Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-17
More Severe Checking Of
German Supplies Is Brit
ish Retaliation Plan.
THE RUSSIANS RETIRE
Blockade of the German
Coast by British Is EX-
pccted to BE Declared.

LONDON, Feb 16.--G0:25 p. nj
Great Britain received today, through
Walter Hines Page, the American am
bassador, Germany's offer to with
draw her threat Of a submarine block
ade against Great Britain If the Brit
ish navy would permit the free move
ment of foodstuffs to the civilian pop
ulation of Germany.
There Is no expectation here that
the offer will be accepted; in fact,
Great Britain is already preparing to
retaliate against Germany by placing
under more stringent control ships
destined to German ports, and proc
lamation mOmentarily is expected de-
claring a blockade OF the German
coast, or, at any rate. the prohibition
of foodstuffs destined for Germany.
The cabinet with its naval and mill
tary advisers considered this question
today and 1t is understood the decision
is awaiting the formal confirmation
OF the privy council from which all
proClamations emanate.
In the meantime British and neutral
vessels are moving as freely as usual,
with the exception of those belonging
TO few Dutch lines, which have re-
duced their number of sailings The
Norwegian and Danish insurance COM
panies have given instructions that
steamers insured by them shall have
ships and the country of their origin
painted conspicuously on the sides of
all vessels.
Holland and Italy Protest.
Holland and Italy, like the United
states, have protested to Germany
against her sea war zone threat and
have asked Great Britain not to make
free Use OF neutral flags. Similar rep
reservations are expected TO be made
TO the two countries tomorrow I'm a
Joint note by Norway, Sweden and
Denmark
For the time being questions Of
diplomacy are arousing more interest
than the actual lighting, although mil
ltary movements OF the first import
ance are taking place, especially along
tho eastern line. The German often
slVe, strongly supported by fresh
troops Is being pushed with great
NigOr along the east Prussian frontier
and in Poland north Of the lower Vis-
tula. The Russians now have evacu-
ated east Prussia, except for a small
area near Lyck, where they are op-
losing the German advance and also
are apparently falling back In north
Poland, for the Germans today an
nounced that they have occupied
Plock and Bielsk, which the Russians
recaptured from them short time
ago.
While The Germans claim TO have
inflicted heavy losses on the retiring
Russian armies, military men here
4
Petrograd continue to refer TO the
Muscovite movement as strategical
retirement to the fortified line, which
lies along the Niemen river through
KOvno GrodnO and Lomza, and thence
southwest to the fortress OF Novoe
Georgiewsk.
Fighting In Snow.
Heavy fighting also continues I'm
the Carpathians and Bukowina. In
Bukowina the Russians also are fall
ing back, but they continue to hold
the Carpathian passes further west
and are putting up a stubborn re-
sistance to the. Austro- German often
sive In that region. Here the fighting
is taking place In deep snow and both
sides are suffering severely
The large number Of troops the
Germans are using In the east, It Is
believed by military observers here,
will prevent for some time any at
tempt by the Germans to break uhe
deadlock in the west.
Although there have been no
events of outstanding Importance on
this front, a long official report OF
the operations of the British force
from November TO the beginning Of
February, issued today shows that
. 1uru Ia
there.
Despite the weather and the state
OF the ground, the report says there
has been a lot OF trench fighting, In
which the Indians and British terri
torials distinguished themselves Cen
eral French In the report pays high
tribute to the Indians and Of the ter
ritOrials says they have far more than
Justified the most sanguire hopes en-
tertained Of their value In the field.
The report adds that reinforcements
are arriving regularly
German Rcyerses at La Bassee.
The first Of the promised bi-weskly
reports OF the dOings Of the British
army In France also was issued today
II claims that progress has been made
I'm the region OF La Bassee, where the
Germans are said 10 have suffered Sc
we're losses. and that the British ar
tllery has shown marked superiority
over that Of the Germans.
There was no further news today
OF the new German offensive In Al;
SAGE. which is designed to stop the
French advance toward Muelhausen.
or OF the French offensive in the vi
cinity Of St Mihiel. which. II is said.
threatens the communications between
that town and Metz.