1918-08-06 — Page 1

4.

EXCHANGE)

Closing Quotations:-

TT, London Sa/4148.

On Demand 38./1948.

The Hongkong Telegraph

(ESTABLISHED

1881,)

Copyright 1918, by the Proprietor)

WEATHER FORECAST,

SHOWERY. Barometer 29.52;

August 6, 1918,

Temperature

8 a.m.

20 2pm. 83

Humidity

82

79

8013

日十三月天

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS,

THE BATTLE ON THE VESLE. GERMANS RESIST. DESPERATELY IN RETIRING.

FORTY THOUSAND GERMAN PRISONERS SINCE RETREAT BEGAN.

London, August 4.

TUESDAY,

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS. 136 PER ANNUM,

AUGUST

6,

1918.

August 6, 1917,

二拜禮 六月八英港香

Temparature 6 6.3.

p. $5

Humidity

84

EABLIER TELEGRAMS,

THE GERMAN RETREAT,

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS..

AMERICA'S WONDERFUL EFFORTS.

Great Production of War Material.

London, August 5, Nice Congressmen of the United States visiting England have issued a statement which says that there will be no cessation of America's war efforts until the war is won. Americs has twenty million men of military age and yearly more than a million youths Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reporte-We drove off raiders will reach twenty-one. America's agricultural production is so great south of Arras and our patrols took a few prisoners in the La Bassee that if peopesary it can feet France, England and Italy and keep the Before October there will be two million armies fully rationed. sector. Our aviators dropped five tons of bomba sad shot down seven seroplanes. Our night fliers dropped five tone of bomba on the American soldiers in Europe and a million more are training in the railway stations at Steenwerck and Fiver, Three British are missing United States, all of whom are between the ages of 21 and 30 and are

A Pause Explained.

equal to the best shock troops. Daily ten thousand of these splendid London, August 4.

troops are leaving for the battle front, America is manufacurting Reuter's correspondent at the French Has quarteza, telegraph wekly 55.000 fl and machine guns. The capacity of the factories ing on August 4, says that the pause in the battle along the Vela i 760,000 abella daily. In xew weapons, including improved grenades, largely due to the fatigue of the troops, who have been fighting and famethrowers and poison gases, Amerios is specially well supplied. advancing continuously for several days, and also cosking rains and Twenty-five thousand seroplanes are now being built, The United consequent heavy roads. Only light advancel columna are at distes poseesser 100,000 aviatore. A new seroplane motor, compared present in contact with the enemy along the Veele, and these are for weight, is the most powerful in the world and will enable grest awaiting the main body of infantry and guns before attempting to bombing machines to fie scross the Atlantic in twenty bears Already drive the Germans beyond the Veele. The fact that the enemy has five hundred battle-planes have been abipped to Earope. The pre- installed heavy artillery on the plateau bebind Veale indicates the sent rate of the delivery of battle-planss is at the rate of eighty

weekly. likelihood of bis decision to stabilise the line on the Vesle. The Germans still enclose Rheims on the west, north and east.

THE WAR ANNIVERSARY.

El

King George's Messages to the Allies.

London, August 4.

The British Success Near Albert,

London, August 5. Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, telegraph- ing on August 4, saya :-Although the German withdrawal near Albert should not be exaggerated, it has been compelled by our

The Prees Baresa announces that His Majesty the King has casseless activity and the difficulties of maintaining communications Across the swampy valley. The enemy found the sector extremely sent messages to the ralers of Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, costly to hold and the Germans bad either to advance or retire Portugal and Serbis emphasising the Empire's unchanging resolve to before the wet season. But the chief signißoanoe of the retirement concentrate ise entire energy upon the victorious conclusion of the is that the enemy in this region has definitely passed to defensive struggle and expressing confidence that a victorious perca is not tactica. The threat to Amiene, astride the Albert Road, has far distant. Hie Majesty has sent a similar message to the King of protically disappested. Raidera recently captured German sappers the Belgians, adding that Belgiam's trials so bravely borne and in this sector, confirming the auspicion that a retreat was pending.endaring are an incentive to presevere till complete victory is The main withdrawal was carried out on Thursday night. This sasured... A message bas also been sent to the Kinga of Siam and must have proved costly to the enemy, as the Ancre was swollen Montenegro and the Presidents of China, Oubs and Liberis, and we, anticipating events; had kept the bridges continuously shelled. Our patrols are advancing warily and they have passed through Avelay Wood and yesterday entered the village on the west bank of the Aucre.

The Enemy's Desperate Effort,

London, August 5.

Anglo-American Unity,

London, August 4.

The Press Baresu sunounces that President Wilson bas sent a message to Hie Majesty the King in which he says that America cordially extends her hand to Great Britain on this anniversary of The enemy, although retiring across the Veele, is still resisting Britain's entrance into the war, in which the forces of civilisation tabbornly. The French have captured Jonchery and crossed the ara fighting the forces of reaction, and be juices that the two Veale at Venteaux Farm, also north-west of Brainne, and have nations stand side by side in eo great a cause. His Majesty the King crossed the river opposite Soissons, captoring 8: Vaask. The enemy replied: Your message will be read with cordial appreciation by has destroyed all the bridges across the Vesle, The parsait is my peoples, encouraging them to a proencation of the struggle being continued, the French occupying strong positions on the east against our common enemies. I am prond my foreas with those of bank of the river. The Americans are attacking Fiemes. The the United States are fighting side by side. You may reat seagred Germans apparently realise their inability to stand permanently on it is our answerving determination to continue with all our strength the Veele, but are desperately attempting to delay the Allies in until victory of right over wrong is achieved." order to get man and stores across the Aisne, the crossing of which will be very troublesome. Between Dernancourt and Hamel, both in our possession, the enemy has entirely re-crossed the Anere. At Albert the situation is doubtful at pressat, but it is believed that the Germane ste holding part of the town.

22

Flames Captured. -

London, August 5. An American official message says:--We have taken Fiemes and bold the south bank of the Veale in this sector.

French Progress.

London, Angust 5.

LORD LANDOWNE'S LETTER

Spirited Reply by Mr. Churchili,

London, August 5.

A Fresch communique states:-We reached the Vesle at several points. Esst of Fismes enemy rearguarde resisted strongly, notably appearance of power is with the enemy; the reality of power is with between Maizon and Champigny. Our light elementa, nevertheless, gained a footing at various points on the north bank. Fismes is oure, We gained ground north-west of Bheima as far as the village of Neovillette, which the enemy is defending vigorously. The Germana on the left of the Avre between Castel and Mesnil St. Georges were compelled to abandon part of their positions which had become We occupied untenable sŭ a result of our advance on July 23. Brachee, penetrated Basicourt and reached the western cultkirts of "Couriemsnohe. We have taken prisonere.

Crown Prince's Great Losses.

London, August 5.

Mr. Winston Churchill, in the course of a letter to his con stituents, lengthily replies to Lord Lansdowne's letter cabled on July 31. Ea says the war has got to be won; it is not yet won. These twin fects dominate every argument not arising from despondeney or treason. "Let us not delude ourselves by thinking there is any enbstitate for victory. The salient fact of the situation is that the us. The Kaiser rules more millione ci subjects and slates then at any time in the war, but the German people are bleeding, suffering from bad feeding sad auder-feeding, and enduring a strain thrice as hard as Britsin. Therefore, if we stand fast, the Germane must bresk Three terrible things have happened to Germany during the present year:-Her attacke on the Anglo-French armies have been repalaed, submarinism bas been definitely controlled, and the American armies are landing at a rate promising to make the Allied strength over- whelming. A fourth thing is the increasing Allied domination in the air. All the world is matching against Germany. We have but to persevere to conquer. That is a reality. To make pesce now, when Germany has apparently triumphed but is really tottering, when America has only just began, and when Russia is in the deepest abyss of misery, would brand our race for generations with a fictitious inferiority and a sham defeat. Yet that is what Lord Lansdowne is obstinately beseeching as to do.”

Since the Crown Prisos began his retrest, bis armies have fallen back twenty miles and have lost 40,000 prisoners. The present Gar man positions are nearly a straight line between Soissons and Rheims, The latter town is still surrounded by the enemy on three rides, though our latest success have relieved the pressure esst of the

Mr. Churchill, after emphasising that we must keep stop with City. The enemy requizas fawer divisions to defend this line than if be bad retreated across the Aisne, whose man winding, necessitate, our Americas kicemen, according to the words of President that large bodies of troops shall defend them. But the Aisne is most Wilson, "force without atint," concludes by declaring, se in- dangerous in the rear of the beaten enemy and the indications are dispensable to the cessation of hostilities, firstly, that the GermanK that the enemy will continue his retirement north of the Aisne. Eren armies must be decisively beaten in the field, and, secondly, that this naturel rampart is jeopardised by the French bridgeheads at the German people must spontaneously and definitely break with Soissons and its suburb, St. Vasst, the latter commanding the whole the system which has led them to so many monstrone crimes;

otherwise, they osnnot be allowed to enter the League of Nations. of the sharp bead of the river east of the city.

The German Retreat.

ARMOUR FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS

Learning Lessons from the Past

Londor, August 5,

London, August 5. Beater's correspondent at Fronoh Headquarters, writing on the evening of the 4th instant, states:-The Germans must have felt the pinch before they voluntarily retired from positions north and south cf the Somme, which would have been a useful line

According to Benter's correspondent at Washington, the Wer of departure for a further advance on Amiens and Abbeville. One involuntary and two voluntary German retirements were all un- Department annoucoes that expert armourers in the workshop of the derisken with a vien to asving men. If these economies are being Metropolitan Maseam at New York are modelling armour for the effected in order that Prince Rupprecht or the Crown Prince may be nee of American soldiers in France, including helmete, shields and able to afford another great adventure at some other point, we shall breastplates comprising all the best types aced in ancient days, quickly learn it. If it is decided that the moment when i decisiva victory is possible has passed, the enemy may retreat farther

ZEEBRUGGE CANAL STILL BLOCKED, then he has yet shown signs of doing. The Germans, as agual, are

London, Angaat 5. retreating slowly and in good order, withdrawing in alternate sections flanked by centres of resistance which are always able to

According to Reuter's correspondent at Amsterdam, two British pour eros Aires éçon any troops advancing into an abandoned sector. too hastily. Dar advance to the village of La Neuvillette, a mile airmen who were forced to decond in Holland efter raiding Zeebrugge, north of Rheims on the Bheims Lion road, means that Bheims is declare that the canal is still blocked and the locks terribly damaged completely disengaged on the east, and the enemy has renounced as the result of a direct hit yesterday. Recently a British bomb fell

amidet-four hundred marines in Brügen, canning great slaughter: hopes of at length capturing it by an enveloping alfack,

.

ה

J

Allles Still Progressing.

London, Aug 9. Renter's correspondent at the French Headquarters, writing at 11 p.m. on August, says: The retreat is general on all three faces of the salient. The Germans may hold on the lins of the Vesle, but it is quite possible they may be obliged to retire to the Aishe. Anyway they have lost all they gained in the offensive of May, Jaco and July. The question now is whether they will risk what remains of their reserves in a sudden blow on another part of the front. If they decide to tempt fortune once more they will find the Allied armies ready. For the present we are receiving every minnte names of villages and woods re-occupied. Plessier Wood, sbutting on the Soissons Chateau Thierry Road, has e turned and the defenders surrounded. It was a centre of Boche resistance and the fight was therefore extraordinarily bitter. Further north the British crossed the Soissons-Chateau Thierry Road, pressing through Concroy wood a mile east of Ville Montoire as in March last year. The French army is advancing in pursuit of the enemy. Cavalry patrols are far in advance and horse artillery and engineers, are ac companying the infantry. It rained heavily all day and the condition of the roads retards the advance,

Advance on Filty Kilometre Froot.

Paris, Aug.

A semi-official message states: The capture of the heights north of Grand Rozoy was effected in the teeth of desperate resistance. The woods, thickets and villages were so many fortresses swarming with machine-guns and had to be cap tured separately, but the assault, which was assisted by tacks, opened at four in the morning and was pressed with #ach vigour that the chief position was captured in two hours... Violent counter-attacks were superbly met and by the evening the ridges farther north were occupied. Numer- ous Germans were seen by observers fleeing northwards. The French completely hold Soissons. The Cathedral va riddled with shells: Yesterday's progress was on a front of fifty kilometres between Soissons and Rheims to an average depth of three or four kilometres. In some places it reached six. The advance is far from ended, some of our pursuing elements having already reached the Vesle. The retreating. enemy is enragingly burning crops and villages. Braisnes and Fismes are in fames. The constant afflux of Americans is a sure guarantee of success of the operations which will shortly be developed.

Upen Warfare Resumed

London, Aug.

Beuter's correspondent at the French Headquarters. writing at 11.39 p.m. on Saturday, says: The capture of Mont Bellen overlooking the Aisne south of Soissons gave us a footing the plateau" which fills the angle between the Aisne and the Vesle and forced the retreat of, the Ger- man left and centre. The Germans with their third line echelonned facing south-west were driven from Soissons and in order to escape envelopment each successive centre of résistance had to be abandoned as far as Fiames. We are again in open warfare. Cavalry screens spread across the Selds precede the advance of the infantry along the roads. Horsemen on encountering machine-gun posts dismount and destroy them or compel them to retire, The enemy artillery is distributing its fire on special points on roads and bridges where our troops are bound to pass with the object of delay- ing the advance. The Germans continue to burn villages, including those behind the Vesle and over ripe cornfields. They are also blowing up their munition dumps as they retire. British Troops Reach thAncre.

London, Aug. 4."

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our patrols' progress in the Albert sector continued. We hold the greater part of the ground previously in the enemy's possession westward of the Ancre. We closely followed up the enemy in his withdrawal, indications whereof were previously observed. A number of dead were found in the abandoned trenches. We repulsed strong raiding parties south-east- ward of Hebaterne and eastward of Robecq. increased hostile artillerying at Kemmel. The weather in- terfered with airwork We dropped thirty tons of Dembs during the day, three tons whereof fell on Bruges Docks. We brought down two hostile machines. All ours returned. Night-flying was impossible.

There is

Field Marshal Sir. Douglas Haig reports: Our patrole reached the Ancre between Dernancourt and Hamel, con- tacting with the enemy on this line. Hostile artillery was active at night-time northward of Bethune and southward of Ypres.

"

The Vesle Crossed.

London, Aug. 4.

A Havas message says: The German retreat continues over the whole thirty mile front. The nature of the pursuit is shown by the active intervention of French cavalry, which is harging on the heels of the scattered foe and forcing him to accentuate his fight. The Allied advance yesterday extended to a depth of six miles. At places advance elements pushed even further head. The Vesle has been crossed and any hope of holding this line has been lost for the Germans. The retreat will probably continue till the Aisne is recrossed and General Foch is determined to pre- vent the enemy from profiting by the lull in operations. American troops advancing strongly in the centre yesterday reached the outskirts of Fismes, the great junction on the Vesle and on the Soissons-Rheims railway line midway be. tween these two towns. According to last reports Fismes is on fire, which indicates that the chemy entertains no more hope of retaining the town. West of Fismes the Americans crossed the Vosle and are now marching on the Aisne in concert with General Mangin's forces, which crossed the Crise on Friday and are now across the railway skirting the Vesle. East of Fismes General Berthelot's army of French, British and Italians swept forward over a wide area and is now hugging both sides of the main railway line from Fismes to Rheims. Thus the Allied front. now stretches in a more or less straight line west to east. The German pocket has been entirely eliminated. Within less than three weeks General-Foch's plan of campaign has wreated from the Germans the fruits of the formidable offensive launched on the Aisne on May 7, the direct.bid for Pazis The enemy is now within sight of his starting point. The enormous sacrifices of men and material made lor ephemeral success since 'transformed into the biggest defeat he has suffered since the first battle of the Marno must now be explained to the German people, who had" been promised that the offensive would bring peace and victory.

(Continued on Page BJ

SHANGHAI RACECOURSE,

Big Work Undertaken by Race Club,

The use of the mud coarse of the race track will, says the North China Daily News, be denied to the general public for a period of abous six weeks while extansive repairs will be undertaken by the Bace Club, and while this will serionaly inconvenience those sccustomed to use the couIES regularly, there will be no protesta or expressions of regret when it is understood that the temporary closing of this course mesue practically s now couree that can be used at all seasons, wet or dry.

The upkeep of the mud coarse has always been unsatisfactory and costly for the Race Club, last year alone some $5,000 was spent on it and for much of the time it has been unusable. As fast as depressions were filled in others would develop, and when it rained water would stand on the track sa if there were no drainage arranged for. Now the Rice Club has decided to deal with the estirse radioally and

A to make

good and permanent

of job it. Accordingly three Icoal engineere, Mesara. D: P. Griffith, J. Ambrose, and L. Taxford, were. called in consultation, and it was decided to raise the Isval of the abole mud course's bout 15 inches.

The work will involve an ex» penditure of about $20,000 and occupy six weeks in time. Raised to the new level, the track willshed its water into the creek through drainage elnices, and there will be a dry, firm bat soft garises quit- able for galloping. Layer of email stone, cinders, Ningpo sa ssad and Haangpo mud will. comprise the new surface.

AMAZING LOVE ROMANCE.

Cigar Maker who Married A Millionaire.

The sentence of 10 years in à penitentiary passed, recently at Kansas, City on Mrs Rose Pastor Stokes, wife of the New York publicist and millionaire, Mr. J. G. Phelps Stokes, ander the espionage law, recalle ao amssing love romance which ended in the marriage of a Jewess who was once a cigar-maker in the Eset Eed of London,

Fourteen years ago Boss Harriet Poster was employed in a cigar factory in Whitechapel rolling tobacco and

earning tarely Aufficient money to keep body and soul together. She was reared in an atmosphere of extreme poverty but she nevertheless contrived to get a smattering of education in the London public schools and to supplement her small stook of learning by private study.

A few weeks after her marriage to Mr. Blokes (whom she met for the first time when she called on him regarding an appointment on Jewish newspaper in New York) she revisited the scenes of ber poverty-etricken youth in White- chapel, zooompanied by her hus- band.

Mrs. Stokes had interested herself for years in the ameliors- tion of the lot the poor: She often recalled her "hard, bangry daya" in the neighbourhood of Petticoat Lane, and that thera were two things which she had not forgotten the grimy street: of the East End and the London policemen, who were so kin-l and good to little children when they cried in the streete."

In connection with the sentence passed upon his wife Mr. Stokas has announced 'that an appeal will be made. In part abe proteeted her innocence and declared that her viewa had been misunderstood.