The midland journal., 1915-02-26
Battles Increase IN Intensity, But Are
Without Definite ResuIt--Russians
Claim Success over Germans.
Dardanelie Forts Are Hombarded
BY AnaIo-French Fleet.

Dardanelie Forts Are Bombarded
BY AnaIo-French Fleet.
London.-A German submarine in
the Irish Sea torpedoed without notice
the British coasting steamer Cambank,
of 1890 tons register. Three Of the
crew were killed and fourth was
drowned while the men were taking to
the boats.
1t came about the same time that
the Anglo-French fleets were lombard
Ing the Dardanelles forts and while
the Russians, according to telegram
received from Petrograd, were ad-
ministering defeat to the Germans at
Ossowetz. Poland. and driving back to
the frontier the troops who had at
tackled that fortress.
Except for the loss of life, the sink
ing of the Cambank was not in itself
serious matter, but the presence of a
German submarine near the route
which the Atlantic liners take on their
way to and from Liverpool, and along
which many steamers pass daily, is
bound to cause some uneasiness.
Seen ln Irish Sea Before.
It Is true that this was not the first
time that a hostile submarine has been
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 SUBJ
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 everincreas-
ing intensity. The offensive which
Aho Ailioa fnahr aox.I1, an +l,e ruoatr he -
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
tionss and this made it 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 Bukowina 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 BON,
harding Semlin aud Belgrade, re-
spectively, and the positions near
those cities. This may mean the com
mencement, of new campaign or per,