Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-17
ENGLAND
DECLINES TO
BACK DOWN
WILL TIGHTEN EMBARGO ON
FO0DSTUFFS AND ATTI-
TUDE ON GENERAL PR0P0-
SITION IS DETERMINED.
FRIENDLY. TOWARD The U. S.
Disposed to Consider Embarrass-
ment of Neutrals in Present
Situation.

Washington, FEB. 16.-Otticials OF
the United States government made
no further move in the diplomats
controversy with England and Ger
many over tha use Of neutral flags
and Submarine campaign on mer-
chantmcn and the shipment of food
stuffs to Germany. Formal replies
from England and Germany to recen:
American notes on the subject is
awaited.
In dispatches from Ambassador
Page at l.ondCn, Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin, there is 40 indication tha;
England Intended TO alter its policy
on shipments of conditional contra
band to civilians, or that Germany
would recede from her announced in
tenti0ns of waging a submarine war
on enemy merchantmen. NeWspa.
pers Of Germany. according to Gerard,
are printing anti-American editorials,
however, and he finds officials friend.
ly and disposed to consider the em-
barrassment of the United States ana
other neutra!s in the situation.
England Obuurate.
London, Feb. l6.-Walter Hines
Page, American am mbassador, confer
red with Sir Edward Grey concerning
the German note offering to cease al
tacks on British ships if England per
nit fcodstuffs for civilian population
to enter Germany
Page and Sir Edward discussed the
Wilhelmina, loaded with food for
Germany, which is being held at Far
mouth for the prize court, the Status,
Of which has not yet been determin-
ed
Britain evidenced in many ways,
unterrified .'Dy threats OF attacks or
shipping. That she has no thought O.:
making concessions to Germany, bur;
on the contrary, is preparing to tight.
en- restrictions upon freight move,
,ments toward that country. 1t is in.
dicated that England is determined to
make reprisals if Germany enforces
her threat to destroy merchant ships,
together with their crews.
England received, through Ambas.
sador Page, Germany's offer to with
draw her threat of submarine block
ade against England if the British
navy would permit the free move
ment Of focdstuffs to civilian pOpula-
tion of Germany.
No expectation here is that the Of
fer will ibe accepted. England al
ready is preparing to retaliate against
Germany by placing more strinsen;
control over ships destined to Ger
many. A proclamation is momentar-
lily expected declaring a blockade OF
the German coast, or at least, prOhibi-
ton of foodstuffs destined to Ger
mahy.
Must Have National Colors.
Norwegian and Danish insurance
companies instructed that steamers
insured by them shall have national
colors and names of ships and coun-
try OF their origin painted cOnspicu-
o,lsly on sides of all vessels
Holland and Italy, like America,
protested to Germany against the sea
zone threat, and asked England not
to use neutral flags. Similar repre-
sentations are expected by Norway,
Sweden and Denmark. -.
For the time being, questions OF
diplomacy are arousing more interest
than actual fighting, although mill
tary movements of great Importance
are being enacted, especially along
the eastern front. The German
offensive, supported by fresh troops.
is being pushed with great vigor, both
along the east Prussihn frontier ana
in Poland. north of the lower Wis
tula. The Russians have now evacu-
ated east Prussia except small are:
near Lycn; they are also falling back
in north Poland. The Germans have
announced the occupation of Plock,
and Bielsk, which the Russians re-
captured from them recently.
Heavy fighting continues in the
'Carpathians and Bukowina. In Bulk
owina the Russians are falling back
and continue to hold the Carpathiar
passes further west and are STUB
bornly, resisting the lAustro-German
offensive in that region. Operations
are in deep snow and Doth sides are
suffering severely.
Relations Strained.
The first bi-weekly report of Oper-
ations of the British in France was
issued and says that progress has
been made in the region of La Bas-
see, where the Germans sufferen
heavily, and that the British artillery
has shown marked superiority over
the Germans.
Relations b'tween Greece and Tui:
key apparently are more strained.
Although Turkey Offer cd reparation
for the insult to the Greek military
attache at COnstantinc,Dle. it is -"
ported the Greek minister left the
legation in charge of the secretary.
with Turkeys attitude.
The Turkish minister has also left
Athens. 1t is believed the first step
of a rupture of relations betwee,:
Greece and Turkey, which is said also
affected lhy albanian invasion Cf So:.