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BRITISH SHIP SUNK~ WLODON REPORTS TWO MOR5 VICTDIS ON WEDNESDAY. II NEW BATTLES FECE Berlin and Petrograd Reports Wed- I t nesday Show That Fighting Now t Going on Is Heaviest of War-RuS - slans Attempt Advance-Carpa thian See Bloody Battles. London reports Wednesday that the British steamer Oakby was tor pedoed by a German submarine off Rye Tuesday. Her crew was rescued by a fishing smack and landed at Ramsgate. The Oakby was bound in ballast from London for Cdrdif; Wales. She was struck on the port sido. Her main hatches were blown off, her decks were splintered and the bin nacle was hurled into the air. One life boat was swamped by the great volume of water thrown'up by the ex plosion of the torpedo. The fishing smack Gratia, which was four miles off, felt the shock of the explosion and hastened to the scene. The fishermen arrived in time to take off the crew of the Oakby, no member of which -was injured. The periscope of a submarine was seen before the explosion by the chief engineer of the Oakby. An attempt was made to tow the Oakby to Dover but she sank off Folkestone. The official information bureau an nounced Wednesday afternoon that the Clan .MacNaughton, an armed merchpnt cruiser, is missing. Thc vessel was last heard from February 3, and it is feared she has been lost. The situation in the waters sur rounding Great Britain continues.to furnish fresh developmeots, involving - ships of neutrals in both Europe and America. As a precaution England has closed the entranco to. the Irish channel, excepting a narrow strip near the coast, in which navigation will be permitted only by da5 light. - The Scandinavian countries, among which Norway has already lost four ships, are trying hard for some solu tion-of the problem, but so far with out results, although it is now pur posed tentatively to provide some sort of a naval convoy for their craft. The matter is to be discussed further.. Washington reports the official no tice of the sinking of the Carib. Min Ister Van Dyke cabled: "Carib re ported sunk in North Sea outside route prescribed by German instruc tions." Along the East Prussian border fr northern Poland some of, the fiercest engagements of the eastern campaign are taking place. -An official state ment from Petrograd says that ir these battles villages changed hands several times.Three German attackE on Przasnysz, where the conflict it sharpest, are said to have been re pulsed. A Berlin dispatch says it Is re ported. there that "further obstaclet -have arisen" to prevent an invasior of Russia. The correspondent of a *Paris newspaper estimates. that the Germans lost 50,000 men in the fight ing In the north. In thie Carpathianis the series o: detached, battles continues with me sign of a conclusion. The Russian --war office announced. tgiat Austrian -attacks at several points were repuls -ed with enormous losses for the at ticking~ forces. It is claimed that during the last month more than 48, 000 Austrians have been captured. It was announced officially in Ber Un that a British transport had been sunk off'Beachy Head, England. The location and time given make It prob able, however, that the Berlin an nouncement has reference to the sink ing of a British naval collier, whic1. - as made known Tuesday night. Berlin reports: "In the western theatre of the ~war: Near Perthes, in -Chapagne, French infantry divisionm Tuesday made an attack. on severa: -places. -Violent hand-to-hand fight ing took-place which everywhere re sulted in favor of the Germans. The enemy -suffered heavy losses and wat driven .back to his positions. "Eastern theatre of war: A new' Russian advance from Grodno . wat easily repulsed. Sou':heast of Augus 7towo the Russians crossed the Bob! - iver in two places. Near Sztabin Near Krrnsnyborg the engagement -continues. "Near Yrzasynsz 1,200 Russians *were made prisoners and two cannot -were taken. "A Russian night attack east of Bklerniewice was repulsed." Vienna reports a war correspondeni as saying th-' fighting in the Carpa thians has become even more bitte! and stubborn. The Russians arc showing desperate courage. It Is quieter in the Dukla Pass where both sides have entrenched themselves. Petrograd reports: The desperate resistance offered by the 20th corps -of the Russian army to the Germar advance in east Prussia is described in an official communicstion. The re port Is based on Information fron: "various individuals belonging to thit corps who managed to escape." *The Russians claim that although these troops were surrounded by a Germany army in the territory be tween Goldap and Suwalki, they in flicted heavy losses on their antagon - Ists. They repelled attacks On four fronts "until their strength was com pletely exhausted." The communica tion follows: "The communication of February 21 which described the unusually dif tcult position of part of our army corps during the retreat in East Prussia- applied to portions of the 20th corps commanded by Lieutenant General Bulgakoff, comprising the 12th divIsion and three reserve regi ments. Communication between this corps and the 10th army was broken . on February 13 and the corps found Itself surrounded in the country be tween Goldap and Suwalki by a Ger man army which constantly Increased In numbers. "This corps fought heroically until February 22 against an enemy which o'utnumbered it several times. During these days the troops marched about 32 mIles, continuing to force a pas sage for themselves toward the south eastern part of the forest of Augus towo. "According to account given by prisoners, our corps inflicted heavy losses upon the Germans who at tempted to bar the way, particularly In the lake region and the forest near Ghita. - "Reports just given by various in dividuals belonging to this corps who managed to escape show the corps was ready to fight until its strength was completely exhausted. gallantly repelling attacks on four fronts, re -taining its artillery and taking with It many German prisoners. "In the Carpathians the Austrians bombarded - convent south of Mezo laborcz with 12-inch mortars. We repulsed persistent Austrian attacks in the region of Mikov, Smolnika and Tiszevica, and inflicted enormous lmsse on the enemy In the region of COTTON SHIP SINKS NOTHER AMERICAN STEA3ER GOES DOWN ON A MINE. ;erlin Reports Second Disaster to U. S. Ship-Says Captain Did Not Fol low Safety Course. Berlin reports Tuesday: The Lmerican steamer Carib has gone to he bottom off the German coast in he North Sea as a result of striking mine. At the time of the disaster he Carib was not using the route aid down in the German marine in tructions. ' The German admiralty has com nunicated a memorandum to Com nander Walter R. Gherardl, the imerican naval attache, pointing out hat the des'ruction of the American ;teamers Evelyn and Carib was due :o their not following the course pre ;cribed by the German admiralty to a ;oint northwest of Helgoland. The memorandum reiterates the surance of the German government is to the safety of the prescribed :ourse. Savannah reports 'Mr. Armstrong, president of the company which owns he Carib, as saying that the Carib's :argo was insured by the government war risk bureau, and that the ship tself was insured partly by the war risk bureau and partly by outside I companies. Mr. Armstrong said that the Carib had a German pilot aboard, who was taken on at the Hook of Holland, and he further said the sh'p, accord ing to his advices, was following the customary course through the North Sea. The Carib was a regular member of the Clyde Steamship company's Boston-Charleston freight service for a number of years, and until a few months ago was a regular visitor to Charleston this run. Shortly before her sailing for Europe with cotton she was sold by the Clyde Line to' Walker, Armstrong & Co., of Savan nah, who are locally represented by the Carolina Company. With a eargo said to consist of 4,600 bales of cotton the Carib, with Capt. Edgar C, Cole in command, steamed from Charleston on January 27 for Bremen. The vessel was load ed at the compress of W. Gordon Mc Cabe & Co. by the Carolina Company. The number of officers and men on the Carib was estimated at between thirty and thirty-five. A copy of the ship's papers was not available after the report of her sinking was receiv ed. With the exception of the ship's master the names of but two other officers on board could be ascertain ed, and they were Chief Engineer Cune and Chief Officer Gifford. Capt. Cole was the junior captain on the Clyde Line. He has been in active service as a captain for more than fourteen years, and is said to have had wide experience and to have been a thoroughly capable skip per. He is a native of Massachusetts. A report was brought some days ago that the Carib had discharged her cotton cargo at Bremen, and that she was returning to America with a cargo of dye stuffs, but the report could not be substantiated. Capt. -Smith, of the Evelyn, has been asked for a report as to the locality of the disaster. This report is expected to show whether the Evelyn wandered within the defen sive German mine fields or whether she struck mines laid by a belliger ent power other than Germany. 'Myto Koriourka. "Austrian troops have taken the places of the Germans south of 'Boli na. Obstinate fighting has begun at Stanislau against great forces of the enemy. Between January 21 and February 20 ( our army in the Car pathians captured 691 officers, 47, S40 men, 17 cannon and 118 mitral lenses." Claiming marked successes in the Carpthlans and collapse of the Ger man offensive in the north, which "never emerged from its period of reparation," Russian officers took an 'ptimistic view of the outlook along the whole front. The German advance from East Prussia has been stopped largely by the flooding of rivers and the melting of- snow, and their attempt to cross :he Bobr likewise has been thwarted. A new battle line thus has been form ed in the north along which there is uninterrupted ,fighting. Operations in the Carpathians are developing rapidly, and the Aus trians' right flank now is threatened by the Russian offensive movement. Near Krasne, east of Lemberg, the Russians repulsed an Austrian divi sion, thus checking the movements of Austro-German forces attempting o concentrate at Stanislau. The situatli' in northern. Poland. however, is regarded as of greatest mmediate importance. The position of the Germ .ns near Ossowetz is con sidered critical, since they are under attack from the heavy guns of the fortress and are unable to bring up artillery, owing to the poor roads. A stubborn fight on the road to Lomza was won by the Russians. The only ocation in that general vicinity still in dispute is Prasuysz, 50 miles west of Lomza.! The Germans are said to have gathered a large force there. Along the whole front the Ger mans have been proceeding in six groups: The first, in the direction of Eyd kuhen; the second toward -Grodno; the third aro~und Ossowetz; the fourth in the district of Lomza; the fifth in the direction of Prasnysz, and the sixth near Plonsk and Nowo Geor giewsk. All these group; are keeping close te the railroads. Communica tion between them 'a by cavalry. The Russians, now on a previously orepared line, are believed to be able to stop the German adyance wherever it is decided to accept. battle. Repulse of the Austrians and Ger mans at several points Is claimed by the Russians in an official communi eation Issued Tuesday night. It is stated that in eastern Galicia, south east of Stanislau, two Austrian bri gades were driven off with the loss of 1,500 prisoners. including 20 oficers and several machine guns. SAFE BLOWN AT PIEDMONT. Yeggmen Secure Only a Small Amount of Cash. Some time during Tuesday night the iron safe in the freight and pas senger depot of the Piedmhont and Northern (the interurban), at the town of Piedmont, was blown open, the burglar using gun cotton. The office was practically wrecked by the explosion, the ceiling being torn down and the window panes shatter ed. Agent George left only ten dollars in the safe, having removed a large amount of cash on Saturday night to a vault on the opposite side of the office from the safe. The safe crack er took the ten dollars. Ofiicers are woring on the case, but as yet have found no clues. Entenite to United Resources. The plan for a union of the finan cl and military resources of the Entente powers, arranged early in February in Paris. was approved Tuesday by the English House of -Conmmons. RKES PROPOSALS 7. S. IULL AMELIORATE DAN GER STO ALL NEUTRALS. NFORMAL NOTES SENT telief Most Commonly Held Is That This Country Has Proposed Some Form of Supervision Over Distri bution of Foodstuffs in Germany Blockade to be Cancelled? Proposals have been made infor nally by the United States to both Ireat Britain and Germ.-ny suggest ng a basis for an understanding on he subjects of foodstuffs for the ,ivilian population of belligerents mnd submarine warfare against mer-1 :hant ships. These proposals havc! been guarded with the utmoet sec recy and officials have not revealed their nature because of the delicacy >f the negotiations. Coincident with the revelation that i new move had been m,.de by the Washington governmer-t came dis patches telling Jf the blowing up of a second American vessel, the steam ;hip Carib, near the German coast, an incident which increased anxiety on the part of officials for an early understanding with the belligerents. The wreck of the first vessel, the Evelyn, was viewed by President Wil son as a tragic accident due to pos sible failure of the captain to heed the German- admiralty's instructions respecting the location of mine fields. Officials believed the Carib disaster was of a similar nature, though they had no official advices Proposals made to the belligerents, 't is known, are of far-reaching im portance. They were emboidied in confidential memorandum which both Ambassadors Page and Gerard were instructed to take up infor-nally with the respective foreign offices at Lon don and Berlin. The new communi cations are not replies to the notes of Germany and Great Britain, though they relate to the same subject. They constitute what is described in diplo macy as "informal inquilles" and fre quently, if accepted, become formal. The belief most commonly held was that the United States had pro posed some form of supervision over the distribution of foodstuffs to the civilian population of Germany, eith er by American consul agents or American organization. Germany has offered to abandon her submarine warfare if assured that ships lades with foodstuffs for Germany will not be interrupted. President Wilson discussed with the cabinet the situation produced b3 the decLaration of the war zone and it was said the replies from England and Germany to the informal repre sentations would have a considerabli bearing on the final course of th( American government. Earlier in the dai the presidehi indicated that he had not decide whether the notes received from Ger many and Great Britain on the se war zones and the use of neutra flags required rejoinders. Officials spoko guardedly but witl no concealment of their apprehen slons over the situation which migh Idevelop if America'n lives were los as a result of a submarine attack The Carib was the secon.I ship in sured by the government wrar risk In surance bureau. There was $235,001 on her cargo and $22,253 on her hull With a loss on the Evelyn, the bu reau probably will have to pay a tota of $659,000, which about equals thi sum collected to date in pretniums. Undoubtedly both cases will be tha subject of civil suits for damages b: the bureau. Berlin reports: James W. Gerard American ambassador to Germany 'has presented to the foreign office thi American note embodying the Amern can proposals for settlement of ti situation arising from the Britisl embargo on foodstuffs Into German; and the German warfare against Brit ish mercantile shipping. It is understood proposals wer submitted simultaneously In Londoz No statement regarding the natur of these proposals or the German at titude toward them can be obtained but It is believed there IS at least prospect of their acceptance by Ger many. ICHANNEL IS CLOSED. British Admiralty Closes Certain Por tions of English Channel' The British admiralty announce that the Irish Channel and the'Nort: Channel watears lying between Eng land and Scotland and Ireland, htav been restricted for navigation fror Tuesday. "The southern entrance to the Iris Channel, known as St. George's Chat nel, Is between Carnsore Point au the Irish coast an~d St. David's Head Wales. Certain areas of this channe also have been closed to mercantid navigation by the adimiralty's orders which require that t'il traffic wishin to proceed through the North Char nel must pass south of Rathlin Is land between. sunrise and sunset. "No ship will be allowed withi: four miles of Rathlin Island betwee: sunset and sunrise." TORPEDO BOAT SUNK. French Report Loss of Ship In th Adriatic Sea. The destruction of the French toi pedo boat destroyer Dague, in tfl Adriatic Sea was announced Frida by the French ministry of marine. The official announcement follows "The French torpedo boat destroye Dague, while escorting a convoy wit provisions for Montenegro, struck a: Austrian mine off the port of Antivai (Montenogro) on February 24, an sank. "Thirty-eight of the crew disal; peared. The accident did not hinde finishing the work of provisions an. the return of the convoy." Losses Are Few. A British admiralty statement say that since February 18. when th German naval war zone decree wen into effect, there have been 708 at rivals and 673 sailings from Britis: ports of the United Kingdom an' that German submarines have sun: seven vessels. British Collier Damaged. Eighteen members of the crew o the Cardiff steamer Dranksom Chine, an English government colliet landed at New Haven Tuesday even ing. Their vessel either struck mine or was torpedoed in the Englis channel. Jumped 500 Feet to Death. Mrs. W. F. Cockrell of Delray, Va. iumped into the elevator shaft of th Wahington mionu:-ent at a landin: near the top late Tuesday and fell t the bottom, more than 500 feet be low. Zeppelin flombar'ds Calais. A Zeppelin bombarded Calais Mon day morning. It dropped projiectile which killed five persons, all ciliv ans, and caused some unimportar. matrial damage. SIX OFFICERS PUNISHED THEY WERE COURT-M1ARTIALED FOR VIOLATING RULES. Fletcher Says Some of the Sentences Were Too Mild-President Saves Offender from Dismissal. The discipline that prevails in the Atlantic fleet is emphasized in an or der of the navy department, just made public, In which it is announced that six commissioned officers of the navy have recently been court-mar italed for violations of the naval reg ulations. In each instance the officer involved was found guilty. None of the officers was dismissed, but all re ceived more or less severe sentences. In one instance Rear Admiral Fletch er sent back the fiindings with in structions to submit a different rec ommendation on the ground that the first recommendation was too lenient. The officers named in the navy de partment order are Lieut. Rufus F. Zogbaum, Jr., of Niw York, Ensign H. A. Ward of New York, Lieut. Lindsay H. Lacy of Texas, Lieut. Jonas H. Ingram of Indiana, Ensign Jay K. Esler of Michigan, and En sign John T. Melvin of Oklahoma. Lieut. Zogbaum wss much in the public eye immediately following the outbreak of -the war in Europe, as a result of his activities in London, where he was attached to the Ameri can embassy and assigned to look after the interests of Germans then in London. Previous to that he was flag lieutenant of the first division of the Atlantic fleet during the time thE division was under command of Rea Admiral Cameron MeR. Winslow. HE is a son of the marine painter Zog baum, who is mentioned in Kipling' poem, "Bob Evans." Lieut. Zogbaum was charged witi neglect of duty and was tried or board the superdreadnought Arkan sas while that ship was at the nav3 yard in New York. He was found guilty and sentenced to be publicl3 reprimanded by the secretary of thi navy. The sentence was declared in adequate and was ordered revised whereupon the court sentenced Zog baum to lbse one number in hi! grade. Admiral Fletcher, the com mander in chief of the fleet, rule( that the sentence was still inade quate, but approved it "in order tha the accused might not entirely escapi punishment." Lieut. Lacy, who is a native o Texas, was also court-martialed oi board the Arkansas at the navy yar< in Brooklyn. The charge agains him was drunkenness, and he wa found guilty and sentenced t'o los, ten 'numbers in his grade. The find ings .and sentence were .approved b; Admiral Fletcher. Lieut. Ingram is famous in th navy ab one of the greatest athlete ever turned out by the naval acad emy. He is remembered as the acad emy's greatest oarsman and as on of the best football players in th history of the institution. He was i the thick of the fighting at Vera Cru and commanded one of the Arkar sas's battalions during the naval o( cupation of the city. He was charg ed with neglect of duty and sentent ed to the publicly reprimanded b Admiral Fletcher. The admiral al proved the findings of guilty, but dih approved the sentence as inadequati Ensign Esler was found guiltyC absence from station after leave ha expired. He was tried on the 'fiai ship of the Pacific fleet and sentence to a loss of two numbers in grad< Rear Admiral Howard, commande -n chief of the Pacific fleet, approve the findings and sentence. Ensign Melvin was tried on th dreadnought Michigan at Philade phia and found guilty of drunker ness, conduct unbecoming an offie and gentleman, and condret prejud cial to g&ood order and discipline. E was sentenced to a loss of ten nun bers in grade. Admiral Fletcher ai proved the sentence. Ensign Ward was tried on the ba tleship Kansas off Tampico, Mexic and found guilty of absence fro: duty and station after leave had e: - pired and disobedience of an ordt of the chief of the bureau of navig: a tion in Washington. He was sei -tenced to be dismissed from the nav Sbut on the recommendation of ti -young officer's superiors the senteri was commuted by President Wilsc Sto a loss of fifty numbers in grad Under the law the president has tI final word in all cases in the arn: and navy which involve dismiss; from the service. FOLLOWED WRONG COURSE. Berlin Says American Captain D) Sparted from Northerly Course. SAccording to advices receive i there, Capt. Smith, of the America steamer Evelyn, has -informed t1 1 German authorities that his sh - came to grief through the advice< I a .ritish naval boarding officer, wI ,instructed him to follow the cour: 1 on whicn he struck the mines instes e of the northerly course, as laid dos ,in the German instructions. 'The disaster occurred at 4 o'clot - Friday morning and the Evelyn sat - seven hours later. Capt. Smith, Dutch pilot and thirteen men drif i ed in a rowboat unftil Saturday afte i noon, when they were rescued by German patrol boat. A Spania ~stoker in the rowboat died meanwhi from exposure. The other men a: all, recovering. They are now at ti s Sailors' HomA in Bremerhaven. The mate and the remainder the Evelyn's crew are understoodi have landed in Holland. SLOOKS OUT FOR CILARLESTON Tinman Has Senate Add $863,000 1 1Harbor Appropriations. SAs the naval appropriation bill le j the House of Representatives it ca ried $20,000 to continue draining - the Charleston navy yard and $10 r 000 to continue paving and gradin j As the bill was reported to the Se: ate Monday evening from the Sena committee on naval affairs, of whi< Senator Tillman is chairman, it en ried additions aggregating $65,00 Smaking the appropriation as recon tmended by the Senate committ4 -$95,000 in all. The additions in committee inclui Sthe following items toward the col Sstruction of building ways for coi structing tungs, lighters, barges at small naval auxiliary craft, $50.00( to make dry and wet borings to d< termines water front conditions ft locating docks, piers and slips, $15 000. Italian Speakers Riot. Many persons were wounded Sui day in a general fight at a meetin ealled by the parties favorable I Italy remaining neutral in the wt and those desiring the government t intervene, at which it was intende that speakers should give the resped tive views of the parties.. Rfssa Reward. Gov. aing refused to offer a ri .ard for the party committing th: .urder in Anderson several day go. The governor made it plai that he expected the officers to d their duty and was not in favorC HGE RABBIT RUN P d EFFORTS TO CUT OFF RUSSIAN ARMY BECOMES HEUNT. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN Dispatch From Poland Gives Account of Recent Operations in Which von Hindenberg Made Quick Drive to Cut Off Russian Army Under Gen. Sievers. A dispatch from Suwalki, Poland, describes the recent fighting in East I Prussia. The German forces under Field Marshal von Hindenberg, by hard fighting and extraordinary marches, inflicted such a striking de-. feat on the Russians opposed to them in the recent battle of the Mazurian lakes country that the Russian rem nants are a negligible quantity in the operations now in progress. The Russian killed and wounded in the four days' fighting are esti mated at 30,000 men. Over 60,000 Russians, out of a total ef 150,000 engaged, are prisoners in German hands. The fighting has been described as the February campaign in East Prus sia and north Poland, and it is re garded here as a second Tannenberg. The Russians, composing the Tenth army, were commanded by Gen. Sievers. By a skillful use of the railroads and by the sacrifice of en tire battalions to bring off a few guns, he saved a greater part of his artillery, but 60,000 of his 150,000 men already are counted among the German prisoners, while the Russian killed and wounded in the four days' battle and the subsequent running fights are estimated at 30,000 men. At Suwalki there could be heard the sound of artillery from a swampy region to the southeast, where an isolated Russian division, perhaps 10,000 men strong, has been com pletely stfrrounded, but is still offer ing resistance. Several thousand more Russians probably still remain in small scattered bands or are wan dering within the ring which the Ger man troops have closed around the woods and swamps between Suwalki I and Augustowo and the German fron tier. The capture of these wanderers is expected here and is regarded as merely an incident in a campaign to which the great success is called only the prelude. German military men do not be lieve that Gen. Sievers will be able to bring any of his troops safely be hind the fortress of Grodno. : The above statement may seem to be exaggcrated, but a correspondent of the Associated Press, motoring - along the line of the Russian retreat - over roads in deep snow and through a desolate and swampy country, gain B ed an impression of complete defeat and demoralization. Abandoned guns and automobiles, wrecked and over turned wagons, sledges and ammuni tion caissons encumbered the way. Rifles, blankets, knapsacks and other equipment had been thrown away by the fleeting soldiers. Dead horses and an occasional fallen soldier were everywhere along the roadside. -At the street corners In Suwalki, SAugustowo, Lyck and other towns Sare great heaps of abandoned rifles -and bayonets. Large bands of Rus sian prisoners, many-of whom sur -rendered without firing a shot, were encountered along the way. The dRussians in retreat seem to have only had time enough to burn the Chouses on the German side of the frontier and destroy the live stock which they were unable to carry raway. From Lyck to Prosnik, for - example, only one house with a roof a was seen. The Russian part of Pros - ten and the Russian villages beyond - had not been touched. The first phase of the campaign the phase resulting in the destruction 5 of'the Russian northern army-may be compai-ed to a gigantic rabbit -" drive, or surround, in which men r were the prey. - While the attention of the Rus - sians was concentrated on the War 5 saw campaign, Figld Marshal von e Hindenberg quietly assembled an e overwhelmiing force In East Prussia a and suddenly launched It in two col ' umns against Gen. Sievers. e One column drove in from the south and threw back the Russians 1 whio for months had been besieging the lake ways to East Prussia and the other column from the north swung round to the eastward and southward, aiming to join the south ern Ger-man column and "ut off the retreat of the Russians. The two wings closed to the east of Suwalki and Augustowo only a few d hours too late to catch the entire army. Most of the units of the Rus e sian force, however, were caught. P The delay which enabled the rem )fnant to escape was due to nature. 0 The line of advaince of the southern e .column lay through the belts of d swamps which form a natural de a fense of the Russian frontier. It Is almost without roads and troops at .tempting to use the cross-country k trails became almost hopelessly bog a ged. The correspondent saw columns -. of infantry, many of whom had pass. -ed through mires more than ankle a deep. h "Nature," said one German comn e -mander to the correspondent, "al e ways helped the Russians. Two days e of hard.frost and we should have had every man." f The correspondent accompanied o the right wing of the German armies and it was to these troops that the heaviest part of the fighting fell. The left wing, sweeping down from the north, was called upon to accomplish marches of 40 miles daily In pursuit 0of the Russians. The battle in the south was of an unique character. Again nature aid ft ed the Russians. It was fought in a r- driving snowstorm, a fierce cutting Lt wind driving the flakes into the faces - .nd eyes of the advancing Germans . until they could scarcely see. SWhen the Germans came to grips :e with the Russian: they found their b rifles so covered with ice and snow that the weapons could not be fired. The troops-and these were young troops of one of the newly formed corps-were left only with their bay onets, but they stuck to their work .e despite heavy losses. 1The Russians were assuming the offensive when artillery succeeded in getting through the forest to the south of the Mazurian lakes and turn ed the scale. This column pressed ir forward along the fairway, only a dozen miles wide, between the Mazu ran lakes and the Russian frontier, driving tihe Russians before them, but they were forced to turn three -times to beat off flank attacks from gthe south. 0 The Russian commander-in-chief r made desperate efforts to come to 0 the aid of this army, sending col umns of troops from Lomza. Kolno -and Ossowetz. Each timue the Ger man commander defeated the relief columns and then continued his |march. -lThe retreat of the Russians on this e part of the field could be made only s to the ntorth-ast. as the swamp belt a prevented their escape to the east or 01 south. f The troops from the centre and SIRECTS BATTLE BY WIRE ELEPHONE OPERATOR HAD RE MARKABLE VIEW. )icture of Soissons Fighting as Directed by Its Nerve Center, the Telephone Dugout. The Associated Press correspond nt at Berlin writes: A Hamburg oldier, who acted as telephone oper tor in the latest fighting at Soissons, tad a remarkable view of the opera Ions from his dugout. "My den," he writes, "suddently iecame the meeting place for officers, Lnd for several days it has borne the lame, 'Central Telephone Station of Pield Artillery.' The name says 1nough to explain itself. All orders ?ass through my wires, giving direc -ions for our artillery fire at impor :ant points. "Outside we hear the wild rage of 'he battle. Suddenly our dugout 5eems to be caving in; stones crum ble from the roof; we stop breathing and a terrible pressure in the air seems about to flatten our chests. What was that? The younger sol iers tremble and grow pale, but the veterans give a jluick and meaning glance, and the new men who have not yet been in the battle recover themselves and proceed calmly with their work. It was after all only a little ten-inch bomb. The veterans know that it did not fall directly over our dugout and proceed with their telephone work, knowing that any delayed message might cost much German blood. Meanwhile the tide of battle is turning -back and forth. "'Our infantry Is falling back and has lost connection with adjoining troops. The first and third compa nies ofthe regimea have disappear ed;' or 'Height number - must be stormed.at once.' 'The first battalion is under a flank fire, it's losses heavy, help wanted at once.'. 'The artillery must lengthen its range 300 meters at once, as it is endangering our in fantry.' 'Capt. B- has just fall en: Lieut. -- assumes command.' 'Field artillery must immediately open fire on height number - up on - road; enemy's artillery gal loping away.' Ten minutes later that road is screened with smoke as our shells fly- further and further into the thick masses of men and horses. Horses dash away in a mad panic. and men creep forth from under cap sized gun carriages and caissons and limp away in search of cover. They nearly succeed, whei -a little white cloud is suddenly seen, and the tot tering figures and everything around are mowed down. That was one of our shrapnels. "The smokqe has cleare away, and our field artillery is shooting at more important game-a leld artillery in the road, which is now at rest for ever. 'Hurrah!' is shouted through the telephone, with the announce ment: 'Cuffles has been taken com pletely, also the height 132,' (naming a little fort.) Enthusiasm for a moment and then the telephone ser vice goes on with the same zeal and energy. We have had great successes, and not a man thinks of getting* his dinner. We only drink black coffee from morning till night, and that is all that keeps us on our feet. The enemy's artillery grhadually stops fir ing, but ours fires more hotly If pos sible. Suddenly the urgent call: "'The whole artillery will prepare. Crouy and Vauxrt to be taken by storm.' At 2:40 Crouy is taken after a hard struggle, and occupied by our brave Field-grays. Two hours -later Vauxrot is ripe for attack and is taken by storm with only small losses. Another hour and the glass factory, after having been frightfully shot to pieces, falls into our hands. That was a strong supporting point of the French; and now there is nc longer any holding out on their side. Their riflemen run for the Aisne i wild masses and press- to cross the bridges for the south bank. Out artillery tears with rapid fire through the disorderly masses. Hundreds o: these brave soldiers redden the soi of the native lcand with their blood TO SEND NOTES. Government Intends to Communicate With England and Germany. Drafts of notes to Great B3ritaiz and Germany-one relative to the use of the American flag by the Brit ish liner Lusitania and the other con cerning the attitude of the Germar navy toward neutral vessels in the newly prescribed sea zones of war were given pers nal consideration bI President Wilson Tuesday, after con ferences wita Secretary Bryan and cabinet members. It is understood that no protes1 against any violation of internationa: law is to be directed to either coun try. The administration view of thE Gusitania's hoisting of the Americax flag is that it fa a customary war ruse But at the same time representations pointing out that neutral commercE might suffer through continued prac tice of the stratagem were deemed advisable. As for the German proclamatior that it may be difficult to determinE the character of a vessel in the wai zones because of misuse of neutra flags, the United States intends tc ask for more information as to meth ods by which the order will be car ried out. It will point out thr. ii expectt every effort to be made to verify thE nature of ships flying neutral ags assuming that due respect for thE safety of Americans will be given. WANT BIGGER GUNS. Secretary Garrison Recommends Im portant Coast Ordnance. Guns of greater' range and powei than any that could be arrayed against them were asked for Amern can coast defences in an army boari report submitted by Secretary Gari son, and made public Thursday bI the House appropriations committee The board advised that the old type 12-inch guns and mortars "are not equal in range and power to majoi calibre guns r.flor~t." Mr. Garrison recommended the im mediate improvement c f some of the coast defences so that the range oj the old 12-inch guns could be increas. ed to 20,000 yards, and the boarc suggested that wherever it was nec. essary to construct new works thE larger guns should be 16-inch wea pons. Must Not Discuss War. Secretary Garrison warned Unitet States army officers Tuesday not tc discuss In public the military situa tion either in America or abroad. Two Dead; Five Wounded. Five men are reported wounded and two killed in a hold-up at an al leged r:-mbling house at Tulsa. Okla., late Monday. Holger is Interned. The stipulated period during whic1 the (German steamer Holger, arrived at Buenos Aires Thursday, might re main in this port having expired, the Argentine authorities have declared on were by this time In full retreat astward and southeastward under a ressure from the German forces. The Russians apparently became esperately jammed and on February '] 6. when the correspondent arrived t Grajev, the German commander ras almost confident that the bag 7ould -be complete. Then came the elay In getting the flanking column. ,cross the swamps to close the ring ,nd Gen. Sievers with all his higher flicers and the remnant of his army ;ot away. That the Russian commander was ble under such road conditions to iring off as much artillery and trans >orts as he did is, in the opinion of Terman experts. a most laudable Lchievement. The roads are very iarrow and obstructed with deep rifts of snow. Each drift usually is ndicated by an abandoned cannon or )y an overturned freight automobile. everal of the main roads were tried, )ut they were utterly impassable on Lcount of the snow. A picturesque scene was witnessed )n the trip between Augustowo and Buwalki. The road is cut like a can Fon for 20 miles through a dense Russian pine forest and formed the >nly available avenue for the Ger man advance. Along this road was a solid stream of infantry, artillery and wagon trains, moving irresistibly southward. The roadway was high pitched and slippery with ice. Smooth shod horses were continually falling. The infantrymen picked their way along the sides or the road. Almost every man was equip ped with a staff. There was no stop r pause. The soldiers ate as they marched. The horses were kept mov ing until they were through the woods, as there was no place to turn out and, halt. For mn.ny miles be fore Augustowo was reached the same ceaselessly moving column of men, horses and guns had been en countered-an army 50 miles long was on the march. The German general army head quarters announced on February 18, two days bofore the foregoing dis patch was written, that 64,000 Rus sians had been capti red in the battle of Mazurian lakes in East Prussia. On February 28 the capture of 40, o0o 'more prisoners was announced, bringing up the total to more than 100.,000 men, and including seven generals. Tuesday's Berlin official communication said that more than 300 Russian cannon had been taken by the Germans. London reports: The Russian Tenth army which, according to an official report by Grand Duke Nich olas, the Russian commander-in chief in the field, lost one of its corps in the last big battle In East Prussia, now stands at bay along the line of the Narew, Bobr and Niemen rivers within Russian territory. The last Russian official communication re lates many isolated engagements in this region which may mean that a counter offensive is now in progress but of this there is no confirmation. Petrograd reports: Explanation of the Russian retirement from East Prussia is contained in a communica tion given out Monday night by the general staff. Success of the Ger man coup is attributed largely to the lack of strategic railways which pre vented the Russians from concentrat ing with "necessary rapidity on our East Prussian front forces indispens ible to ward off this drive of the ene The general staff asserts that the massing of German troops In East Prussia was revealed to the Russians on February 4 but that the magni tude of the concentration did not be come known until several days later. Because of these conditions, it is stated, withdrawal of the.Tenth Rus sian army from East Prussia to wards the frontier was decided upon. This was followed later by a further retirement t'owards the Niemen and the Bobr rivers. The communication follows: "The Germans, after a series of exceptionally obstinate and tenacious attacks which cost them innumerable victims, became persuaded of the im possibiity of dislodging us from the left bank of the Vistula andi proceed ed at the end of January to put a new )lan Into operation. "Having finished the formation in the interior of their country of sev eral new corps and deciding to con tinue the transportation of troops from their west front in order to make a supreme effort against us, profiting by their network of rail roads, the Germans were enabled to launch an overwhelming force against our Tenth army, which occu pied strongly organized positions along the Augeraph river and the Mazurian lakes. "To assure the success of this coup the Germans transported also part of their contingents from the fronts on the Rawka, the Bzura and the rikht bank of the Vistula. This gathering of Germans .in East Prussia was re vealed to us on February 4 but the magnitude of the concentration was not determined until several days later. "Not being able, through lack of railroad facilities, to concentrate o.n our East Prussian front with the nec essary rapidity, forces indispensible to ward off this drive of the enemy, our chiefs decided to withdraw the above mentioned army from East Prussia towards the fronti sr and fur their retirement towards the Niemen and the Bobr has followed. "The right wing of the Tenth army, pressed by great numbers of the enemy and thre.atened with being surrounded on the right flank, was compelled to make a very swift turn ing movement in the direction of Kovno. "This manoeuvre exposed the flank of the corps following, which found itself I nan extremely dangerous po sition. Only broken and disorganiz ed portions escaped. "Other corps of the Tenth army, fighting continuously and stubbornly, slowly retreated in the direction marked out by their commanders. On taking up these positions, the Rus sian troops bravely repulsed the at tacking enemy, inflicting upon him severe losses and overcoming Incredi ble difficulties, caused by the deep snow which covered all the roads. "Retreating step by step, one corps forming the left wing of the Tenth army held the enemy for nine days on lines which ordinarily are travers ed in four days. "On February 19 these corps fell back through Augustowo. retired from the battle at Sphc c and assum ed the fortified positions indicated for them. "At present actions on the Ger man front continue before Ossowetz, on the roads from Lomza to Edvab nao and north of Kadizidly on the road between Plotsk and Plonsk. In some places the fighting is very stub born.. "On the right of the Vistula, on the roads from Plotsk, Austrian de tachments have been relieved by Ger man troops." Steamer Royperana Torpedoed. .The steamer Royperana was sunk off East Bourne. England. Wednes day. It is believed that she was tor pedoed. The crew of 3 1 men was saved. Steamer' Oakby Torpedoed. The 'British steamer Oakby was torpedoed by a German submarine off RyeWednesday. Her crew was res Icued by a fishing smack and landed ENLAND ANSWERS UERICAN NOTE ON USE OF Fla( IN RIENRLY TONE lALKS ABOUT LUSHAMIA says Belligerent Must Establish Identity of Ships Under Neutral Flags Before Taking Action-Re fers to Use of British Flag by American Ships in Civil War. The British foreign office Fridoa night issued a note In reply to the representations of the United States government concerning the use of the American flag by British vessels. The following is the text of the re ply of Great Britain to the American note as handed to Walter Hines Page, the American mbassador: "The inemorandum communicated on the 11th of February calls atten tion in courteous and friendly terms to the action of the captain of the British steamship Lusitania in raising the flag of the United States of Amer ics when approaching British waters, and says that the government of the United States feel certain anxiety in considering the possibility of any gen eral use of the flat of the United States by British vessels- traversing those waters, since the effect of such a policy might. be to bring about a menace to the lives and vessels of United States citizens. "It was understood that the Ger man government announced their In tention of sinking British merchant vessels at sight by torpedoes without giving any o)portuZity of making any provision for the saving of lives of non-combatant crews and passengers. It was in consequence of this threat that the Lusitania raised the United States flag on her tiward voyage. "On her subsequent outward voy age a request was made by United States passengers who were-embark lag on her that the United States flag should be hoisted, presumably to In sure their safety. ' Meanwhile the memorandum from your Excellency had been received. His Majesty's government. did not give any~ advice' to the company as to how to meet this request, and it is understood that the Lusitania left Liverpool under the British flag. "It seems unnecessary to say more as regards the Lusitania in partida lar. "In regard to the 'use of foreign 'flags by merchant vessels, the Britis* Merchant Shipping act makes It clear that the use of the British flag by merchant vessels is permitted in time of war for the purpose of escaping capture. It is believed that in the case of some other nations there is similar recognition of the same prac tice with regard to 'their flag, and that none has forbidden it. "It would, therefore, be unreason able to expect his Nfajesty's govern ment to pass legislation forbidding - the use of foreign 'gs by British merchant vessels to avoid capture by the enemy, now that the German.gov ernment have announced their intef tion to sink merchant vessels at sight with their non-combatant crews, ear goes and papers, a'proceeding hither to regarded by the ~op'nlon of the world not s war, but piracy. -"It Is felt that the United States government couldsnot fairly ask the British government to order ~British merchant vessels to forego a means always hitherto permiltted of escap ing not only capture, but the much worse fate of sinking ad destruction. "Great Britain always,-when a neu tral, has accorded to vessels of other states at war the liberty to uise the' BrItish flag as a means of protection from capture, and instances are en record when United States vessels availed themselves of this facility during the American civil war. "It would be contrary to fair ex pectaticn If now, when conditions are reversed, the United States and neu tral nations were to grudge to Brit ish ships the liberty to take similar action. "The British government has a intention of advising their merchant shi'ping to use foreign flags as a genL eral practice or to -iesort to them otherwise than for escnping capture or destruction. The obligation upon a belligerent warship to ascertain definitely for itself' the nationality and character of a merchant vessel before capturlLg It and fortlori before sinking and destroying it has been universally recognized. "If that obligation is fulfilled the' hoisting of a neutral *fagon board. a British. vessel can not possibly en danger neutral shipping, and the British government holds that if loss to neutrals Is caused by disregard of this obligation it is upon the enemy vessel disregarding it and upon the government giving the orders that it should be disregarded that the re sponsibility for injury to neutrals ought to rest." - APPROVES MEASURE. Wanning Carefully Considers the Ap propriation Measures. After going over the appropriation bill carefully, item by item, Gov. Manning made this statement: "I find that the interests of the va. rious departments of the State gov ernment have been carefully scruti niized and guarded, and for the first time In years the amount carried by the appropriation bill does not exceed the amount that will be raised by the Ievy', and that the deficit brought over from last year has been in part provided for. Besides this, the ap propriation for schools have been raised, so that I am satisfied with the measure and will sign it." - Fires Upon Italians Members of the crew of the Italian !lshing boat, Gesu, which arrived Sun day from Antivar, Montenegro, said the Gesu and the fishing boat Satur no, flying Italian flags, had been fired on by two Austrian torpedo boats. Norwegian Press Idignant. Indignation at the sinking of the -Norwegian tank steamship Belridge by a German submarine, near Folke rtone, is expressed by Norwegian pa pers which discuss means of demand ing satisfaction. Boy Dragged to Death. Anderson Starr, an 11-year-old boy of Rock Hill, was killed Satur day by being dragged by a mule. Hie was thrown and his foot caught In a part of the gears with fatal re sults. German Ship Is Captured. The German steamer Gotha, load ed with provisions for the German auxiliary cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm, has been captured by a British cruis er. according to reliable advices, and taken to the Falkland islands. Emperors to Confer. It is reported that Emperor Wil 1am of Germany and Emperor Fran cis-Joseph of Austria-Hungary, with their staffs, soon will meet at some town near the frontier. The rulers ae not met sine the war bean.