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VOL.xxv MANNING, , C., WEDNESDAYMARCH ALLES EXPECTANI DELUEVE iEIIAN OffENSIVEWIll BREA IN EAST F1GTINii IN POLAND Germans Report Capture of Przasnya and Capture of 10,OO0-Petrgrad Reports Slight Russian Successee .-Carpathians See Much Warfare in Sge Style The Impression Is gaining ground among British and French militar. tritics that.Germany Is preparing foi a fresh expenditure of energy In the land campaign in the west. Not withstanding recent German suc casses in the east, the resiliency and recuperating powers of the Russiam armies seem to have convinced the German general staff that It Is wisesi to adopt the defensive delivering an other blow in the west. If this rush comes, says a Londor dispatch, the allies will be well pre pared to meet It. During the last few months a decided change for the bet ter has taken place In the forces of the allies, *hat with reinforcements, bgger guns end more complete equip ment, lack of which was felt keenly during the early stiges of the war. As against the expectation of a new German offensive in the west, another theory is advanced in some quarters that the German attack in the east will be continued with the main Idea of taking Warsaw from the north. Prasnyss, 50 miles north of Warsaw, now being in the hands of the Ger mats, accoiding to their claim, It Is probable a -battle is now raging along the river Orze. The Turks again are appearing in the war news by virtue of the renew ed fighting in the Caucasus. Mean time the allied fleet -has at least de malished the forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles in what is believed to be a preliminary to a determined attempt to. force the historic strait. That would have important strategic, pollical and economic effects. Wireless reports that the American steamship Dacia plans to go north ward around Scotland on the way to Hamburg revive speculation as to when and where she will be seized by the British. Geneva reports: "The fighting In the Carvathians is becoming rapidly much like sieze warfare, according to dispatches reaching here. Since Feb. ruary 18 these advices say over 200, 000 men have been fighting hand to hand in the Carpathian trenches with out making any material advances. The wounded are pouring into Ung var and Eperies, in Hungary. - During the night of February 19, taking advantage of a lull in hostili ties, the Austrians Picked up at Svid nik .8,600 wounded and over 3.000 dead. The wounded had been lying on the ground. some of them for 18 hours, without food or succor. A ehief officer of the Austrian medical department is authority for the esti mate that 70 per cent of them will be invalids for life. A majority of the wounded at Svid nik were injured in the head by blows from rifle .butts and 20 per cent. of them will be partially or totally blind. *Cologne reports: '"After several days of artillery fighting and In suite of great numerical superiorIty, Rus sians were driven from Pojan (Guko wine) which they had strongly forti fied, according to a. Bucharest dis - patch to the Cologne Gazette. Their retreat did not end, until they bad reached a point 12 1-2 miles nor'th of the Pruth river. With this reverse, the correspondent says, the final Rus sian opposition In Bukowina Is shat tered and the province cleared of in vaders. Berlin reports: "In the east: The )engagements on the Memel, Bobr and Narew rivers continue. The town of 'Prasnysz, in Russian Poland, which had been extensively fortified was stormed by the East Prussian re serves. After a stubborn fight we were victorious, capturing more than 10,000 prisoners, over 20 cannon, a large number of machine guns and a very large amount of war material. "In other engagements fought ROrth of the river Vistula during the past -few days we have taken 5,000 Russian prisoners. In Poland south of the Vistula, the Russians advanced to Mogily, which Is southeast of Boll mow, and occupied this position. Their forces In this movement out numbered ours five to one. Other wise there Is nothing of Importance to report in this region." London reports: "Although the capture of Prasnysz has not been re ported from Petrograd, dispatches from that city said heavy flghting was in progress in that region. "Prasnysz Is about 15 miles from the East Prussian front almost dui north of Warsaw and has a popula tion on about 10,000. After explo slon of the Russians from East Pins sia -the Germans concentrated an as sault on the fortified line In Northeri Poland to which the Russians fell back." Petrograd reports: "In the Augus towo forest two regiments of the 29t1 division, who had been surroundee during the retreat, brok through thi enemy's lines and rejoined our forces . Patrols of the enemy are attempting to cross to the right bank of the Nie men. "There has been desperate fighting east of Lupwok pass In the Carpa .blns. Our troops have had severa - xcesses in the region of Munkato "At daybreak, February 22, nea Zavidka, we captured three lines o trenches on a height which Is almos a sheer precipice. The Germans de -fending the height were killed oi taken prisoners. "German attacks were reoulset south of Myto Koziourka. We car ried a height south of Dukla afte: a stubborn fight. "We checked the offensive of im portant forces of the enemy on thi Doline and Salitch roads on the righ bank of the Rozanka. "Official announcements in Berli that'-the Tenth Russian army suffer ed a severe reverse in Its retreat ti the rivers Niemen and 'Bobr are at solutely Incorrect. The German dec larations that the Tenth army ha been comoletely annihilated can b categorically denied. "As a matter of fact the comne nent parts of two of our corps. th Twentieth and another, finding then selves in an untenable :End dangerou situation, withdrew from Wirballer Poland, with heavy losses. "Our other corps after having foil edan attempt of th enemy to sut PROPOSALS ACCEPTABLE, GERALNY WANTS SOME MODIFI CATIONS IN NOTE. American Note Subject of Exhaustive Discussion-In Many Respects is Acceptable. A dispatch from Berlin Friday says the American note to Germany and Great Britain on the subject of foodstuffs to civilian population of belligerents and submarine aetivities at sea has been a subject of exhaus tive discussion for the past two days between German authorities and American Ambassador Gerard. As a result the German reply is gradually taking definite form. The correspondent of The Associated Press has been assured by a compe tent and reliable authority that the American proposals are regarded as constituting a satisfactory basis for future negotiations, and that they are in many respects acceptable. Cer tain of the proposals, however, will be subjected to more or less impor tant modifications. Government circles have expressed themselves as impressed by the friendly spirit in which these pro posals have been advanced and the evident desire on the part of the American administration to reach a solution of the difficulties invclved in the present methods of maritime war fare, to belligerents and neutrals alike. The American note probably will not be published until the German response has been sent forward. It is difficult to. obtain any authori tative expression of opinion concern Ing the German viewpoint of the sit uation from any government official or to overcome the censofship re strictions in treating of the matter in news dispatches sent out from Ber lin. Judging, however, from a gen eral knowledge of German policy and intentions, it may be said with con fidence that little difficulty will be experienced so far as Germany is concerned, in reaching . a mutual agreement for discontinuance of floating mines. The attitude of the German admiralty on mine planting along hostile coasts, however, is at the present time unknown. DARDANELLES ATTACKED. English and French Fleets Report Success Against Forts. The first serious attack by the Brit ish and French Mediterranean fleets, assisted by aeroplanes and seaplanes, on the Dardanelles forts, which be gan Friday and continued Saturday, has met- with considerable success, according to the British official ac count and unofficial accounts receiv ed at Athens from the island of Ten edos, at the entrance to the straits. The Turkish official report, how ever, stated that no damage had been done to the forts and that the cas ualties of the defenders consisted of one killed and one wounded, but that three of the warships were damaged by shots from the forts. British reports said that the forts on the Europsean side of the straits were silenced Xi-iday and that only one of the forts on the Asiatic side was still firing Friday evening, while none- of the warships had been dam aged. The Green accounts said that the Asiatic forts were silenced Satur day, but no official report of this bombardment has been issued by the admiralty as yet. French Rout Turks. Paris reports Friday: "The French. cruiser Desnix made a demonstration against Akaban (Arabia) on Febru ary 23. A landing party, aided by the ship's cannon, dispersed and put to flight a small bank of Turks occu pying the village." British Lose Three Aviators. London reports: Three aviators who participated in a raid directed against German positions in Belgium are missing. round them, are holding the posi tions allotted to them, and for sev eral days past they havo been engag ing the enemy. "Along this entire front our armies are fulfilling successfully the duty assigned them. During the-past two days two regiments of the 29th dIvi sion belonging to the Twentieth corps advanced from the Augustowo forest and rallied -our men." The Russian viewpoint is that fighting in Northern Poland is only now beginning and the Germans claim that they have brought to a brilliant finish their campaign is characterized as premature. A Russian officer expressed the view that the German's claims were made to offset what he termed loss of sympathy of neutral powers, par ticularly the United States, because of Germany's submarine campaign. The -German detachment which crossed the Niemen at three points February 23 has been scattered by Russian cavalry and part of it cap tured. Some of the prisoners had in their possession explosives and tools which Indicated they intended to blow up the railroad leading from Vitna to Warsaw. In Galicla the Austro-German forces have occupied a new front ex tending from the Carnathians to Stanislau. The characteristic feature of this front is its thinness. The rear of the Austro-German lines touhos Rnnmania. The line of com munication is maintained not from the rear but from the flanks, being parallel with the Carpathians. IOn the right bank of the Neraw actions have occurred along the whole front. The enemy is concen trating there his principal efforts in Ithe direction of Novo Grodsk and Prasnysz. Our troops have repulsed the German attacks in many sectors with heavy losses for the enemy and have counterattacked vigorously Ger man attempts to cross the river IOrzitz. The Germans defended fiercely a -farm near the village of Krasnoselitz which we captured after a great struggle early in the evening of the 24th. Only 150 Germans of the gar iirison at this point of support sur 'vived. They surrendered. On the left bank of the Vistula on the offensive in the retrion of thE sfarm at Maghely. Our troops by an imptuous advance seized their post tions and after a hand to hand str,:. gle captured their first and second clines of trenches, making prisoners of seven officers. a surgeon and 40C soldiers and some machine guins Our artillery fire dispersed thireo hat. talons of Germans from Bolimou who had come to reinforce the ene WANT MINES MOVED ENGLAND SENDS AMERICAN NOTE TO RUSSIA AND FRACE ATTITUDE IS UNKNOWN Washington Says Germany Has Mani fested a Willingness to Make Con cessions-High Officials Acknowl edge Seriousness of Situation Neutrals. Are Interested. The United States has suggested informally to Great Britain and Ger many that, in the interests of hu manity and 'he safeguarding of legiti mate commerce, all mines be remov ed from the high seas, except those directly necessary for the protection of coast defences and harbors. , Great Britain, according to advices received at Washington, has submit ted to her allies, France and Russia, proposals made by the United States, designed to end the menace to neu tral commerce arising from retalia tory measures of the European bel ligerents towards each other., Intimations have come to the Washington government That until the British cabinet acts and the atti tude of France and Russia is learned, no reply can be given to the Ameri can proposals. This may require sev eral days. In the meantime, Germany already has manifested a willingness to make concession, which gave , officials in Washington'hope that Great Britain will show a conciliatory spirit. It can be stated authoritively that the United States made no mention of- what course it would pursue in the event of rejection of its proposals. Briefly the American proposais, submitted to both England and Ger many, seek the elimination by Ger many of the recently prescribed war zone, with its adoption by all the bel ligerents of a definite policy as to shipments of foodstuffs to the civil ian population of their enemies. From such preliminary observa tions as American diplomatic officials abroad already have made, there Is said to be some encouragement in the manner of the reception of the pro posals at London. Germany is in clined towards on acceptance of the suggestions, it is understood, but on Great Britain's attitude depends the next move. The strong opposition which other neutrals have assumed towards the retaliatory measures adopted by the belligerents is playing a considerable part in the situation. Although the American proposals have not been communicated . to other neutrals, it may be said that virtually all the EuroDean neutrals are in accord with the Washington government. High officials of the Washington government have shown much solici tude over what might be the extent of retaliatory measures adopted by the belligerents if they continue to disregard previously accepted princi ples of International law. It is un derstood that one of the arguments used by the United States is that if the policy of starvation Is put' into effect by Great Britain, the first to feel the pinch of hunger might be British, French and Russian prison ers. Another suggestion said to have been conveyed is that suffering forc ed on the German civilian population might produce an unwholesome ef fet on the attitude of the American peonle toward Great B.ritain. Officials, while reticent about what has been said to Germany and Great Britain. do not deny that the gravity of the whole situation has been made unmistakably clear. In some quar ters the suggestion was made, but without confirmation, that an em bargo on exnorts of foodstuffs from the United States to both the allies and Germany. was -being considered in the event of an absolute rejiection of the American plan for ameliorat ing the situation. There is every evidence that neu tral governments have manifested more than a willingness to co-operate ,in efforts made in Washington to as sist in a settlement of questions aris ing out of submarine and mine war fare. Secretary Bryan denied that the United States contemplated an embargo on exports of foodstuffs. Following a talk with President Wilson, Representative Porter of Pennsylvania. Republican, introduced a bill to authorize the president to lay, regulate and revoke embargoes on all ships and vessels in United States ports. United States or foreign vessels, until fifteen days after the commencement of the next session of congress. "No man." said Mr. Porter. "can anticipate the emergencies likely to arise in our foreign relations during the next nine months and congress should not adjiourn without placing in the president's hands every pos sible assistance to meet the complica tions as they arise." The ministers from Norway and Sweden and other neutral envoys, who have inquired, some of them on instruction from their government, have not been given details of the proosal because the subject is re garded as in an informal and unof~ ficial stage. From the point of view of the Washington government Great Brit an would have much to gain from an accentance -of the American prc posals. The abolition of the war zones around Great Britain and Ire land and the removal of mines. it is argued, would render the commerce of the allies safe. Oriinally when mines were laid in the North Sea the responsibility foT the initiative never was fixed by the United States government and nc rotest was made. The new move by the United States would brush aside all questions of culpability and ap peal to the belligerents to sweep ut their mines and prevent further ac'ci dents such as already have befaller three score neutral vessels. It became known that the latesi communication was sent to Ambassa dors Page and Gerard at London and Berlin. resnectively, on Sunday afte1 conference between President Wilson Secretary Bryan and Counselor Rob. ert Lansing. The American govern ment asked that the documents bi Irearded for the present as strictl3 condential. Wigh officials in Washington art ving virtually all their attention t< the subject to the exclusion of suci questions as the Japanese-Chinesi neotiations and the Mexican prob lenms. While complaints have been few some il think the most seriou: effect of the submarine warfare on merchant ships and the restrictions imposed on food shipments has yet to develop. They believe that if the present situation continues, Ameri can exports will drop to a consider able extent. There is no concealment of the feeling in high official quarters that if the present tension over the atti tude of the belligerents continues and any American lives are proved to have been lost as the result of their activities, the Washington gov ernment may be called on to aban don its present attitude of friendli ness toward all the warring powers. While there was no official com ment on the sinking of the American steamers -Carib and Evelyn because of the absence of definite informa tion as to the causes of their destruc tion, it is understood that the latest communication from the United States urging an acceptance of its proposals deals with the grave dan gers to neutral vessels that have arisen through the mines already laid and threats to strew more of the explosives in the high seas. Officials repeated to the American embassy at London further messages received from Ambassador Gerard and the American consul at Bremer -haven concerning the loss of the Evelyn and Carib. It is taken for granted that reports that the cap tains followed instructions given them by British naval officers will be brought to the attention of the Lon don foreign office so that the British admiralty may investigate the truth or falsity of the reports. BIG FAIR OPENS. Panama-Pacific Exposition Breaks All Attendance Records. The Panama-Pacific -International exposition was formally opened at noon Saturday, Pacific coast time. The dedication was made as short and simple as possible. United States soldiers and marines escorted Secretary Lane, Gov. John son and the other officials to a stand facing the main entrance to the ex position, where they were welcomed by President Charles C. Moore and the other executive officers. Secretary Lane, President Wilson's personal representative, delivered a brief address, during which he read this telegram from the president: "Please convey my heartiest congrat ulations to the authorities of the ex position and express my hope that their highest expectations for its 'lis tinguished success will be more than realized." President Wilson, in the White House, touched a telegraph key com pleting an electric circuit which swung open the doors of the Palace of Machinery, unloosed the waters of the Fountain of Energy and detonat ed signal bombs. "To-day Is the triumph," said Gov. Johrson, speaking for California, "of a San Francisco that nine years ago lay in ruins." All records for exposition first day attendance were broken at the open ing day. By 4 o'clock the turnstiles had clicked off 225.000 admissions and it was expected that by midnight the total wnuld have reached more than 300.000. The previous record was at the opening day of the St. Louis World's fair, 176.453, in 1904. The crowd was a spectacle In itself. It filled the grandstands, it packed the great courts and concouses, it poured through the aisles, it over flowed from the sidewalks Into the avenues, from the hills to the bayas far as the eye could reach, In un ending rivers of bobbing heads. BERLIN GETS NOT3. High Officials Have American Propos als Under Consideration. The American identical note on marine warfare, sent to Great Brit ain and Germany, says a Berlin dis patch, is in the hands of Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, imperial German chancellor, and Gottlieb van Jagow, the German foreign minister. The German government is not ready to make public the contents of the note but it is said it may be re garded as the basis for further nego tiations. Certain of the proposals, as for example the removal of the mine fields around England, probably will be unacceptable to Germany, but It is though Germany possibly may make concessions on other points. It can not be said there Is any great optimism in either German or neutral diplomatic quarters that Great 'Britain will accept any pro posals permitting the importation of foodstuffs into Germany. The Lokal Anziegei' says it learns that the American note presents a basis for further negotiations. "Washington,'' the newspaper adds, "now takes up the suggestions outlined in the final passage of Ger many's answer and makes proposals which' apparently are addressed equally to Germany and Great Brit ain.'' WILL FIGHT TO END. Asquith Says England Will Stand Alone, if Necessary. Premier Asquith indorsed in the House of Commons Thursday the opinion expressed recently by First Lord of the Admiralty Churchill that Great Britain would continue to fight to the bitter end, even should France and Russia withdraw from the war. The premier pointed out Mr. Churchill had declared with especial emphasis that he could not conceive of such contingency as this, "but,'' added the premier. "I am In com plete agreement with him." GOES TO SENATE. Oscar Underwood Bids House of Rep resentatives Farewell. Representative Oscar W. Under wood Wednesday bade farewell tc the House ways and means commit tee, of which he is chairman, as hE senator after March 4. He presided over the committee at its final ses sion of this congress Wednesday and was presented with a resolution ol thnaks and congratulation by his col leagues. There were speeches by va rios members. Speaker Clark latei yielded the presiding officer's chail to Mr. Underwood and he presidec over the House during part of its de liberations. Blockade is Established. Formal announcement was mad -at Washington Thursday of Grea Britain's decision to declare a block ado of the coast of German Eas U. S. IS STANDING PA WILL SEND NO NEW NOTES I THE BELLIGERENTS. Government is Expected to Awi Some Overt Act Before Taki - Further Action. The United States probably w make no reply, for the present least, to either the British or Germ notes regarding, respectively, the u of the American flag on foreign ve sels, and the dangers to neutral shi ping in the naval war zone about t British Isles, but will stand firm on its warning against destruction American lives or vessels. Many officials expect some furth move only in event of an overt a This was indicated in high offic quarters Saturday after the offict texts of the communications had be read. The documents will be fi ther examined, however, to determi whether there is anything in eith note which, if not answered no might be construed later as an adm sion. The communication from Englai was not regarded as altering the or inal warning of the United Stat against the measure of responsibili which would seem to be imposed ( England if any American vessels lives were lost as a result of a gener misuse of the American flag by Br ish vessels, although- the denial any intention to make frequent u of the neutral ensign was reassurii to officials. The American government alread it was pointed out, has stated in el phatic language that Germany won be held to "strict accountability" f any loss of American vessels -" lives" and this warning is constru by administration officials to be su ficiently broad also to cover any I jury to American citizens aboard be ligerent vessels. Some high officials are urging th the United States, having made I position sufficiently clear to both Ge many and Great Britain, should nc remain silent and observe develo ments. The arguments in both t1 British and German communicatio: which charge viola::ions of the rul of international law and warfare, is held by American governmenL of cials are of no concern to the Unit< States. The breaking down of ti doctrines of international law as b tween belligerents does not, in ti view of these officials, affect t1 status of those rules as between tl United States and Great Britain the United States and Germany, wi whom this country is at peace. The position of the United Stat is based on the right of a neutral demand certain treatment for I ships and commerce, regardless the respective actions of the bellige ents. Further correspondence *ith t1 belligerents is opposed by many c ficials on the ground that the Amer can government ought not be drav into a discussion of the charge whic Great Britain and Germany ha made toward each other. There is every prospect, howeve that the long British note replying the American protest of December on the subject of contraband w bring forth a rejoinder from the Uni ed States. The discussion therein is one the academical principles in Intern tional law, and, while officials Washington admit that the commer of the United States has been treat much better by the Allies than befo the protest was sent, they are unwi ing to set any precedent by acquiE cence in several of~ the British co tentions. The state department of late h received comparatively few col plaints of detentions and seizuire ai the opinion prevails among officiE that the American note has had I desired effect. The United States will enter in no further correspondence of the su ect of the American steamer Wilhi mina, bound for Germany with cargo of foodstuffs and now held the British prize court, until the d cision of the prize court is annour ed. The decision is expected, ho ever, to be made within a reasonat length of time, and if, In the opini of the state department, there is denial of justice .to the Americ owners, a protest will be entered. SAFETY LANES IN WAR ZONES Germany Embassy Furnishes Deta ed Description to Hoke Smith. A more detailed description of t lanes neutral ships may follow safe along the German coast was given the German embassy at Washingt Thursday to Senator Hoke Smil who has held several conferenc with Ambassador Bernstorff ov means to prevent further loss American cotton steamers in Germ waters. ISenator Smith telegraphed the]i formation to the Savannah ouners the Carib, recently sunk off Borkt Island. with the expectation that th would forward It by w'reless to a other cotton laden ship of the liz now on its way to Europe. The opi io was expressed at the embas thtthe Carib had wandered frc the path mapped out for neutral vi sels. IRISH STEAMER SUNK. German Submarine Gives Crew Thi to Make Their Escape. The small Irish coasting steang Downshire was sunk Saturday nig by a German submarine off Calt Man, an Island in the Irish sea. T Germans gave the crew five minu1 in which to leave their ship. T1 crew landed at Dundrum, Cour Down. ' The submarine which sankt Dowshire was the U-12. The G1 mans fired three shots beforet steamer's captain hove to. After crew of the Downshire had taken the boats the Germans placed a bol amidship of the steamer and explod it and the Downshire sank in a f minutes. Dardanelles Forts Reduced. All the forts at the entrance of I Dardanelles have been reduced the allied fleet. This announcemi was made officially at London Thu day night. Army Appropriation Increased. Without a dissenting vote the S ate Tuesday passed the army app priation bill, carrying approximat NOTE 13 MISUS[ED ENGLISiI OfFIIAL ATTITUDE IS NOT YET ANNOUNCED Lit SEEKS TO LACK FAYIOR I11 a Press and Public Think Nothing se Should Stop Embargo on Germany p- if Submarine Activity is Continued te ly -Expect German Policy Will Re of sult in Much Enmnlty to Germany. er The American note, contents of t which remain secret, but which in al general seeks to bring about an un al derstanding regarding the war zone Bn prescribed by Germany and. the ship r- ment of foodstuffs to the civilian pop e alation of belligerent countries, was er considered at a meeting of the Brit F, ish cabinet Thursday. No inti s- mation as to the official attitude to wards it has been obtained. This id and other diplomatic questions in - London have largely overshadowed es news from the battlefields. ty The British press and public, on )n the supposition that President Wil r son has suggested that Great Britain al should not carry out her threat to t- place an embargo on foodstuffs for f Germany and that, in return, Ger se many should not enforce her subma rine blockade ag.inst the British Isles, already have expressed their y, disapproval of acceptance of such i- a proposition. Id While eight British ships have )r been destroyed in the week that the )r blockade has been in force, it is d pointed out that they are for the ,f- most part small vessels and that i- most of them, instead of having food d- for this country, either were in bal last or carrying coal or other freighti at for neutral countries. I ts It is believed in London also that r- the destruction of neutral ships and w cargoes will embroil Germany with P- neutral countries, and that in the le long ruil the losses the allies suffer is will be more than offset by the anger ?s aroused' on the part of the neutrals it and the possible refusal of countries, 1- such as Norway, to allow goods to be ,d shipped from their ports to Germany. Le The British foreign office, says a e- London dispatch, is extremely retic e ent in discussing the American pro ie posal made to London and Berlin Le outlining a plan for the feeding of yr the civil population of Germany un ;h der certain regulations. Sir Edward Grey, the British for a eign secretary, and .other cabinet t members still emphasize the fact t that Great Britain has not made food destined for Germany absolute con r- traband. Le While Sir Edward Grey's reply to f- the American note concerning the -. food steamer Wilhelmina intimated ,n that such a step probably would be h necessary, absolute piohibition. of re food shipments- to Germany has not been announced. The decision of the r Wilhelmina case by the prize court is o being looked forward to, as it is con 6 sidered that this will amount to a 11 definite statement of the British po sition. For several days it has been inti f mated in official circles that the for a- eign office might issue a memoran in dum setting forth definitely the Brit :e ish policy concerning foodstuffs des d tined for Germany and outlining ee plans for reprisals deemed necessary .- because'of the operations of the Ger s- man submarines. The issuance of c- the statement within two or three days is not Improbable. a~s British officials are sr.ld to be con L- vinced that neutral powers will offer d little objection If food supplies are! s cut off from Germary In retaliation ts for the German submarine activities, which, they allege, are in violation of to all international law. b- A prominent British official, dis - cussing the probability of making a foodstuffs absolute coi/raband, men Ytioned the position taken by Count -Caprivi, once German imperial chan c- cellor. The chancellor in a speech in - the reichstag March 4, 1892. was de le clared by this official to have said: m"A country may not depend for her a food or for her raw products upon mher trade. In fact, it may be abso lutely necessary to destroy the ene my's trade. The private introduc tion of provisions into Paris was pro-j hibited during the seige and, in thel I- same way, a nation would be justified In preventing the Import of food and raw produce." ly TOOK ALL CASH IN SIGHT. Robbers CapureAutmoble n es Make Escape. of Robbers Tuesday morning held up i Cashier Wallace, of the Bank of Stuart, Fla., and took all cash in n- sight, which was about $40,000. Es of caping from the bank, the robbers m overhauled a passing automobile and ey commanded the driver. Frank Coven n- try, to take them south, which he did e, at a sixty-mile clip. n- At Port Sewell they ordered a halt, sy but in leaving the machine one of the m robber's revolver was accidentally ex s- ploded, the bullet entering his jaw. This did not, however, prevent the escape of the robbers. Coventry was ordered to return to Stuart, where he reported to the authorities where he had left the robbers. Posses are now nscouring the country for them. THREE WARSHIPS DAMAGED. of Turkey Claims Attacking Fleet of Al es lies Was Damaged. he Three warships of the allies were ty damaged in the bombardment of the Dardanelles forts, February 25, ac he cording to announcement Friday in' er-. Constantinople at Turkish army he Iheadquarters here. he The text of the announcement fol to ows: "Big armored vessels on Feb nb ruary 25 again bombarded the Turk ed ish forts at the Dardanelles for seven aw and a half hours. At the conclusion of this operation they retired in the direction of the islan'e of Tenedos. "One shin of the Ae-amemrnon tyne eand two other armored vessels were by amaged by the fire trom the forts on at the Asiatic side of the straits." rs- r - lBig Gun Explodes. One of the largest and newest of te heavy German guns, wh:ich was in- t'eing used in a bombardment near ro- Thann, Alsace, exploded Thursday. .l. On ofrice and frve g-nners were kill FOR MORE SUBMARINES TILLMAN MAKES COMMITTEE VOTE FOR TWENTY-ONE. Five Ocean-Going and Sixteen of the Coast Defence Class-Increase in Aero Appropriations. The Senate committee on naval af fairs has voted to increase materially the appropriations for submarines and aeroplanes. These two items embody the committee's idea of the lessons to be learned from the Euro pean war. Senator Tillman of South Carolina, chairman of the committee, has come to doubt seriously the value of the dreadnought as against the submarine, but the president wanted no curtailment of the two-battleship program. The increase in submarines and aeroplanes is largely the result of Mr. Ttillman's studies of the war. The committee changed the House appropriation for one ocean-going submarine not to cost in excess of $1,400,000 to five submarines of the same class and cost,' while the House's item for eleven coast defense submarines, costing each not more than $550,000, was increased to six teen submarines of that class. The appropriation for aviation was in creased from $300,000 to $1,000,000. At the night session of the Senate the naval committee submitted its re port on the appropriation bill carry ing a total of $152,961,981.88, an in crease over the House bill of $8,313, 080. Provision -also Is made. for the reappropriation of $400,000 for the marine barracks at Norfolk and Mare Island. The naval building program of the Senate bill would provide for five sea-going submarines, sixteen small er submarines, six or more destroy ers, one oil fuel ship, one* gunboat, one hospital ship at $500,000, and two first class battleships. Among the increases recommended are $500,000 for a projectile plant, $130,000 for naval reserve, $400,000 for a high power radio station, and $1,000,000 to be applied on construc tion of an armor plate factory, the cost not to exceed $8,000,000, if the secretary of the navy can not pur chase armor in the market at a rea sonable price. Senator Smoot introduced an amendment for fifty submarines of a sea-going type and twenty-five small er ones. For the first year the ap propriation would be $30,000,000. "The European war has demon strated beyond all question," said Senator Smodt In introducing his amendment, "that submarines are In valuable for defense of coast cities and coastline. That is the sore of de fense we want in this country more than anything else." BONDS WORTHLESS. New Hampshire Attorney General De cides Upon S. C. Bonds. Exhaustive investigation by the at torney general of New Hampshire has satisfied that officer +%.. -,a . the $1,000 bonds issued oy the State of South Carolina in 1869 are of "no present value." He has therefore de cided not to bring suit against the State of South Carolina for collection on the bonds. The decision was reach ed by the attorney general, who was in Columbia in 1913 and was given by Attorney General Peeples a "com plete compilation of all of the stat utes of his State relating to bond is sues and also the decisions of the South Carolina supreme court on the same subject." The bonds in question came Into the possession of the State of New Hampshire in 1892 as a part of the estate of Benjamiff Thompson of Dur ham under the provisions of his will relating to the establishing of the New Hampshire college in that town. At that time they were entered on the books of the State treasurer as of "no present value" and the same en try is "equally and aptly applicable at the present time. No fact has been discovered which indicates any future change of va'ue,'' says James P. Tuttle, present attorney general of New Hampshire. ELEVEN DEiTROYED. First Week of War Zone Results in Loss of Few Vessels. London summarizes result of the first week of the German submarine activity so far as is known Is -that two Norwegian, one French and five B.ritish steamiers have been sunk or torpedoed by submarines, with the loss of four lives. Two of these steamers, the Belridge and the Oino rah, reached. port. On the other side of the account two German submarines are reported missing and a third hit and possibly sunk by a French destroyer. Be sides the vessels which fell victims to the submarines, two American steam ers and one Norwegian have been sunk by mines near the German coast and the Swedish steamer Specia and one or two British steamers arc over due and it is feared they have been lost. MAY' AGREE. Japan Said to Have Modified Its De mands Upon China. The outlook for an adjustment of the differences between China and Japan has improved districtly. The conferences between representative1 of the two nations apparently are progressing toward a compromise. The most important steP yet taker in this direction was disclosed at Peking Thursday. Japan has giver irdictions, which are regarded as definite, that it will not insist for the prsent upon the group of genera demands which it presented. HOLD MANY PRISONERS. Teutonic Allies Claim Total Captured of 1,03,O00. The Frankfurter Zeitung estimates the prisoners of war in Germany and Aetria now number 1.035.000. This number, it says, Is divided as fol lows: Russians, 692.000; French 27.00; Servanls, .50.000; Belgians 37.000: British, 19.000. About 'i per cent. of the total are held by Ger many. For Foreign Emergencies. Secretary Bryan asked congres; for a deficiency appropriation of $50, 000 to meet "any emergencies thar may r.rise abroad" in connection witi the protection of American citizen: and i iterests in the war swept coun SPENT LARGE SUMS. RAILROAD STIFLED OPPOSITION BY MISUSE Of FBS TO CREATE SEIMENT Commerce Commission Beport en Louisville and Nashville Sho*s Road Wilfully Restrained Compett. tion and Attempted to Buy Puble Opinion and Political Influence, The interstate commerce commis sion's report on its investigation; of the finances, rates and- practices of the Louisville and Nashville and al lied railroads, sent to the Senate Thursday, charges the Louisville and Nashville with acquiring competing lines and with carrying on for years at a cost of millions of dollars elab orate political and publicity cam paigns to eliminate competition and influence public opinion. Further inquiry and, If possible, inspection of the railroad's corre spondence was - said to be necessary. The report was written before the Supreme Court handed down its opin Ion holding that the commission was without power to force the company to submit its correspondence as weH as its records and books to scrutiny. The investigation was directed in a Senate resolution mainly to discover whether the Louisville and Nashville, through control of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway and smaller lines, had restrained. competition; whether the one-time control of the Louisville and Nash ville by the Atlantic Coast Line rail road operated to the same end In a wider field and what amount of money the Louisville and Nashville and related roads have contributed in blocking the entrance of:compeV ing roads, through political agents or' through public sentiment favorable to their cause. To all these questions the commis sion gives an affirmative answer. It qualifies its declaration that the Louisville and Nashville wilfully re strained competition by pointing. out that in some instances it was trying to meet the competition of other large systems. In the recital of political activities of the roads, the commission an nounces its inability to set forth all the money these carriers may have expended in political~ and publicity work, but the items -which its investi gators discovered and which it has placed in the report run into ,.he millions. In connection with the Tennessee Railroad association form ed by carriers in 1884 to combat ad verse legislation in Tennessee the.re port is specific in its allegations. "The various payments made' on, account of the-Tennessee Railroad association by the Nashville, Chatta nooga and St. Louis railroad and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad company," said the report, "were to a large extent made to State officials and legislators of Tennessee, munici pal officers of Nashville, political lob byists and attorneys. Investigation: showed that payments made by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis in this connection, aggregating over $20,000, could be definitely assined to persons formerly or at present holding public 8ffice, but the total amount paid to such persons Was no doubt much in excess of this sum." Here are some of the disclosures of money placed in the column of political or publicity expenditures: Payments aggregating $82,596 for "purposes mentioned in the resolu tion" between September 1, 1906, and July 1, 1914, by the Louisville and Nashville, as shown in its accounts. Expenditures by the Louisville and Nashville in the same period of main taining political and legislative agents, $23,274.41. For creating public sentiment In favor of the plans of the Louisville and Nashville in the same period the commission reports that the railroad expended $59,322.48, of which $53, 000 was used in a publicity campaign in Alabama to mould public opinion through the press. Part of the rest was contributed to finance a campaign in Louisiana to prevent the change of tax laws. In this connection of indifference the funds were placed in the hands of a bank, to be disbursed by it as If In furtherance of banking interests. The Louisville and Nashville paid to the New Orleys and St. Louis, $120,198.44 for the Tennessee Rail road assocIation. This was in addi- - tion to other "large expenditures in connection with that association." the commission said. The report says that $295,000 In vouchers was issued by the Louisville and Nashville in the 1906-1914 period to various persons, concern ing which the accounts give no in formation other than the expendi tures were for "special services and expenses. Other vouchers aggregat ing $67,722.30 were issued -from 1900 to 1911, under the direction of the legal or executive departments of the road, without the purpose being stated. One of these vouchers was for more than $20,000 and all were in excess of $1,000. The commission gives an instance of one special ledger account record ing large expenditures, the purpose of which co'uld not be learned. It recites that an account was opened in the name of the Immigration :~nd Industrial association of Alabama in 1907. "This," says the report, "re cords a cash advance to George W. Jones, assistant district attorney in Montgomery. Ala., made under an thority of the first vice-president. ...The nature of this account Is indicated by notations on the tress urer's statements of cash receipts en tered therein and such as 'proportion of expenses, account adjourned ses sion of Alabama legislature.'" SOON TO ADJOURN. Senate Leaders Say Nothing But Ap propriat Ions Can be Handled. Democratic leaders of the Senate concede that there is little hope for any legislation except the big supply, measures before adjournment of con gress and that there was no prospect of passing the river and harbor bill in its present form. For the river and harbor bill, it is now generally expected, there will be substituted a joint resolution appropriating ap proximately $30,000,000 to continue existing projects under direction of the war department._.