The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-01-01
U. S. MESSAGE
TO ENGLAND is
REAL SURPRISE
Newspapers, See Unfriendly
Move in Uncle Sans Or
ders to John Bull.
GREY TO TALK WITH
PAGE ABOUT NOTE
British Officials Read Press Re-
port and Express Regret at
Ultimatum.

London, Dec. 29-While the not.
sent by the United States to England
insisting upon ain early improvement
in the treatment accorded to thu
American shipping by the British fee
has not yet reached the official for.
eign Office. it was displayed in all OF
the London newspapers today. Some
of the editors were inclined to believe
that the United States were leaning
to Germany, while the Times express.
ed little surprise.
The Times has cautioned the Brit
ish government on several occasions
to be- careful in IFS treatment of the
United States. and on one occasion il
backed up its argument by recalling
the war of the Revolution and its re-
suit.
British officials read TIE American
ultimatum in the press and some ex-
pressed surprise while others stated
that the United States had taken o.
fense at action by Great Britain which
was not out of the ordinary in times
of war;
Sir Edward Grey viii return from
his Christmas vacation tomorrow AMI
IS expected to formally receive the
note from Ambassador Page.
Washington, Dec. 29-The United
States will withdraw its Consuls from
the territory of Belgium now under
the administration of Germany, but
will look after the interests of Ameri-
can trade and commerce in that coun-
try by special agents. This countr
will refuse to suggest any names to
the German government forf its ap-
proval or rejection.
1t was all over in 20 minutes. The
artillery fire or both sides died down
and Sabaath-liI1e silence fell on the
field of battle. But vigilance was in
no sense relaxed. Al intervals of two
rods in the trenches keen eyes, peer
ing into periscopes, watched the edges
of the German trenches, the observers
themselves being well protected below
the level of the earth.
Berlin, Dec. 20 (by wireless to
London)-The Official war statement
issued today was as follows:
sTn the western arena Of the war we
gained some GROUND in relatively un-
important engagements near Nieuport
and to the southeast of Ypres.
Several strong French attacks to
the northwest of st. MenehOuld have
been repulsed with heavy losses to the
enemy. We captEred 200 prisoners.
"An advance in the burned forest to
the west ef Agreement led to the cap
ture by as of aBs fortified French
trench and tnree machine guns.
French attacks to ahe west of Semi
helm have been repealed.
seNe changes have taken place in
the situation in East Prussia.
'1n Poland on the right bank of the
Visual, on branch of the Bzura and
on the Rawaka Rivers Jour attacks
have made progress. In the region
south of Iuowlodz strong Russian at
sscks have been reDulsed,'
Vienna, via wireless to London, Dec.
29--Tn an official statement today the
Austrian Government claims that the
Russians again have been forced back
after fighting of the fercest character.
The statements says:
@North of Dukla Pass the Austrians
have avoided a series of planned Rus
sian attacks and have maintained their
original positions. In the neighbor-
hood of the CarDathian Ridge and in
the plain between the Bzura and Don.
alec rivers, the enemy has delivered
series of fierce attacks. all of which
have been reDulsed.
'On our south front there has beer
a few frontier skirmishes with the
Seryians that have been comparative,
ly unimoortant. At Semlin the Ser
vians have been able to blow up .
bridge.