The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-13
BRITISH AUXILIARY CRUISER LOST SAYS
 OFFICIAL REPORT:
 200 LIVES ARE LOST
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were smashed and rendered useless. "The men were left struggling in the water in the darkness. clutching for any piece of wreckage to which they could cling. The heart-rending tales of the last awful moment were told by the group rescued by the Bal merino. They believed themselves to
 be the only survivors as they saw no other rafts with men on them. The Balmerino proceeded to Ayr with the rescued men and returned to Bel | fast today.
 London. March 12.-d0:5O D. m.)-Just as the French attacked the Germans in the west when Field Marshal Von Hinden- burg made his drive from East Prussia last month so the British army operat- ing in Flanders has undertaken the task of relieving pressure on it's Russian ally now that the Russians again are being attacked in North Poland. This is part of the general plan of the allied generals When one is attacked the other attacks to compel the Germans and Austrians to keep strong forces at every point and endeavor to prevent them from sending new troops where they could do the most good.
 The Germans now are attempting to crush the Russians. For this purpose they are reported to have an army esti- lIdltu dl uedIlN ndll u 1ullllOn 1ntil alO1S the roads towards Przasnysz. To prevent this army from being strengthened fur ther the British are thrusting at the German line north of Ia Bassee and be- sides reporting the capture of the village of Neuve Chappele, it is asserted that they have advanced beyond that town.
 Big Pitched Battle
 The battle taking place in the east, experts say, is the biggest pitched battle of the war, no less than 1,000,0OO men be- ing engaged. The Germans in their off cial report claims ar advance, while Petrograd considers it likely that the Russians will have to fall back beyond Przasnysz. as they did last month, be- fore making a stand. It probably will be days before a definite result is at tained in this battle.
 Meanwhile another German army has appeared on the Pilica river front, south of the Vistula, probably. military ob- servers say, with the idea of inducing Grand Duke Nicholas to withdraw men from the north, where the real blow is being struck.
 Further south, along the foothills of the Carpathians, fighting between the Austrians and Russians continue in win try weather. Each side claims the other is doing the attacking, but it is believed here that, the Austrians initiated this battle, they probably are still the ag- gressors
 the Dardanelles, no news had been re- oeived at a late hour tonight.
 Developments Promised
 Interesting developments are promised in the political field. Prince Von Bue- low, the German ambassador to Italy, according to Rome and Berlin dispatches, hoc he If sessions to Italy as the price of Italys friendship. Germany, it is declared is doing the negotiating cn behalf of her ally, Austria, whose territory in involved
 It is said Germany is trying to induce Austria to cede to Italy both Trent and Trieste. Baron Stephan Won Burian, the Austrian foreign minister, according to report, does not oppose the cession of Front, but strongly objects to parting with Trieste, while the aged Austrian Emperor refuses to consent to the loss of any part of his dominions It is reported that Germany desires to have the matter settled now, in the fear that should the Dardanelles be forced. Italy would more than ever be inclined to throw in her lot with the allies to se- cure the safety of her interests in the eastern Mediterranean, depending on her army to recover her lost provinces nearer home
 German emissares, according to dis patches to British newspapers, also are busy in Bucharest and Sofia, endeavor- ing to point to Roumania and Bulgaria why these countries should remain neu- tral
 the sighting of German submarines around the coast of England, no further reports have been received of ships sunk by them