The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-18
No Surprises in British and American Notes Published
 Simultaneously
FIERCE FIGHTING
 ON ALL THE FRONTS
Big Events Impending in Both The atres of War, Is General Belief. Getting Ready for Big
 Spring Move

London, March 1f.--d0:40 P. m.)-Sir Ed ward Grey's replies to the American notes on the use of neutral flags on British mer- on foodstuffs destined for Germany. in which for the first time Great Britain definitely announces her intention to 'es- tablish a blockade" again have brought the diplomatic question to the front. The replies, published here with the American notes contained no surprises, for beyond the use of the word "blocls- ade' their terms have been for the most part known.
 Assurances that neutral shipping will be interfered with as little as possible and that neither ships nor eargoes will be confiscated, it is felt here, should go a long way towards meeting American ob- jections. However, another protest is ex- pected.
 Even these diplomatic questions, on which so much depends, only momentarilv distracts attention from battles in the east and the west, operations against the Dardanelles and the activities of Ger man submarines. which took additional toll today.
 While Earl Kitchener, secretary for war, and other cabinet ministers and leaders are bending their energies to- wards output of war material and are encoura ging recruiting, complete optimism prevails. That the victories of last week were gained only after heavy sacrifices and that the casualty lists must increase as the war progresses, is fully realized. but everybody in England believes that when the time comes for the 'big push there will be no turning back.
 Fighting for Hills
 At present the armies of Belgium Great Britain and France are fighting for the hills and other points along the long front which will be of tho greatest ad- vantage to the army holding them when the advance begins. According to the French communication the Belgians con- time to improve their positions in Elan ders, and the French to the north of Ar ras and in Champagne have added elni- nences to their gains which are of some importance.
 The French and German official com munications, however, are so contradic- tory that it is difficult to decide whether any change is being made generally ir the dispositions of the two armies. The optimism which pervades the NeSt6TH diiitS IS sHdiCu " tut HUB sians.
 Petrograd correspondents of London papers lead the public to believe that big events are impending. It is ap- parent that the Russians again, and not the Austrians, are on the move particularly at Smolnik, on the River San. where 1t emerges from the Car pathians, while in Bukowina, accord ing to unofficial dispatches from J3uch- arest, the Austrians have been defeat ed in a battle raging along the entire front.
 1 In northern Poland isolated actions 1 are being fought from the NiemeI | river to Pszasnysz. The big Lattls
 which was expected apparently has been called off or postponed by Fielc Marshal Won Hindenburg. who 1. l thought to have attained his objec- when he extricated his forces from ths forests of Augustowo.
 Turkish Port Falls l The Russian Caucasian army |. working along the Black sea coast ana | has taken the Turkish port of Archavi svontlnued os rage IenI