Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-18
England Looks Forward
Calmly to Enforcement
of German Decree
CHANNEL SERVICE
TO BE INTERRUPTED
Many Neutrals Planning to
Risk Attack; Teutons
Resume Offensive

ASOONl11O O1xV41O1NO
Heavier fighting 10 now under
way In France and Belgium. The
German war office asserts that at.
tacks undertaken by the British
and French at many places were
Fepulsed. Il 10 stated also that an
advance was made in the Arqonne
but the announcement Of the
French war office says that the
German onslaught in this region !
was driven back.
London, Feb. 17.-An official de-
cree extending to maize the Aus
tro-Hungarlan governments rights
Of requisition has been published
in the Official Gazette at Buda-
pest, according to an Amsterdam
dispatch to Reuters Telegram Co.
London, Feb. 17.-At the stroke of
midnight the waters surrounding the
coasts Of the United Kingdom will be.
come, so far as lies within the power
of Germany to make them a war zone,
which all vessels, neutral or other
WISE will penetrate at their peril.
Some of the services across the
channel probably will be curtailed, but
majority of the neutral shipping
lines will accept the risk and continue
their sailings. The names and nation.
ality of the vessels and the flags of
their nations will be painted on their
sides in the hope that German sub
marines will not sink them by mis-
take.
England's announcement Of the de-
tails Of her proposed retaliatory pol,
icy, by which she plans to shut of the
German food supply from the outside,
is expected momentarily and appar-
emily there is not the slightest pros
pect that this country Will accept the
German proposal to call of the block
ade If England will relax naval pres.
sure on shipping.
It Is not expected that there will be
any immediate and widespread activ-
ity by the German submarines, but
the developments regarding neutral
ships should bring to a head one Of
the most interesting and threatening
situations Of the war.
Air Raid 10 Cheering.
England was noticeably cheered by
the second air raid by forty aero
planes on the German bases on the
Belgian coast but as was the case at
the previous raid, the Official report
does not indicate the extent Of the
damage.
Berlin is again celebrating the sue
cess of Field Marshal Won Hinden.
burg, as further details Of the East
Prussian operations are received.
1t is officially claimed In Berlin that
$4,000 Russian prisoners were taken,
while all dispatches agree that the
Russians are still being pressed fur.
ther eastward, fighting rear guard
action in an endeavor to prevent the
Germans from surrounding their
wings. In the Carpathians the fight.
Ing fs yet to reach decision. The
western end and the center of the
Russian line is holding, notwithstand.
Ing repeated and violent attacks but
In Bukowina the Austrians have
pressed on to within twelve miles of
Czernowitz.
1t is believed that recurrence of
the general German offensive in the
the outcome of the present eastern
situation. Opinion here Is divided
whether the Germans are planning a
great invasion of Russia or whether
their chief desire is simply to free
Austrian territory of hostile forces
and make secure their lines in cen.
tral and northern Poland.
British Reply Ready.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 17.-Great
Britain's reply to the American note
of December 26 protesting against in
reference with United States COM
merce was being prepared at the state
department today for publication
The full text of the document, con-
tanning approximately 1000 words, will
be given out simultaneously here and
In London tonight for publication in
tomorrow mornings papers.
The British note, in addition to CIV
ing statistics on neutral commerce
and making general denial of any un-
warranted interference with legitimate
shipments, points out that the recent
government decree taking over the
-four and grain supply in Germany re-
quired added precautions on the part
of the allies that conditional contra
band might not be permitted to reach
the armed forces of the enemy. It
also constitutes further statement Of
The British government on the legal
questions involved.
German Answer on Way.
Berlin, Feb. 17.-Germany's reply to
the United States note of protest.
against the regulations proposed for a
s,lar zone in the waters around. the
British isles, has been handed to Am
bassador James w. Gerard and prob
ably will be forwarded to Washington
today.