, 1915-02-18
GERMkaY'S REPLY
Answer TO American Note Firm
10 Tone, but Friendly In Form.
WARNING OF MINES IS GIVEN.
Count Won 6ernstorn Tells of Kaiser's
Intention to Plant Waters Around
British Isles With Explosives as
Part of Its Submarine Blockade.

British Isles With Explosives as
Part of Its Submarine Blockade.
The German reply to the American
note is reported to be firm in tone
though friend y in form.
Germany's intention of sowing mines
In he waters around the British Isles
as a part of its submarine warfare
against belligerent merchant ships
was announced in the note delivered
to the state department by Count VOL
Bernstorf.
The German emperor has invited
the American ambassador to Germany,
James W. Gerard. to a conference at
eastern army headquarters.
Russians on the Defensive.
The forced retirement of the Rus.
sian army from East Prussia is ex.
pected to result in a reversion by the
Russians to their original plan of con.
Quoting a defensive campaign on their
territory. 1t is pointed out that
this would result in an advantage TO
the Russians. in that Germany will
be deprived of the transportation ia
cilities which it was able to use with
great effectiveness during the first
campaign.
With this program in operation,
Russian observers say, 1t probably will
be possible to retard the German ad-
vance and at the same time defensive
operations will be easier, because the
Russians will be harassed no longer
by the lightning. changes along the
German fronts.
In the west there has been a con-
%tinuation of heavy artillery lombard
ment, in which Rheims has again suf-
fered. and several infantry attack on
different parts of the line, In which
both sides claim to have been success-
full.
Germans Capture Town of Norroy.
The official statement issued BY the
German army headquarters y
T the north of Pont-A-Mousson we
took the village of Norroy from the
French and we also captured hill 365.
to the southwest of that village. Two
officers and ISL men were taken pris.
oners. In the vosges we stormed vii.
sen and obersengern, where we took
1875 prisoners.
I'm the eastern theater. on the other
side of the East Prussian frontier, our
operations are taking the course we
anticipated. In Poland, on the right
bank of the Vistula, our troops are
making progress in the direction of
Racionz."
South of Ypres, near st. Eloy the
Germans took about 900 meters of the
enemy's positions. Counter attacks
were without
Prussia is now cleared of he en-.
envy. Indications point to a German.
Austrian offensive from Bukowina %
the Baltic. The Russians are being
rolled up in many portions OF the line.
Turkish advance guards drove back
British divisions across the Suez canal
at Ausum and Serpeum. Senussi Be
douins invaded Egypt and occupied
the Sivo oasis. Turks defeated the
British at Kurma, Mesopotamia.
Negotiations between Austrian and
Hungarian ministers resulted in the
declaration that there is sufficient corn
and four for both countries, especially
since Hungary will give Austria its
superfluous stocks"
French official Report.
The following communication on the
progress of the war was issued by
the French war Office:
I'm Belgium the bombardment of
Nieuport-Les-Banes, of our trenches in
the dunes and of the city of Ypres con.
tinued. Our~ artillery delivered n
counter bombardment of the enemy's
batteries.
"From the Lys to the Aisne there
were intermittent cennonades. Near
Noulette a detachment of the enemy
rhich attempted to advance upon our
trenches was stopped short by the
fire of our infantry.
"Tn Champagne there has been quite
intense activity on the part OF the en-
emy's artillery upon our front before
Ipermes. The city has been again
bombarded. Our fire upon the German
trenches appears to have accomplished
good results.
'In Lorraine German forces moved
against those of our advanced ele
ments which occupy the signal station
of Xon, northeast of Pont-A-Mousson
The results of the battle are not YET
known.
'In Alsace the enemy has taken the
offensive through the valley Of the
LAUGH with two columns. advancinl
along the north and south banks o.
the river. The march OF these troop,
is reported to have been delayed ant
impeded by u ski patti OILS. They ar'
now in contact with our most advanced
line"
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