The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-03-06
A GENERAL SURVEY OF
the WAR

Britain and France continued their
bombardment of the forts lining the
shores of the Dardanelles on the ap.
proaches to Kun Kalessi, where the
channel narrows to only one mile.
1t is reported from Athens that the
sultan has decided to surrender Con
stantinople rather than permit the
city to be Destroyed by bombardment.
The sovereign and his encourage ar1
understood to be ready for flight to
Scutari.
The British and French flags are
now flying from six forts in the Dar-
danelles, according to an Exchange
dispatch from Athens.
Three warships of the allies were
damaged il the bombardment of the
DardanelleS forts Feb. 25, according
to an announcement given out in Con-
stantinople.
Fourteen ships of British and neu-
trail nationality have been sunk or
damaged by mines or torpedoes in the
submarine warfare in English waters.
The latest victims are the steamer
Depford and the Western Coast, both
British craft. The Depford was sunk
off Scarborough in the North sea and
the Western Coast went down in the
dangerous cone off Beachy Head in
the English channel. In neither case
has the agency of the destruction been
established, although the indications
are that submarines were responsible.
Two American steamers have been
sunk in German waters, but it is GER
tain both ships were outside of their
true course which placed them in the
mine fields. Both were bound for Ger
many with cotton cargees, and it ID
not likely that that country would
assist in destroying goods destined
for its own people. Therefore, there
is no likelihood of a protest by this
government.
President Wilson is conducting Sc
cret negotiations with the belligerent
countries in an effort to put an end
to this submarine warfare on ship
ping. The president is urging Eng
land to modify its policy in disaIlow-
ing food cargoes for noncombatants
to enter German ports. A change In
England's attitude would operate au-
for Germany has agreed
to cease its activity against the mer-
chant marine If food vessels are not
stopped on their way to Germany.
Great Britain has suffered another
considerable naval loss, according to
an announcement by the admiralty In
the armored merchant cruiser Clan
MacNaughton, which has been miss
ing since Feb. and which is believed
to have gone down with all on board.
She carried a crew of 28O men and
20 officers.
The admiralty ascribes the disaster
to bad weather which prevailed at the
time, but there is a feeling in some
quarters that submarines are respon-
sible.
Following the expulsion of the Rus
sian army from East Prussia the Ger
III dbC0 uAA doSdulb Ou ILL.,
fortified line in northern Poland, to
which the Russians fell back. OF
these battles the most violent has
been in progress at Przasnysz.
Germany's claim to an overwhelm-
ing victory in East Prussia, resulting
In the virtual annihilation of the Rus
sian Tenth army, Is denied categoric- /
ally by the Russian general staff. The
admission is made that two army
corps suffered heavily during the re-
treat, but the remaining corps are
said to have escaped from the Ger
man surrounding movement.
Efforts Cf the Germans to clinch
heir victory by striking a decisive (
slow in northern Poland are leading |
% continuous battles all along this
section of the front.
The Official statement of France
.ells of successful advances In tf
Champagne district, where the fight
ng has been heavy. Cannonading
continues = Belgium, while In the
Argonne successive charges by the
Germans have been repulsed. A