1918-07-04 — Page 1

EXCHANGE

Closing. Quotations :i

T.T. London 38./3348.

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The Hongkong Telegraph

July 4, 1918,

Temperature

Humidity

92

79 2.p.m. $5 72

12

7985

日六骨月五

(ESTABLISHED

1881)

Copyright 1918, by the Propristor

THURSDAY,

WEATHER FORECAST FAIR

Barometer 29.65.

Temperature 6 m..

JULY 4, 1918.

July 4, 1917,

四年禮 四月七英港香

Humidity

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

FURTHER ITALIAN SUCCESSES.

THE MOSPITAL SHIP ́ATROCITY.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

THE OPERATIONS IN THE WEST.

Allied Plo-Pricks Delay German Offensiveİ

"

Further Captures of Territory and Men,

London, July 1.

London, July 2

the An Italian official message states:We stacked on Sunday The affairs north of Albert and south of Moeloy are regarded sa important and as indiosting a more provocative spirit by the and captured Col del Rosso, and also, after a bitter struggle which Allies since the Germans failed to break through on the Oise and lasted all day, ecotored Col de Chelle. The enemy's two Marns front. That their persistent and successful policy of pin attacke against Monte Valbella were completely arrested. Enemy pricks has failed to provoke a resumption of the German attack mason were mown down by artillery fire. The enemy's Idasse on shows the Allies that the delay in the attack has been imposed by June 29 and 30 were exceptionally beary, eighty offisers and 1,925 Oor loases ware very slight. We necessity. This is probably due to the difficulties of concentrating men being taken prisoner. material on ground fat in advance of the railways, but it is undoubted repulsed attacks in the Zagna region. that the Austrian defeat and the political chaos in the Daal Monarchy have disorganised the German schemes. Hence the coming blow is awaited with confidence, though it is recognised

that the next three months will be critical.

Another British Success,

London, July Ļ Filed Marshal Sir Dongina Haig, in a communique, states:-In sencosssful local operation last night north-west of Albert we cap- tured over fifty prisoners sad nine machine-guns. We also rushed sport south of Morlancourt. Daring Jane we took 1,957 prisoners, including 30 officers.

THE MAN-POWER QUESTION.

Why More Soldiers Are Required.

·

"London, July 2.

In the House of Commons, on a motion for su adjournment to sall attention to the serious effect of combing out agricultural labourers, Mr. Prothero, continuing his speech, asid that what they were saking the men on the land was nothing compared to what they were asking men at the front. He admitted that farmers cannot spare men, bat he found every farmers' deputation willing to release men on the score of patriotiem because they had the imagination to realise what was going on on the Western Front, He could not say that the harvest would be saved, for all theee thirty-thousand men were skilled and many were key men, without whom unskilled masses of labour were unmanageable. But be believed that not much of the harvest would be lost. Only the absolute need of men would have induced the Government to take the stop. He hoped that the agriculturists would meet the situation with the same cheerful courage and patriotism: ne previona, difficulties.

Beveral members criticised sending men to the front, after (brief ?) training.

Mr. Bonar Law said that the Government recognised that men and boys were bandicapped in having to fight"on such a short * training, but we throughout the war had been handicapped by the necessity of creating an army from its foundations. He recognised the hardship to farmers, but the question was whether the Govern ment's notion was in the national interest. Thirty thousand men were wanted and represented a foros necessary to supply three or four fighting divisions, when it was reclined that the whole aim of German strategy this year was to wear out our reserves. Thus it must be realised that the Government's first daty wse to secure our not being defested by this campaign and our not suffering in any. thing we may do next year. The difficulties of man-power were becoming monthly greater and it was impossible to decide such difficulties by disenssion in the House of Commons, which must give the Government a blank cheque.

The motion for adjournment was negatived.

*

THE TORPEDOED HOSPITAL SHIP.

Some Pertinent Press Commeat.

London, Jaly 2. The newspapers comment on the sinking of the Llandovery Castle as establishing that the sinking of hospital ships is a deliberate German policy beyond all doubt. They ask what the use is for German statesman appealing, like Baron von Kuehlmann, to be credited with probity and chivalry when crimes so infamoua continue to be carried out by Government order. They point out that an added element of horror in the latest atrocity was the repeated attempt of the submarine commander to justify himself by Bconsations against his victim and bis wild and furions shooting - among the wreckage in an apparent attempt to sink the vessel

without leaving a trade.

THE WAR PRISONERS' CONFERENCE.

London, Jaly 2.

Beater's correspondent at the Hague esys that Sir George Care háa left suddenly for England. It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George has summoned him and that his presence is required in connection with importsat Parliamentary matterë.

Lord Newton and General Belfield will continue the Prisoners of War negotiations.

DUTCH CONVOY TO EAST INDIES.

London, July 3,

Beater's correspondent at the Hague esys that the Foreign Ministry has issued a statement regarding the decision to send & Datch convoy to the Datch East Indies. It says that Holland at the end of April offered to guarantee that the military interests of the belligerente would not be affected. Britain replied that Britain never recognised convoying as a right of neutrals, but, se tangible proof of British friendship for Holland, Britain would not pat difficulties in the way of a convoy if certain conditions were fulfilled, Holland replied that the conditions were practically in socord with. the Dutch" gaarantees.” The list of cargoes to be convoyed was. supplied to belligerents and the departure of the convoy was arrang- ed for June 10.. Britsin on Jaus 18 objected that although it was understood that no goods of German origin would be carried, the steamer Noordam containet dyestafis of paróly German origin.

Austrian Admissions.

London, July 1

from Col del Roess and Moose Valbella to our former position in A wireless Austrian official message etated :—We 'withdraw

Stenele Wood.

་་

EARLIEH

TELEGRAMS.

THE HOSPITAL SHip atrocity."

Full Details of the Sinklog/

London, July 1.

The Press Bureau states: Germany's awful debt to the . world continues to grow. Another hospital ship has been torpedoed, this time 170 miles from the nearest land. Her people were turned adrift in boats to sink or swim and though, as happezed she was a Canadian bospital ship re- turning from Halifax with no wounded aboard, the tale of the crime reveals wanton deliberation on the part of the submarine commander almost suggesting that be hoped to "find her full of injured and helpless men.

The Llandovery Castle was chartered by the Canadisa Government to convey sick and wonnded from England to Halifax. There were eighty members of the Medical Corps aboard, including seven officers. The Llandovery Castle "was steaming at fourteen knots with the usual navigation and regulation hospital ship lights and under an overcast sky. She was plainly visible and unmistakable for anything but what she was, a ship irimane by every law of war and peace from attack or molestation.

no answer.

No one aboard saw the wake of the torpedo. The first intimation of the submarine was the jar and roar of an explosion from aft then the lights went out. Everything thereafter, except for the dim light from the emergency dynamo just before the ship foundered occurred in darknesɛ. The engines were immediately rung to "Stop, then to "Full speed astern" but from the enginercom thers came The ship's rehearsed routine however held good, for with the Germans one must be prepared for every such emergency. Along the darkened decks the crew groped to their boat stations and stood by for orders to leave. The captain megaphoned from the bridge to hold on till the way was off the ship. The carpenter alt was examining the damage and the Marooni operator was in his cabin vainly striving to transmit the ship's position but the key gained no response for the spark had gone. The carpenter reported No. 4 hold aft blown in and she couldn't remain afloat. The officer commanding the Canadian Army Medical Corps reported all his people out. This is important inasmuch as only the Captain's boat has been picked up. Save for any of the ship's company or engine room crew who are killed by the torpedo explosion, it is clear that everyoné gút away. The Captain went to his cabin for an electric torch and returned on deck and found by accident that the boat which was held back for those last to leave the ship had gone. The second officer lowered the lifeboat and those who were still aboard entered by a life line which was a two-inch rope dangling alongside sixty feet of the ship's side. They pushed off and got clear just in time to avoid being sucked under as the Llandovery Castle's stern went down leaving her long bows erect. One boiler seemed to be blown up as the water reached it and the funnel leaned on its side as she slowly listed to starboard, tore loose and fell away. Then, stern first, she alid under and disappeared. The vessel sank in not more than ten minutes from the time of e explosion of the torpedo. Huge quantities of wreckage were floating on the quiet sea and rafts and gratings on which hawsers had been coiled. Among them men were floundering and shooting and one was walking about on a grating. The Captain's boat picked up eleven from the wreckage then proceeded 'towards & voice calling for help from the water. In the dark they beard simultaneously two others calling from elsewhere. It was then that there appeared from the night, crawling through the floating de bris, & long black shape. A submarine conning tower open- ed and figures were vaguely seen along the decks. The submarine hailed the boat in English to come alongside.

The boat was pulling to pick up a drowing man and the second officer shouted "We are picking up a man from the water" "Come alongside" repeated a brusque voice from the submarine. The boat held on its way and forthwith two revolver shots were fired at and over it. "Come alongside or I shoot my big gun" shouted the commander. The boat pulled to the submarine and the Captain under orders, went aboard and the commander asked "sharply

What ship was that?" "It is the hospital ship Llandovery Castle" replied the captain. The submarine commander did not appear surprised bat said: “But you are carrying eight American flying officers." "We aren't" replied the Captain, "we have seven Canadian medical officers aboard and the ship was chartered by the Canadian Government to carry sick and wounded Canadians from England to Canada" Replying to the commander's reiterated statement. "You're been carrying American flyers" the captain said "I have been running for six months to Canada with wounded and give my word of honour that I only carried patiente, medicals, sisters and crew." The commander then-demand- ed it any Canadian medical men were in the boat and ordered one aboard., The Captain zaked "Where are our other boats?" The commander did not answer, bó was watching the Canadian medical officer who was being rough- ly hauled aboard and thrust along the deck.. This was being done so violently and with such plain intention to injure that the Canadian medical officer, Major Lyon, had a small bone in his foot broken. Another German officer in the coming tower motioned over his shoulder with field glasses in a northerly direction. Major Lyon was interrogated and, after probeating his character as a medical officer, was prdered back to the boat. The Captain was sles allerwed. to go and began to cifelé round the wreckage. Narrowly; sharing the boat she stopped it again and took the second and fourth officers and questioned them. This time the --

"

commander invented a new excuse 'and stated there was a big explosion aft

the vessel sank therakord Tossel must have been carrying minitions. The second officer explained that it was the explosion of the boiler and the falling of the funnel. They were then_al lowed to return to the boat which made sail and proceeded. The submarine again circled, apparently stopped and began firing at an unseen target, twelve shells. The unseen target may Have been the other boats which, if picked up, can furnish evidence on this point". The Captain meanwhile, realising" the hopelessness of assistance from the north #s no wireless had been sent out, decided to make for the Irish coast and send help to the others. After sailing and pulling for coventy miles the boat was picked up by the destroyer Lysander which wirelessed for a search for the other survivors and took the occupants of the Captain's boat to Queenstown

Brutal German Condust

London, July 1. The Commander of the destroyer Lysander on being in- terviewed 'stated that the survivors of the Llandovery Castle when picked up had been drifting thirty-six hours. The Commander emphasised that it was another instance of sinking at sight and furthermore it was anquestionably intended that the Hun policy of "Leave no trace" šhould be carried out in its entirety. When last seen the sub- marine was apparently shelling some of the seven boats which were launched. One boat containing twelve Sisters was seen to capsize and the Sisters were thrown out, and pinned underneath the boat. The Canadian sergeant of this boat managed to scramble upon the keel, Nothing has been seen of the remaining five boats. The Commander be- lieved they were not improbably destroyed by shelläre; any. how the submarine was observed charging wreckage on which survivors were changing and in the locality where the lifeboats were believed to be drifting. It is thought the the submarme intended to sink the boat in which the aurvivors were huddled owing to the way the submarine apparently tried to swamp it in her backwash. Instancing the ferocity of the submarine captain the Lysander's Com- mander said that the Canadian sergeant when he struggled on to the keel of the upturned boat was apparently dazed and also badly bruised, yet when the boat drifted along. side the submarine and the Canadian evidently thinking it was a rescue ship scrambled aboard, the submarine officer picked up the Canadian and flung him back into the sex "We have since been cruising in the neighbourhood of the torpedoing but not a single piece of wreckage has been seen.

THE GERMANS IN CHINA.

London, July, 2. The Daily Chronicle" correspondent at the Hague says. that one reason for the return of the German War Prisoner Delegates to Berlin was to consult the Government regard- ing the deportation of Germans from China. It appears that von Kuehlmann's statement in the Reichstag that the matter was satisfactorily settled is incorrect. The question is a part of the problems which the Conference has to settle as a whole. The Germans have apparently determined to have a comprehensive agreement or none at all and they are particularly anxious to secure the return of all colonial prisoners.

THE NEED FOR MORE MEN.

London, July 2

In the House of Commons Mr. W. F. Roch moved the adjournment in order to call attention to the serious effect of combing out agricultural labourers on the harvest and he said that he had been inundated with letters from farmers bewailing the probable disastrous effects of the Government's action and threatening to turn the cattle into the harvest field unless they got, labour. Mr. Roch said the Agricultural Executive Committees were not willing parties? to the calling up of thirty thousand labourers for. which Sir Auckland Geddes was solely responsible. Mr. Prothero sympathized with the complaint but emphasised the over- mastering need of men for the arms. Man power was short all round, but essential industries must yield a pro- portion of man power for the army. Men taken now would be in the fighting line by the end of September, which would possibly be a critical moment. The Government re- ooguised that the need of men overpowered every con sideration, even that of food. :|་

MORE RAIDS ON GERMANY,

London, July

The Air Ministry announces that in addition to the at tacks reported we on the night of the 29th bombed the chemical works of Mannheim. One machine reported miss ing on the 30th has returned. On the night of the 30th we attacked the aerodrome at Boulay, railway works and stations at Thionville, Eemilly, Landau, Zweibrucken and Saarbrücken, also works at Mannheim. We bombed with good effect on Monday railways and workshops at Karthaus, the station at Treves and the railway triangle at Metzsabloos and shot down one hostile machine. Two of ours are missing Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, reporting an aviation, says: We had a most successful day on the 30th. We shot down twenty-five aeroplanes and drove down ten uncontroll- able. A large number of reconnaisances were carried cat and enabled bur "artillery to engage a greater number of hostile batteries than on any day of the pass fortnight. Wa dropped 29 tons of bombs during the day and seventeen tons during the night.. Of the latter seven tons fell with good effect on rail' connections at Tournai. Two of our machines are missing.

*

POSITION OF LABOUR MINISTERS.

London, July 2

The Labour Ministers further met yesterday, and it is understood decided that it was not necessary to take action in consequence of the Labour Conference's resolution termi- nating the party truca

(Continued on page 8.)

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PLOT TO ESCAPE FROM WAR CAMP.

Swede Sentenced for Sending A Map.

A story of an interned war prisoner's, soheme for escaping from a camp near Macham, is Yorkshire, was told recently st Bow-street.

Carl Gustav Virquist, Lindens gardens, Bayawster, a Swediak gymnastic instructor, was charged with attempting to assist Ernár Landberg to escape, and for transmitting a letter and map likely to be of assistance to him.

Mr. Markett, prosecuting, said Lundberg, who was also .8′′ Swede, bad served in the Garusila « Army, and handed to a man in the asmp canteen a latter written in ⚫ Swedish dialect, known as the West Gotha dialect. The enval- ope was not addressed, but some kind of name and addrem wh given to the maD.

The letter contained the sen- tenos, "I am thinking that I and three others might esesps from bere and, if possible, go back to Ger naay,” and requested socused to send maps, passports, money, bate, fiab-lights, and asked for information sa to Oċmauls, porta, and guys

On this latter being handed to the Camp Commandant, a nest counter plot was stranged. The letter was given to a police, ser geant, by birth & Datchman, whe delivered it to Virquist, and received from him a reply, also written in the Gotha 'dialect. It was enclosed in an unaddressed. envelope, and Vinquist remarked : "Are you going op north now? Remember me to any of the boys you may meet.

"

In this letter Virquist said:➡ "I bave been racking" my brains to think what I can do in the matter. Money I here none, and the devil take me if I knoW how to get any, for I am in debt to everybody."

He also wrote that to obtain passports would mean forgery, and he would not do that,

With the letter was enclosed a small map of England and Wales. Another pamage was:—

"The bosts asil from London and Hall with cargo and passen». gers, and go by Newcastle and a long way north. In order to get. on board one must have a pass». port stamped with one's creden- tale, and for this purpose every individual in his own person must present himself before certain bigh authorities. Besides this, every foreigner must always have a so-called identification book, which must be stamped by the pigs at every place in which he passes a zight. Englishmen, don't require anything of that.

BOTE,"

Mr. Muskett said he understood that "piga" in the letter meant police.

Vinquist, who, claimed that Landberg wsa an old school friend, exid he came to England in connection' with the Olympia games. He had been soting . ssistant at an institute in Pad-.. dington etreet, which was now used as a hospital for officers, and he had treated a great number of casen of wounded officers., He | wanted to tell Landberg in a nice polite way that he did not want to have anything to do with his request.

Sentence of six months' im- prisonment was passed, and Mr.. Graham Campbell recommended Vinquist for departstion,"

DON'T - FORGKI

TO-DAY. Victoria Thestr

TO-MORROW, Victoria Thesis”: 2:15 ma