The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-03

In the eastern theatre of hostilities the battle line continues to toss and waVer The latest advices when this is written are to the effect that the Russians have again gained the upper hand. It isN re- ported that the Austro- Hungarian forces are in retreat along the entire northern front and that the passes of the Car pathians again lie open to the Slav.
 Furthermore, the news is that the Ger man offensive against Warsaw has been given an effectual check and that the Polish capital is in no immediate dan- ger of occupation by the Teuton.
 An explanation of the following of Russian successes by disasters seems to lie in her inability to concentrate with the swiftness shown by the Czars oppo- nents. This is due to the preponderat- ing superiority of the German and Aus trian systems of railways over those of Russia. General Won Hindenburg, by the excellence of his transportation facilities,
 has been able to mass large bodies Of fighting men where their services were most greatly needed, while Grand Duke Nicholas has been severely handicapped by his incapacity to handle his enor-
 nous army with the celerity shown by his opponents.
 It does not seem possible that 6 se- rious disturbance of the cordial relations between the United States and Great Britain will be the outcome of President Wilson's s vigorous protest over the action of English warships in arbitrarily de-
 laying the shipment of noncontraband l American goods to Europe. The stand
 taken by England is undoubtedly vastly | A..,a -tnnf ch 1 and the effect has been to keep mari
 time insurance rates at a figure almost l prohibitive This Is condition that | calls for complaint from the United l States, but this country will bear in mind the fact that Great Britain is fight | ing for her very existence and is not to
 be blamed for taking every precaution
 against aid being sent to her enemies | by neutral nations.
 The questions at issue apparently have arisen in previous wars, and their set l clement has been in accord with the posi- uop now assumed by the United States
 But it must be borne in mind that this , war is being fought with means and i'm 1 plements not hitherto employed. Ano
 never was a wars outcome so vital te l the existence of it's participants Eng i! land has succeeded in driving the com | merce or fCi hriJ eii'N Turkey from the sea, and to have this
 great advantage nullified by her enemies
 being supplied by nonbelligerent powers
 is not to be thought of.
 l Of course, the United States is asking | for nothing that is illegal, unreasonable
 or unjust. As 8 nonbelligerent. she ha'
 rights and it is her intention to main l tain them The fact that her bill O
 GIal at no rt | is not Americas fault but England s
 The London newspapers, at least som' 1 of them express a fear that sentimen 1 in the United States Is crystallizing 1T | favor of Germany as the underdog, ant
 they are advising MT. Asquith and Si | Edward Grey to deal most gingerly witt 1 this country because of this supposed
 fact. But that is certainly not the spiri
 with which the United States would pre- | fer to be dealt with. We maintain tha our demands are just; therefore, the! should be granted. Certainly, the unite' States does not propose to be put il the role of asking for something, nov that Englands hands are tied, that sh
 would not ask with England unassaileo | There is another phase of the situation l which should be borne well in mind. Pres l ident Wilson calls attention to the 1ac 1 that the hands of American shippers hay 1 not been entirely clean. There have peel
 attempts surreptiously to mix contra band with noncontraband cargoes. an some of these crude crimes have bee
 brought to light by British searchers Naturally, such things have not serve to add to England's good opinion Of tn American business man, and as resui
 innocent shippers have been compelled L II suffer. It seems to be favorite trlcl with some American exporters to pacl contraband in cotton bales, and this ha caused arrangements to be made for tn subjecton of the south's Staple to tn X-rav before it is regarded as wholly in offensive.
 Reports come from the Netherland that German engineers are busily engage in the reconstruction of the forts of Ant werp, and that. there are many evidence of preparations for another siege of tn city this time with the allies playin the part of the attackers. Such storie
 hardly gibe with Germany's action i demanding that consuls of nonbelligeren countries in Belgium obtain exequatur from the de facto government.
 If Germ}ny retires from Belgium or an part of it, it most probably will D