Middletown transcript., 1915-02-27
]. SHIP SUNK BY MINES
HEAVY FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Battles on the Continent Continue With EVer-nCreasing
Intensity Attacks and Counter Attacks Have
Become Much More Numerous.

in these waters, but the last one to
visit them gave the crews Of the three
ships which she sank an opportunity
to leave the vessels before sinking
them.
The Cambank, apparently, had slow
ed down to pick up her Liverpool pilot
when she was observed by the sub
marine and torpedoed. While the sink
ing of this steamer can, however
raise no diplomatic problems. serious
situation may arise out of the tor
pedoing of the Norwegian tank steam
er Belridge, which, according to the
British Admiralty was struck by tor.
pedo off Folkestone.
Norway Likely To Protest.
The Norwegian Foreign Office has
ordered the Norwegian Consulate at
London to investigate this affair and
report Immediately, with the object, it
is thought, of making representations
to Germany if the facts are as stated
by the British officials
Despite the attacks on these steam
ers, the arrivals at and sailings from
British ports maintain their daily
average.
In the meantime the battles on the
Continent continue with ever-increas-
ing intensity. The offensive which
the Allies took early in the week has
brought about renewed activity all
along the line, and attacks and coun.
etr-attacks have become much more
numerous.
Both the British and the French
seemingly made considerable progress
at the outset Of the offensive opera
tions, and this made 1t imperative for
the Germans to deliver counter-at-
attacks to regain the ground which
they had lost. In carrying these out
the Germans have shown the same
desperate spirit which has character
lied their previous operations under
similar circumstances.
Both Sides Claim Success.
In long report covering the weeks
operations to February II a French
eyewitness claims for the French
many minor successes and the repulse
of German counter-attacks. The Ger
mans, too. make similar claims, so that
the public is left to judge as to the
outcome of the weeks flare-up.
From the eastern front there is no
news except unofficial dispatches from
Petrograd, which say that the Germans
have suffered defeat at Ossowetz and
have been compelled to fall back to-
ward the frontier. Should this prove
to be correct, the German plans would
be entirely upset, as defeat at this
point would endanger the whole Of
their line northward along the East
Prussian frontier.
In 5ukowina and Serbia.
In the rest of Poland and in the Car
pathians, where severe fighting is still
in progress, there has been no change
in the relative positions of the op-
posing armies, while in Bukowina a
battle is being fought along the Pruth
river Retirement to this position
should be an advantage to the Rus
SLAMS, as it considerably shortens their
line and enables reinforcements to
reach them more easily.
The Serbians and Austrians are
again facing each other across the
Danube and have in turn been bonn
harding Semlin and Belgrade, re-
spectively, and the positions near
those cities. This may mean the COM
mencement of new campaign or per
haps it is an attempt by the Serbiaps
to help relieve the pressure on the
Russians.
In connection with the damaging Of
the Norwegian tank steamer Belgrade
by an external explosion off Folkstone
the Admiralty announced that seven
pieces of metal found aboard the Bel.
ridge after she was beached at Walmer
have been examined at the Admiralty
offices and proved beyond a doubt to
be pieces of discharged torpedo.