« ' ' L i 44 a3 + the rest of freland had given ..% over 65,000. KINGSTON ONTARIO, TUESDAY, APRIL LAST EDITION '16, J918. ENEMY 1S DRIVING AT MESSINES RIDGE An Extremely Determined Defence of This Pivot of the British Northern Line is Looked For. From Field Marshal Haig's Troops. (Canadian Press Despatch.) New York, April 16.--The Associated Press . says to-day: Tremendous pressure exerted by picked fresh troops in a desperate German effort to drive the British from Messines ridge has conipelled a slight retirement of the Bri- tish line on the northern side of the Lys battle front. of Bailleul has heen evacuated and the British front withdrawn to a line running from the north of that town to n verghem and thence lo Wylschaete. Wyschaete occupies the highest point of the easterly ridge system and the British have heen firmly established here since the early days, ol the enemy] + offensive. { The Germans through their push inlo the e | now apparently in a more. advanlageons position fo attack it} and their expeeted drive upon il was reported developing this morning. AS il forms the pivot of the Brilish line whieh bends | here fo the north, an extremely determined defense of iL 1s] looked for from Field Marshal Haig's roo sonthwest are British Holding New Positions. | (Canadian Press Despatch.) i With the British Amy in France, April 16.--The loss of} the town of Baillenl, though serious, was nol unexpected for ita strategieal value could not eomipensale for the British lives it] wauld cost lo retain it in face of the terrible qnslaughts the | Germans were able to bring against it. After an intense bom- | bardment of guns of all ealibres, the Germans' Alpine corps and Bavarian divisions bore down on the defending army from] an elevation to the east. The British lines were unable to] stand the shock of the overwhelming numbers of fresh troops and: fell back unbroken in good order ta new positions, which are now being held. pt A Ant CORMAN CRAND FLEET MAY HELP THE LAND OFFENSIVE But the British Are Alive to the Conditions--Sweeping Away Mines and Ready to Act With Promptness When the Right Moment Arrives. (Canadian Press Despatch.) New York, April 16,--In view of recent rumorseol possible naval activities by the Germans, to accompany their land of- fensive the news from London to-day showing that the British naval forces have been operating in Cattegat strait, between Sweden and Denmark, and have sunk ten trawlers, is signifi- cant. Still more significant seems the nouncement, which comes in a report from Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, Commander-in-chief of the grand fleet. This would appear to indicate thal the grand fleet is oul and 'possibly prasages most important naval developments. - The operation was undertaken yesterday for the purpose of sweeping the Cattegat of mines, the report shows, and may still be in progress. What further British effort: if any, the opera- tion implies, eannot well be forecasted. It is indicative of inten- sified British naval activities at any rate, if not preliminary to far more important operations on the part of the British naval forces. A form of a British an- TAKEN BY STORM. Berlin Reports Capture af More Am- s erican Positions. PPI EEE +| ULSTER GIVES ABOUT * | HALF IRISH RECRUITS 3 * + » a-- # (Canadian Press Despatch.) + London, April 16.---In the # + House of Commons last night, % # Hon. James Ian Macpherson, % &* -» ot too " (Special to the Wi ) Amsterdam, April 15.--North of} St. Miuiel, on Sunday night, says a| Berlin despatch, the main part of the | American positions situated to the eastward and south-eastward of | Maizey on the right -bank of Under-Secretary for War, de- clined in the public interest to state the number of troops in Ireland. . «Up till -December 31st, 1917, + Ulster thad contributed over # 58,000 rétruits, he stated, while Eee ter brave resistance of the enemy, who suffered the severest casualties in addition to the loss of prisoners. Back to Washington. (Canadian Press Despatch) | # At Atlantic Port, April 16.--Sec- retary-of-War Baker returned here from a visit to France and England and went immediately to Washing» ton. The seeretary came back on one of the large steamers which formerly flew the German flag. He Pedder e FREE E PIEPER PRE ELE © Canadian Casualties. Killed in Aection--C. Parks, Ban- nockburn, ae of Wounds---L B. Popst, - Died Avonmore, Wounded--W. H. Moore, Peter- boro; R, Johnstone, Bowmanville; €. J. Burkett, Madoe; R. F. Foster, Lanark, °° = American League Baseball, New York .. .. 6 'Washington Boston .. .. .. 7 Philadelphia yaeas, . Otto Von Schjern- 1 of the German 'an interview that a has recent. Lient.<Gen. 'surgeon-g army, stated in al serum against poison gas 1y been discovered. -- | war summary | The town | orth of Wul-| the | Mause river, was taken by storm af-/ declined to discuss events across the MAP SHOWING WQRLD'S GREATEST BATTLE LINE BAILLEUL TAKEN Wormhdudt' Wo & Arncké re ly Watten Steenvoordiy 4 ~ HEAVY FIGHTING F. * " NEAR MERVILLE AND NEUF BER QUIN. STE RITISH REGAIN IND HORTH OF FESTUBERY BY COUNTER, AT TAC Ain 19% . / f L. Angled Sow hem, 5 Vi 2 a 2 | Aubigr Girghchy | . So 17 7+ Sire yh A Eon y uiiens | [ATR mF can Zed Oomreceort vod 5 fm. Ach ewdZ | 7s dbval LINE BEFORE DRIVE auuAENEE PRESENT LINE Resse no 4 2 ofonchy # Som Yo le Jraqsloy ) Ep /ogdeseredy OG rhy a ---- Popéringh Bs % v Vat 3.07 andl GIOTRY ery court % Gohelis reingy oy fr Prue . + Arlewxdty Al 34D wichag 7 Olaucourt ah % 8 i ARGC. / GONN ua Arody - LY * 8. WOULD WIPE OUT ALL EXEMPTIONS This is {he Government's Proposal Wilh Regard to Military Situation. MAJORITY OF BOTH SIDES ARE OPPOSED TO CALLING OUT MEN OF CLASS 2.. Until More Efforts Have Been Made to Develop Better Results From Class 1. (Canadian Press Despatch) Ottawa, April © 16.--There two important caucuses about noon. Both Unionists and Opposition sup- porters gathered in their respective chambers to discuss what is to be done at the secret session of the House of Commons to-morrow, pre sumably in regard to amendments to the Military Service Act. Much speculation prevails on all sides and rumors are thick in. regard tothe intention of the government in this matter. From all accounts the ma- jority of all sides of the House are unfavorable to calling out Class 2 under the M.S.A. until considerably more. effort has been made to develop! better results from Class 1. The call- ing out of youths between eighteen and twenty is also frequently spoken of as quite possible, Wipe Out Exemptions, (Special ro dhe Whig.) Ottawa, April 16.---The Govern- ment caucas to-day heartily approved of the Cabinet's proposals to deal with the military crisis. : The Gov- ernment proposes to pass an order- insCouneil subject to approval by resolution of Parliament, wiping out {all exemptions and appeals, were CANADA WILL GET COAL ALLOTMENT 16,000,000 Tons Assured by United States, Says Sir George Foster. Ottawa, April 16.--"If things go on ordinarily well and the transpor- tation difficulties are not so great as last year, Oanada will*recerve her al- lotment of 16,000,000 tons of coal. {from the United States this year," Sir George Foster assured the House of Commons yesterday in closing a discussion precipitated by J. E. Arm-| strong, ton. e Minister of Trade and Com- merce said that the Fuel C. A. Magrath, was doing his utmost to bring about an increase in the do- mestic output of coal, but stated id e member for East Lamb-}| ENEMY GUESSING WHY FOCH DOESN'T STRIKE Know He Has Vast Supplies of Men and Paris, April Jk at will Gene" ral Foch do? the 'question which ds ithe subject of intense in- terest here as ithe great battle de- velops from day to day. That Foch has the situation perfectly well in hand and will sooner or later act in a very definite and effective man~ ner no one has the slightest doubt, and there is every confidence 'in his ability and sound judgment. And this confidence continues unbroken despite the heavy blows the enemy continues to deal against the Bri- tish. The 'people are comparing Foch's attitude at the 'present moment with that of Joffre during the long re- treat which resulted in a 'crowning victory at the Marne, but it is point- ed out that thre Allied position now is infintely more favorable than Before the Marne: It is realized that whereas Joffre 'before the Marne, lacked mot only men, but also material of almost ever kind,. Foch has at his disposal a wealth of supplies in men and guns of every calibre that renders any anx- iety on this score impossible. That the imminent intervention of Foch is expected is foreshadowed by Marcel MHutin in the 'Echo de Paris. Paris, like the whole of France, has unquestionably the full- est possible confidente in Foch and is eagerly waiting the news that will tell her of the beginning of a new and greater wiotory than the battle of the Marne. ENTERING PROTESTS. Against Enforcing Conscription Ireland Just Now. (Canadian Press Pespatch) London, April 16.--Meetings to protest against conscription were held Monday in 1100 parishes in Ire- land, all e¢lasses of the population participating. The clergy took a leading part in all the meetings. Resolutions of protest are pouring in from public 'bodies, and the Sinn Fain clubs are very acfive. Boxer Inherits Million. _ New York, April 186.--John "Tiger" Smith, former welterweight boxer, announced 'in Brooklyn yes- terday that the United States iSu-~ preme Court had upheld his foster father's will bequeathing ¢o him more than $1,000,000 in money and property. -- . German Trawlers Sunk By British (Canadian Despatch) London, Xp 16.--Ten German trawlers have - been sunk by gun-fire in the Cattegat, between Sweden and Denmark, the Admiralty announces. eir erews were saved Lieut. Cenderaria, of the Argen- army, 'has crossed the Andes There + les) ope! in the Cattegat,' the state- ment says were undéerta- ken by the commander- in-chiel of the grand fleet. : BY THE GERMANS The Tenacity of the British in That (City Foiled Hindenburg's Plans. THE BRITISH FALL BACK TO NEWLY PREPARED POSI- TIONS NORTH OF BAILLEUL pene The Latter Place Is Half Destroyed By Fire--The French Make Some Captures Near the Oise Canal. (Canadian Press Despatch) London, April 16.--The Germans have captured Bailleul on the north- ern battlefront, the War Office an~ nounces. The British have fallen back to new positions north of Bail. leul and Wulverghem, The tenacity of the British in the half-burned city of Bailleul foiled Hindenburg's plans. Von Eberhardt atfacked Neuve-Eglise more than ten times, hoping to break through northward of Bailleul. He took the eity but could not progress beyond. The text of the statement reads: "Yesterday evening, preceded by an intense bombardment the enemy launched very heavy attacks against our positions between Bailleul and Neuve Eglisé, The assault was de- livered by three picked German divisions which had not bgen pre- viously engaged in battle and it sue- ceeded after a fierce and bitter strug- gle in carrying high ground south- east and east of Bailleul known as Mount Deille and Revetsberg. Our troops on this front haye fallen back to new positions to 'the north of Bailleul has fallen into.the enemy's hands. "Phis morning fresh German at- tacks are developing in the neigh- borhood of Wyschaete. Early this morning the enemy also attacked southwest | of Vieux Berquin under heavy artillery, and trench mortar fire but was repulsed. "A number of prisoners were taken by us during the night in a success- ful minor enterprise southeast of Robecq. On the remainder of the British "front there was nothing of special interest to report," to French Make Captures, Pp sCanadian Prana Posvatoh) 1 paris, April 16. ---Heaxy artillery fighting occurred last lent on thé main battle front in the neighborhood of Montdidier, the War Office an- nounces, The French captured, a ma- Shine gun and prisoners near the Oise canal. War Tidings, Only minor units of the Canadian forces have hitherto been engaged in the great battle. Nevertheless the past two weeks have recorded 1,800 casualties. 'German 'long range 'guns continue their bombardment of Paris. The casualties are light. REVELATIONS WILL BRING WAR TO CLOSE Lord Haldane Believes That Lichnowsky Statement. Will Have Effect. London, April 16.--In the course of an address which he delivered at Coventry on Saturday night on "The Future of Democracy," Lord Haldane made a noteworthy refer- ence to the Lichnowsky revelations. After remarking on their striking nature he said: "If I were at lib- erty to speak---for 1 was as glosely, concerned as any other man in this ¢éountry in the hour of events to which Prince Lichnowsky refers, and with other events--I could add to those revelations something more which would show this coun- try did its utmost to preserve the peace and tranquility of the world. But that attempt was destroyed and thwarted by that same military spirit which later on compelled the German nation to foljow it into war. In due time all these things will appear. They are; appearing fast enough just now, afd If we hold our own they will have their effect and bring this war to a close." RUSSIA DEVASTATED. | Destruction Throughont Country Widespread and Complete. : The Hague, April 16.--From tho- roughly reliable sources I hear that the "destruction--wrought in Russia by the revolutionists is terrible. "Country houses and estates have been plundered and robbed, so that there is practically nothing left," a German officer writes. "The whole country is revastated." The officer says that a German army is at present quite near Mos- cow. that an arrangem has been participate fully in the profits aris- ing from the apmy can in France all along have beén free spenders, the civil shopkeepers of France reaping a goodly harvest, During the month of March the output of silver from the . Cobalt approximated 1,500,000 ounces. Self. land ernmen t will TO GET CANTEEN PROFITS ar Arrangements Made Whereby Can- fected whereby the Canadians will teens fn | : han £22 ; Josns. ARE AFRAID MEN Object - of Germans Driving} Soldiers On in Successive Waves. London, April 16.</The machine] gun is the dominating feature of the present open fighting south-west of | Ypres, says the correspondent of the | Daily Mail at British headquarters, | and the issue of local battles often | turns onthe answer to the question | of which side can get its machine | guns into commanding positions| first.™~ Just south of St. Floris, on the] Lys Canal, toward Merville, British | troops rushed a brick field and were clearing it of German and would] 'have killed them all, but for a ma-| chine gun posted nearby. The ecor-| respondent continues: "The idea} behind the German plan in sending the troops forward in successive | waves at intervals of about one hun- dred yards appears to be that under such conditions retirement is almost | impossible." A' British officer ex-| plained to the correspondent: " 'We nearly always break the] first line. It would fali back, but it} cannot 48 the second wave comes up and earries it forward again. There | is a movement of recoil then, but by this time the third wave advanc- ing, and on comes the attack once more.' is thus the Germans by deliberate gacrificing large numbers are| ly g to make little gaps| able sometimes in our lines |ENEMY ATTACKS LACK | THEIR EARLY FORCE The German Second Thrust Against British Has For Time Spent itself. . | British Headqus . April 16. The second German great thrust has, I think, for the moment spent itself Perhaps the enemy will still keep hammering here (certainly he is using troops enoughj. But all along the line he is beating against a con- tinuously stiffening resistance. His attacks have not their original momentum, and are suffering ter- ribly under our guns. Several times] these last two days, after holding ground agaipst "all his onslaughts, we have dounter-attacked at one poimt and another and definitely | driven him back. Since Thursday night his progress has been cori paratively trifling. For convenience we speak of it as the battle of Armentieres, but as ex- plained in former messages the Ger- man plang were very large, for on the whole front from above Armen- tieres to nearly Lens he-hoped to break our battle line at the first im- pact and then gverrun the country | from Bethune and the irom regions) south by the Aire, ! COMMANDEER C.P.R, SHIPS. Sailing of Empress of Asia Empress of Russia Canceled. i Victoria, B.C., April 16.--The C. | >. R. steamers Empress of Asia and! Empress of Russia have been com- | mandeered by the Dominion Govern- | ment. The order has already gone | forth titat the sailings of these ves-| sels have been canceled, and | Own Medicine 'Distasteful. Amsterdam, April 16.--A Karls ruhe despatch to the Frankfurter | ¥Yeitung reports the passage by the] Chamber of the Grand Duchy of] Baden there of a resolution regucst- | ing the Imperial German. Govern-' ment to endeavor to. secure a gene- | ral agreement for the cessation of | hostile air raids on places outside | the zone of military operations. ! White May Leave Government. { Ottawa, Apwil 16 con- | tinues to busy itself tinued absence of Sir Thomas | White. The generad impression here | seems to be that he will return next | month and resum® his dutles as] Minister of Finance, but there is an| unconfirmed rumor to the. effect | that he may leave the Government | at an early day tp become president | of-the Canadian Bank of Commerce. | 4G ossip with the con- | Western Aviator Killed. Vancouver, BiC., April 16.--Capt. Guy: B. Moore, M.)C., of Vancouver, was killed in action on April 7th, ac-| cording to a cable just received from the British air ministry by his par-| ents, The. latest official returns! credit him with bringing down nine enemy planes. Capt. Moore was 23 | years of age and was born in Matta- | wa, Ont, . . emp DONATES BATTLE PLANE. . Alta., has CP 'Burns, of Ca "Alr" Force, presented to the a battle plane costing threes thou it will be named - so | the end!" i alter all | barded villages and in towns. | Scotland must steel their heants | my still storms against | fresh men, always fresh men, 'the Portuguese, some the bridgeheads, Lthrough the Canadian Aviation Fund," IN THEIR SOULS It the British Yield to the Enemy It Is Only in Death. TIRED. AND WAR WORN NEN FIGHT TO END FOR WHAT THEY HOLD DEAR A Vivid Story By Philip Gibbs of the Great Struggle Taking Place In Flanders, { By Pip Gibbs. War Correspondents' Headquart- ers, April 15.--The Commander-in- chief's order of the day should re- | veal to our pecple and the world what is happening out here in France the enemy's objects to seize the Channel ports and 'to destroy the | British army and the frightful forces he has brought against us to achieve that plan, and the call that bas come to our 'troops to hold every position to the last man: "Many amongst us now are tired . . With our back to tie wall each one of us must fight to tired; Yes, and ougJuen are sO | tired after three weeks fighting, and after these last days and nights, that they can hardly stagger up to resist another attack, yet do so because their spirit wakes agein above their bodily fatigue. go on fighting like sleep-walkers and in any respite lie in the ditches, un- der the hedges and in the open fields, under fire in deep slumber until the shouts of their Sergeants stir them again. fighting since: March 21st, with only a few days' rest, What They Have Done. You know wiat (he battalions of the H1st Division bave done since that day, fighting all day back from the St. Quetitin Tront before holding back the German hordes from the way. to Bethune. The 9th Division has done us much and as long, and their desperate: fighting down from Gonnelien and Gauche | Wood vo Mont Auban and Mametz, this new battle burst upon them and they flung the enemy off Messines Ridge and barred the 'way with their bodies,. Some English battalions through all that first phase in the mouth, "where they foUghi scores Of rear-guard actions with thé enemy ° on both flanks, not sleeping for days and nights have shared in these | northern battles and fought as Sir | Douglas Haig has | fight, with "their backs to the wall," | often in outposts and asked them #0 bridgeheads and cross-noads; in bom: They fought back from house and street in Laventie and Merville, and Estaires, | in Steenwerck, and Nieppe, and Mer- ris and Bailleul, and Bethune. Their lossés have not been light in this heroic fighting. England and to this sacrifice of their sons. The ene- them with in overwhelming numbers, Little groups are left out of the gallant companies, | but these bands of brothers have no surrender in their souls, and if they yield it is in death, All Valor Records Exceeded. | These men of ours have exceeded | all previous records of valor, though God knows they have filled three years and more with acts of courage. { I should want hundreds of columns of this newspaper to tell in full all they have done during these last days. I can only tell a few things, baldly, like a catalogue of dull facts, though jn them is the soul of our race, and the great, supreme sacrifice of the human heart. When -the centre was broken at Laventie by a colossal thrust against Northumber- land Fusiliérs, East Yorkshires; and | Durham Light Infantry were sent up to hold the line of the Lye and de fend Kstaires. it was too late to form a strong defensive line, but these men fought against gttack after attack by unceasing waves of storm | troops. 5 { Durhams Won The Race, The Durham Ligh: Infantry held | the crossings of the Lys Canal up to Sally on a front of 10,600 yards until the enemy struck into Bac St, Maud, There was a race for river, and the Durhams got ther f) ing the enemy on the other side} and raking them with rifle fire. A party of tlie Durhams held the salient over the river at Lestrem for a long time until it was pounded to mush by the German trench mortars. The bank of the Lys could only be weakly . and there were terrible fights about but the enemy, crossed between them. > On the morning of April 10th Es- taires was filled with shellfire. The enemy rushed the swing-bridge and swarmed into the western part of the town, but thé Durhams and ~ the Northumberland Fusiliers charged down the streets and cleared them of | the enemy, making No So tired that they - Some of these men have been - in keeps at ES were N) SURRENDER