troops attacking the Nayon sector who had been caught by our fire before reaching our linea The were ranguinarily defeated. French avistars were very aotive. There is fise weather on the whole front. Chasing planes have made 350 trips sad fought 120 combats. Eight -enemy aeroplanes were felled and twenty-three fall in their oRD lines dacooged: Five German captive balanna were set on fire. Our bombing planes, isolading an Italian machine, dropped forty-eight tode of Dej ciles on various stations, estonments and convoys. Several fires and explosions were observed.

Enemy's Advance Slowing Dowa"

London, April 14.

A Paris semi-official messze imed on the evening of April 14, Bays:The battle in Flanders continues to rage with great violence, bat to-day shows a very definite slowing down of the enemy's advance, and from now on it should be possible to hold it back as Allied reinforcements are ready to be brought up and pat in the battle-line." The Gumsi advance south of Methrem onlfiakk Bailear which, however, the Alline still hold. The Germsos continue to attack the whole of the French front with a view to keeping our reserves from the principal battle area, but in this they have failed for French troops occupying the sectors concerned are sufficient to repel all enemy efforts. The great mass of our reserves is intact end at the diposal of the general command.

The French Penetrate Enemy Lines.

London, April 14. "

ربر

à French sɔmmunique states:-Toere are fairly lively artillery motions between Montdidier and Noyon. Our reconnoitring parties hera brought back prisoners. We penstrated enemy lined north of B. Kichiel, Ember Mosail and Bares sectors and Lorraine and took prisoners. A German coups de main north of Hill 304, in the region of St. Michiel, Woerre and Bonhomme Hill, was repulsed.

French Press Praise British Troops.

London, April 14. Reuter's correspondent st Paris states that the newspapers unanimously praise Fiel I'Marabal Sir Douglas Haig's Order" of "the Day, which, they say, was immediately awered with virile energy by the heroic British troops, M. Marcel Hutio, in the Echo de Paris, states that the, road to ̊ Osisia"and Dankirk is now closed to the

зrmans.

لحضر

The Matin ays the tenacity of the British resistance undoubtedly enables the dominating positions which form a barrier between Lye and Donkirk to be pat in state of defence.

The Excelsior Aaya--"The Anglo-French Reserves have not yet been engaged. The battle is only beginning. The Allied High Command has his own ressons for letting the enemy exhaust himself." The' jurnal adds that the German loses are exosasİYO and may st a given moment be some serious.

-* »British Lína Remains Intact.

London, April 14. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig in a commnnig to states:-Wo repaleed, after heavy fighting throughout the evening, attacks from Maleren to Walferghe ŭ and also repulsed the fourth stack on Haye Elian, We beat yesterday a determined attack near Festubers. On this portion of the battlefront and north-west sa for as locos, numerone enemy troope were engaged at short rangs by que infantry and artillery fre. Despite numerous strong attacke

· on all part of the Lyn battlefront, our line remains intsal. The Quany's losses were moet wrare throughout yesterday. Fighting Es-opened last night at Meare Eglise and the enemy recommenced attacks in the neighbourhood of Beileal this morning which continge,

Beater placed on

GENERAL SARRAJL.

London, April 14. aris myr that Generat Barrai hie

To be Returned In Good Condition.

London, April 14/ According to B-ater's corre-pɔndant at The Hague, the British Legation atatea that the requistioned Datch ships will be returned in good condition not later than the completion of the voyage on which they are eng ged on the day of the zastare of the peace tresty. The ships will sit onder the British, and the charter will be at the rate of 35/- per month per grdas 100. The British Government undertakes sil war and marine Bakr and if the ships are lost it will, if the ownera wieb, repisös steakipă-as soon as possible after the war, meanwhile paying six pet ceux, ananilly on the value of the last ships,

SIAM AND THE WAR.

Anxious to Collaborate with the ARies."

Londen, April 14. According to Renter's correspondent at Paris the Suretary of the Same Legation, interviewed by a representative of the Echo de Paris, declared that sim de-irad tɔ“ démontrate be? whole. particularly to Grmany, which languad at Siam, that the Siaméra hearted adhesion to the care of finice sad right and to show declaration was not merely a platonic manifestation. S:Am be anxious to actively collaborate with the Allies indca rially and economically.

GERMAN FLEET AT HELSINGFORS.

London, April 14.

A message from Amsterdam saya that the German Fleet has arrived at Helsingfors.

THE AERIAL RAID on EnGLAND,

What the Germans Claim.

Londos, April 14. Zepplines on April 12, bombed Birmingham Nottinghs n, Sheffield, Reatar's currespondent at Amsterdam gaya Bulin claime that Leeds, Hall and Grimeby.

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE STRUGGLE IN PLANDERS

Enemy Pressing With Fresh Troops.

London, Aprü 12. Renter's correspondent at the British Headquarterï' says: The enemy to-day continues to press the offensive on the northern line unremittingly with fresh troops. The wea ther is again hagy, limiting observation. The Germans launched a mass attack last night penetrating our line cast. of Locon. Our counter-attack drare him back with big casualties. The enemy three hours later assaulted the same spot but was again repulsed. Yet another attack was no more successful.

We also attacked near La Basses carrying a strong trench position. The night was wonderfully cleat and our airmen were intensely active bombing enemy concentrations. It › was a brilliant local success the British and Freach won at Hangard, where we carried strong position. The enemy has secured a direct hit upon the famous Amiens Cathedral

The enemy had two hundred divisions at the beginning of -the offensive on the western front, whereof twenty are believed to be practically unit for the battle line,wenty divisions, have been thrown in the battle-line thriceince March 21, and forty-five twice, while over four time the number of divisions have been hurled against the Berth itan against the French M

The enemy's rate of spending man maintained. Already to a comiteral is being sent to rent the battle line divi up of the 1990 daes begst à mo

coming an.

April 15, 1917,

-拜 伍月四英港香

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE STRUGGLE IN FLANDERS.

Enemy's Efforts to Break Through.

London, April 1 Beuter's correspondent at Headquarters, writing in the evening says: The enemy-continues to strain évary” effort to break through in Flanders. Already thirty enemy divisions have been thrown in including: reservation other parts of - the front the enemy is employing great gunpower, Seinforced

by hauls from the east in the same lavish manter-81), Lans imposing the severest test on our troops. The prope thereof in courage and endurance defies all praise. tained pressure done masses and constant blows and shock tactics the enemy has succeeded in the past bare Flour hours of advancing in the centre of the attack

The Banks are holding firm. The enemy has extended the arrow pose of his salient in a way which nothing but. immens superiority in numbers could rendar tactically fes- sible aor have achieved. We have been counter-attacking today. The battle is fiercely progressing, the clear weather enabling airmen to thoroughly reconnoitre, co-operating in the combat with most effective results. The enemy's objec- tives in this drive include Bailleul, Aire, Bethune and Her- ville.

Successful French Counter-Attacks.

London, April 12. A French communique states: During the night.our Counter-attacks in the region of Hangard-en-Santerre com plately threw back the enemy. We again possess the entire village and also the cemetery. Apart from his resultless losses the enemy left 70 prisoners in our hands. The artillery -- duel continues to be violent in this region. Between Mont- didier and Noyon there were lively-bombardments and great. patrol activity. Enemy raids north of Orvillerssorel and between Miette and the Aisne broke down.

The enemy continues to bombard-Rheims, a portion whereof... is afame. We are endeavouring to restrict the conflagration. The enemy is renewing attacks in the Forest of Apremont against Bois Brule. The Americans in liaison with our troops vigorously shattered, most of the attacks.

A Prolonged Struggle at Neuve Eglise.

London, April 12. Field Marshal Bir Douglas Haig reports: As a result of last night's fighting in the neighbourhood of Neuve Englise the enemy succeeded after a prolonged struggle in forcing his way into the village. Our vigorous counter-attacki this morning drove out the enemy. We made prisoner a number, including a Battalion Commander and successfully repulsed a later attack and also a number of other aftacks at different points along battle-front northward of La Bassen Canal.

Three separate attacks on our line south-westward, westward and northward of Merville were in each case re- pulsed alter heavy fighting. We successfully drove back an attempted attack southward of Meteren, and also best off four attacks isanched against our positions south-eastward of Bailleul Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. This afternoon & hostile attack in strength has developed between the Meterenbacque River, south-westward of Me teren and Wulverghem., Severe fighting is taking place on the whole of this front. On other parts of the British front the situation is unchanged.

2

Athospheric conditions were favourable for aviation yes- terday there being a great concentration of our aeroplanes. on the battle-front. Large numbers of low fyers were em- `ployed in bombing and machine-gunning roads packed with snomy, troops, 38 tons of bombs being dropped and over 110,000 rounds of ammunition being fired by us. Other formations flying at a greater height engaged the enemy's aeroplanes which were extremely active in this sector. Other machines reconnoitred the battle-xres bringing back informa tion of the positions of our own and the enemy's troops.

The Flanders' Front.

London, April 12. Reuters correspondent at British Headquarters reports: The general position at the moment seems to justify the hope that the Germans will achieve no more towards a deci- sion in Flanders than they have done in Picardy sind Artóia They have overrun lot of territory and scored a series of tactical schievements, but the strategic situation remains unaltered, for so long as the Allied armies continue to laca the enemy with an unbroken line of men and guns the iD for them retains as clear as before we were preased out of the position occupied prior to the 21st March The situation at the week and is steadily improving in our favour, Although the Germans have delivered several beary attacks to-day on various points all were repulsed. Not only has the enemy apparently made no progress anywhere, but the retaking of Neave Englise by our troops may force him to relax his effort in the direction of Baillnel. There is a tendency to ward a fall in the offensive, which probably means that the Germans are very tired.

Enemy's I if rts Against the Northern Froot.

London, April 12.. -Reuter's correspondent at Paris quotes a semi-official message which says: The enemy now seems to be devoting. all his effort against the Northern front. The British line here is convex from the north to southward. From & point. west of Hollebeke the line passes Wytschaote, Messina, Neave Englise to the approaches of sonth Bailleul, bence to Neat Berght. It attains its maximum advance at Merville hence it bends south-easterly through Facant, Locon sid Festubert, where it joins the old line at Girunchy. The situs Bon is not incapable of being re-established. The cohesion of the British troops is in no way destroyed and the Allied Supreme Command now know what measures to take in order to obriate all possibility of rupture in the inter-Allied Forces. The course of the battle should not ärönke lack of confidence, for in such a gigantic conflict local fluctuations hardly count. Only the last blows are really important. As it is essential in a decisive crisis like the present to remain in the end the stronger General Foch, by sparing his men as long as possible, is awaiting his opportunity, The pect of the renewed attack in the south is berétain the

nch forces there.

proaches of south

Tamperature 6 am) Humidity

702 pm 73 .96

350 SINGLE COPY 18 CHETE

-1436.PER ANNUMA

TELEGRAMS.

‹ (Reuter's Serugice to the " Tals

THE SILVER MARKET,

La squad Icáðon, April 14

Silver" in quoted at 48 1/4 and. ia influenced by ivoreeand ratou to India. There are short rep [plies bât the market is firms:

GERMANY AND THE BOLSHEVIKI.

The New York Nation writes Ne followe

It may be tree, that Garmin troops are marching into Bussis. to perfect their quarantine against- the Balshevik infection, or it may be true that they are advancing for the liberation of the small pationalities from the tyranny of the Bolsheviki, as one Berlin speaker patit; but it may also be true that the Garman advance ja a foraging expedition on a huge roile.” In the first two drys the booty was nearly 1,400 osnnon, 1000. motor cars, im mense food stores, and an “ip- caleniable", emcunt of other-wir material. Had the, säbmission of. the-Bolabeviki been accepted at once, this property would hare.remsined fin Rassisu - ‘handa.” Now... befors the German march îà over, several thousand cannon will go to swall German resources for nation", against the western front. With the enormous captures in Italy last entumn Germany has added to her stook the equivalent t miny months weary bent in Allied munition factories and the strain upon many thousand tons of Allied shipping.

In an army order to the German roopa Prince Leopold of Bavaria` states thatthe sim of the advancg": in not annexation, bat the reestablishment of order and the prevention of the spread of Anarchist infection into western, Europe.

The German Government has, met the Bolshev ko - challenge direct Ealion from the

According beginning.

the Leninist conception, the Bal- shevik gospel would raise revolut." ion in Germany before the Germs. army could overwhelm Rumia: The German Government said, |"Very well, let's mee. The Bolsheviki went to Brértlitovsk to talk to the German, people. over the heads. of the Ger map diplomate. They argued that Willie II's consent to "do" businese with s proletarian government was a confession of defeat. William LL ́esið, “* Very well, I'll take a chance." At pré ent the Bolshevik agreement still runs that the German Government. dare not striks out sgainst a defenceless Baggis be ause it would mean that Germany is making

WAY

aguinet proletarianism, And the German Governm quite frank, about it: W making wat on pralet we are out to obrok the spread of Anarchist infection According to - the Lenine videology, the farther the German îrmiss prees foto: Rasia the greater in the altimace triamph of the faud amental Balaberik principles, The German Government is will

ng to concede Line that triam ph.

DONT FORGET.