1918-08-19 — Page 1

EXCHANGE!

Misaing Quotations:** T.T, London 38/5}4d. On Demand 3.5 7/16d.

The Hongkong Telegraph

WEATHER

FAIR

Barometer 29,00)

Angust 19, 1918,

8024 ̇日三十月七

Temperature Humidity

78 27.3. 91

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

ON THE WESTRN FRONT.

Americans Capture Frapelle.

London, August 18. “An American commanique states :--On the 17th inst. in the „Voages we captured the village of Frapelle,

The British Front."

London, Angost 18. Field Hogshal Sir Douglas Heig sister:-We slightly improved our portions south of Bacqoy and, drove iff raiders in this neigh bourhood.

THE MEXICAN OIL FIELDS.

ارچه

London, Aagnet 18°

According to Renter's correspondent at New York, in connection with the Anglo Americas representatione to Mexico regarding oil decrees, the Asciated Prese correspondent at Washington learns | that General Carranza on Angust 12 cancelled the decres of Jal- 31 under which undeveloped oil lands might be esized by the Mexican Government if the owners failed to submit to excessiva bastion.

"AMERICA'S CONTRIBUTION:

London, August 18. According to Rester's correspondent at Washington, General March announces that approximately 1,450,000 Ameriese troops have embarked for or are en route to France, Italy and Biberis.

U. S. NAVAL BASE IN FRANCE,

London, August 18. Renter's correspondent at Paris etates that President Poincare visited Brest and inspected the huge new dooks at the American naval bass which has recently been enormously developed and Holudes a flating landing stage whose constraction has been so advanced that one convoy from the United States has already disembarked 33,000 men and stores in ten hours. President Poincare witnessed the march past of three American regiments just leaving a training camp for the front. He also es a ccavoy of merchantmen anice scited by sa sirahip, seaplanes and destroyer. It was a Try impressive eight.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

London, August 18. According to a message from Amsterdam, a report from Moscow vis Berlin says that Soviet troops have surrounded and are bombard- ing Kasan. A number of Eaglish and French troops have been arrested. Boviet troops are advancing on Oaega and have occapied Kirillovka. Of a thousand counter-revolutionary officere arrested in Moscow and Petrograd and sent to Kronstadt, 236 bare already been summarily abot.

EARLIER

TELEGRAMS.

MORE GERMAN DEVILRY.

London, Aug. 17.

Details are officially published of gross outrages, perhaps unparalleled for fiendish cruelty, upon British prisoners and wounded men in March last. The facts are authenticated by sworn statements of Scotish soldiers who were of the party maltreated. A private of the Royal Highlandere tells » how he and a number of comrades were surrounded and compelled to surrender near Moneny on 25th March. He says: "Our rides and equipment were taken from us. We consisted of one "officer and sixteen men ten of whom were wounded, "We were lined up in an original front line treach and left without a guard for sume time. Then a German officer and two men appeared on the edge of the trench. One man carried a container on his back. The other was armed with a rifle and a short bayonet. The officer carried & revolver. The officer gave an order and the man with the container turned a stream of liquid fire straight down the trench in which we were standing. He could plainly see we were unarmed. He continued to play on us for six or seven minutes. The witness added he and a few companions who were able to move scrambled down the communication trench and got over the top to the British lines. A private says Y that after he and some other prisoners were

→tured and disarmed they were marched down the trench to 241 emplacement about six feet deep, nine foot wide and from rine to twelve feet long. The sides were perpendicular except at one ead which sloped. The prisonere were tightly packed in this enclosure, Two Germans appeared at the entrance of the emplacement. One had no rifle or equipment. He carried a revolver and appeared to be an officer. The other also wore no equip ment, but had strapped on his back & cylinder with a flexible pipe over his shoulder the end of which he carried in his hand Just as he reached the entrance of the enclosure flame spurted out in a stream from the pipe and caught the men who were nearest, I immediately dropped as far as I could and got my face on the ground. Other mou lay in saps around and partly on me. I heard a hissing sound for a short while and then it stopped and restarted. During this time the men were shrieking and writhing about. The flames reached right back to where I was and my overcoat and tunic caught fire. By this time all the men were on the ground. This soldier managed to crawl up the alope and get away,

cap-

A private shows how an officer wounded in the head and foot also four wounded men and three unwounded men, including the narrator, were in an old trench when two, Ger mans came with Liquid fire. One stood with a revolver in his hand and ordered the party to get back to the German lines. Another man squirted liquid fire over all the members of the party. The narrator's hands and right car ware burnt. Three of the party managed to run away and reach the British lines. The Germans must either have suffocated or burnt all the five wounded men for nothing further bas been heard of them.

The British Government has protested to Germany. against these outrages:

Temperature 6 L.

86

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS.

(ESTABLISHED

1881)

Copyright 1918, by the Proprister}

MONDAY, AUGUST 19,

1918.

August 19, 1917,

一拜禮號九十月八英港香

Humidity

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

EARLIER TELEGRAMS.

THE ENEMY CONFERENCE.

Some of the Matters Discussed.

THE FIGHTING IN FRANCE.

Allies Continue Vic orious Pressure,

London, Aug. 17. Yesterday's communiques show that the Anglo-French continue their victorious pressure on the Somme battle-front, having transferred the main attack from the Lassigny area northwards to the Roye region, where as the result of yester. day's gains the Allies hold the absolutely straight line Goyencourt-St Mard-Lancourt, running north and south, only amile west of Roye, This advance yesterday wad two miles in depth oa & front of nearly four miles. The Ger- mans hold Roye very precariously. The French are west, and the Canadians north-west of the town. The capture of the balk of Bois-des Leges removes the last remaining obstacle to the defence of Lassigny on the north-west The gains secured by the Germans in this region last arch are now completely wiped out.

A French communique states: There was great artillery activity during the night west of Roye,. We continued south of the Avre, our progress in Bois-des-Loges reaching the eastern edge. We repulsed a strong attack against the racholith and Carany farm, between the Matz and Oise.

Germans Desperate Effort.

Loutkon, Aug. 17.

A Havas message says: The Germans yesterday con tinced the tactics they have been forced to employ during the past weeks. They are making desperate efforts to stave off a further advance and gain time for the removal of their supplies and the organisation of their defence. By s large scale counter-attack they endeavoured yesterday to secure temporary relief for Roye which is constantly under- close range fire but in this aim they completely failed. Two hundred and fifty prisoners and several machine guns were left in the hands of the Allies and Frendi and Canadian troops together followed up their success and closed the cordon tighter round the town by advancing along the river Ave.

A French official message says that twenty-three German aeroplanes were felled on the 15th inst

British Repulse Baemy Attacks.

Lunden Aug 15, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our line porth- ward of Proyurt was advanced slightly last night and today progress has beef made on a front of nearly a mile north- ward of Lisons, The enemy attacked certain of our posts in the Scherpenbery sector and was repulsed after sharp fighting. We beat off an attempted raid in the neighbourhood of Locre, the enemy leaving prisoners in our hands. We brought down thirteen hostile aeroplanes and drove down two uncontrollable. Six British machines are missing. Hostile aeroplanes at Hualourdin and Lomune were heavily attacked on the mornings of the 16th and 17th respectively by large numbers of our machines. Bombs were dropped from a low height and at the former aerodrome six hangars were demo. lished and two machines standing in the open were destroy- ed. Three hangars were destroyed at the latter aerodrome. At both places the living quarters were heavily fired on and several fires were started. Over forty tons of bombs were dropped by us in twenty-four hours

French Take over a Thousand Prisoners.

London, Aug, 18.

A French communique says: "We have continued our progress. Fighting north and south of the Avre we captured the strongly held Caesar's camp trenches west of Roye and pushed, our line south of the Avre to the vicinity of Beaurraignes. Over a. thousand prisoners, numerous machine-guns ad much, material were captured north and south of the Avre since yesterday Farther south we cap. tured Canny sur Metz. A strong enemy counter attack on Carney farm was repulsed. North of the Aime in the region. of Autreches we captured enemy positions coa front of five kilometres and a depth of fifteen hundred metres, taking 240 prisoners. Twelve German aeroplanes were felled yesterday.

The Air Ministry announces that on the night of the 18th out squadrons attacked four hostile aerodromes and two rail junctions. The visibility was poor and observation of the results was difficult

OLD FRENCH CRUISER TORPEDOED.

Paris, Aug. 17,

The old cruiser Dupetit Thouars (9,518 tons) co-operating with the naval patrol in the Atlantic was torpedoed on th Aug, American destroyers rescued the crew of whom thirteen, are missing.

[The Dupelit Thouars was a sister ship of the Montcalm, so well-known in Hongkong before the war,, and was com- pleted at Toulon in 1901].

THE SIBERIAN SITUATION.

London, Aug. 17.

The Daily Mail" correspondent at Vladivostok, tele- graphing on the 13th inst., sales that the Allies have decided to proclaim martial law at Vladivostok.""

The Tokio correspondent the "The Times", wiring on the 12th inst., reports that French troops have arrived at Nikolsk, north of Vladivostok,

FRENCH AERIAL POST.

London, Aug. 17,

A Havas message says: The first regular air post in" France is to be established between Paris and St. Nasire with stopping places at Le Mans and Neates. Including stoppages five hours will be allowed for the four hundred kilometres journey.

BRITISH DESTROYERS STRIKE MINES.

London, Aug. 17, An Admiralty.official message says: Two British destroy- ers struck mines and sunk on the 15th inst. Twenty-six men are missing and it is presumed they were killed by the ex- plosion or are drowned. One man died of wounds,

London, Aug. 17. The "Daily Mail" correspondent at The Hague says: The 'discussions at German Headquarters were based on the German, demand that Austria send 10 to 15 picked divisiona to the western front and remain on the defensive against Italy and the Austrian counter demand that Germany make a further declaration regarding Belgium and also make a powerful move in the direction of posice and solve the Polish question "favourably to Austria

Complete Agreement.

Amsterdam, Aug. 17.

A Berlin official message declares that the conference of the Emperors and Austro-German slåtesmen and generals at German Headquarters has again manifested complete agreement on political and military tasks and identical in- terpretation of the alliance,

The Frankfurter Zeitung" says as a result of the con. ferences Polish problems are considerably nearer solution It is believed the Austriac Archduke will be elected to the throne of Poland.

The "Weser Zeitung's" Vienna correspondent says the Austrian Premier has prepared a plan for the conversion of the Dual Monarchy into a federation of States according to nationalities.

LORD NORTHCLIFFE ON BRITISH SECRECY.

London, Aug. 16

In the course of his speech to Canadian, Australian and American pressmen (the first part of which is reported in another columa) Lord Northcliffe said: The frankness of the American Government had a great deal to do with the acceleration of shipbuilding Lord Northcliffe proceeded to criticise the British Government's secrecy and censorship whereby the world had never realised the magnitude of Britain's silent effort. Ho instanced how Mr. Holman, Pre- mier of New South Wales, on visiting America was asked by newspapermen if the Australians had not done enough and if it was not time Britain began to fight. The best proof of what Britain had done existed in the casualty lists whiclí were not permitted by the censor to be known to us or t our Allies. Lord Northcliffe, remarking that the Germans knew our casualties to a man, estimated that "we had nine hundred thousand killed during the war and that last year our total casualties were over eight hundred thousand. These·· figures were a sufficient answer to the German propaganda. England was ready to fight to the last Frenchman, Italian. American or Dominion soldier. Concluding, Lord Northcliffe stated that every Pacifist newspaper in Great Britain was subsidised. indicating a lack of demand for such publications.

RUSSIA AND THE ALLIES.

London, Aug. 17.

A Russian wireless message says that Russia, has pro- posed to Britain and France that their agents in Bussia will be free to depart if like facilities are given to M, Lit- vinoff and other Russian officials in Britain and France.

An unconfirmed report from Finland states that M Trotzky arrived at Helsingfors on the 13th. It is believed that M. Lenin is aboard a German ship at Helsingfors or a Reval

SPAIN TO CONFISCATE GERMAN SHIPS.

London, Aug, 17. The correspondent of "The Times" at Santander, telegraph- ing on the 15th, states that the Spanish zote now received in Berlin announces that Spain will confiscate German ship- ping in Spanish ports to an amount corresponding to the German outrages on Spanish shipping. There are about ninety Germaa steamers in Spain.

UTILISING IRISH COAL.

London, Aug. 17

The select committee of the House of Commons 02 Transport Reform has appointed a sub-committee to in- vestigate the condition of Irish ports and canals with a view to an ultimately more extensive working of Irish coal.

TELEGRAMS.

(Beater'■ Bervice to the "Telegraph."}

RICE PROFITEERING.

TELEGRAMS,

486 PER ANNUM

YESTERDAY'S

TELEGRAMS.

Beater's Service to the “Talegraph."}

GERMANY'S HEAVY CASUALTIES.

Paris, Ang. 16.

The latest statistics of German casualties prior to the March offensive showed six million. including 1,400,000 killed. The foregoing dosa not include noral losses. Betworn 37th March, and 17th Juns the German lost 120,000 in killed alone.

A Havas message says:

The following figures taken from a mo81 reliable source give an idea of the frightful" consumption of men in the German army. Since the beginning of the war until the end of July 1918 the Germans have had about six million men killed, wounded or missing, the number of men called to the colours during the same period being twelve millions, ́HalfTM their fighting forces have Lean pat cxt of action The figures of killed reach a high total: For the period included between lat Angust 1914 And the March offensive of 1v18 the figure is 1:40,000 not including marine casualties. To this figure must be | added about 120,000 for the affentire of st March and the operations which followed to June 17, Since then the losses sustained have been very censiderable and would increase in striking proportion to the figures above mentioned. This explains the order recently issued by Genaral Ludendor to his generals "It is absolutely essential we should avoid our former method of attack in densa formation ana reduce our losses în every way." "It is easy to under. stand the necessity for economy recommended by General Ludendorff when American manpower is steadily increasing and troops are landing in

the east.

NEW FRENCH RAILWAY.

London, Aug. 16.

the

A Kovas. message says:-la the presence of the Fresh Premier M. Clemenceau a railway line has just been inaudurated which has been added to the northern railway system" cf France. It necessitated laying of 210 kilomètres of main or accessory rally with a double set of rails with a view to 'bearing intensa traffic. It comprises two important bridges and involved the construction of a tunnel 365 metres in length and embankments representing 300,000 cubic metres. The plans and execution took less than one hundred days.

DURAZZO RAILWAY

BOMBARDED.

London, Aug. 17.

An Italian naval official message" says: British aircraft bombarded the Durazzo railway on the 10th causing free which were visible twenty-two miles distant

THE ITALIAN PRONT::

London, Aug. 18, An Italian communique says: Our fire yesterday repulsed strong enemy reactions in the Tonale region. On the night of the 14th-15th ebemy detachments thrice attacked the garrison on the Pizve falet mention- ed yesterday but were driven backe.

{Renter's Service to The "Telegraph.”) with heavy losses.

THE SILVER MARKET.

No Change In Price Expected.

London, August 17,

Enterprising Chinese.

Ugly Demonstrations in Japan.

London, August 18,

The Obinese General Chamb'r Router's correspondent

of Commerce has adopted re- Osaka, writing on August 13,

Massro, Samael, Montaga and solution to put up a building for staten that all the rice shops are 03,, in their weekly report, say the exhibition of commerais) closed. An armed mob of about that a change in the price of silver products on the piess, of TC10 two thousand attacked the police is not likely to ocour unless the Building. A foreign firm of ground adjacent to the Obambar station, demanding the release of

the raiders on the rice mill the sort of transit from Americs architects has been seked to previoca night. The police dialtere, Shenghai exchange is re- supply the necessary plans. persed the mob with sabres and markably firm, business being made a hundred arresta. Troops reported as high sa 58.0ži,

were sent from Kobe.

Renter's correspondent at Tokyo although the oxbled official rate is states the Emperor has rande 58. The United Staten Treasury donation of three million yen for Department on Jaly 3 stated that the relief of the sufferers owing to

the abnormal price of rice. The $4,000,000 silver dollars had been Osbinet disbuges two million yer melted, most of who had been Hóe the same rørpsse.

exported to India.

DON'T FORGET.

TO-DAY. Viototis Theatre 9.15 p.mi

TO-MORROW. Victor Thes