, 1916-02-26

stating that the Austrian Government has
decided to treat Montenegro as a conquered
country instead o. one which surrendered, if,
after the lapse of a few days King Nicholas
persists in ignoring all inquiries addressed
to him by the Austrian Government.
Petro9rad, Feby. 23yd-The Official state
ment from General Headquarters reads:
Western Front: Several German aeroplanes
dropped bombs on DE districts of Riga,
FrIedrichstadt and Jacobstadt. Tn the re-
gion of Iksull The Germans maintained q vlo-
lent fire. Two Zepkellns flew over Dvinsk.
There was a lively reciprocal bombardment
near Illoukst, the Germans firing aerial tor
pedoes Of large cllibre. DuIing the night
the enemy violently bombarded our lines
west of LIKE Svenlon us tar as Luke I.sen.
Caucasus front: Our pursuit continues.
Ro e, Feby. 23rd-The following official
communication was issued to-day: We have
carried our effective artillery activity in the
upper Cordevole, Roite and Viadende valleys.
In the Montenero zone, after in sense artill-
cry and bomb preparation, a strong body Of
the enemy attacked our position Mt MIz'i.
We repuised him along almost the entire
front, but he succeeded i'll penetrating a
small portion of our right wing. A vigorous
attack supported by artillery later drove him
out. III the Carso region there has been
the usual artillery activity.
Paris, Feby. 24th-The great battle rag
ing along the % mile front from Etnin to
Malincourt, north and east of Verdun, is be-
ing followed with great interest by the pub
lie. 1t disposes effectively OF the question
whether or not tb e Germans would make an
early offensive. The battle is the first on q
large scale since the offensive in the Cham
payne in September, and is believed to be
the forerunner of stirring and perhaps deci-
c;vo oUantc Vbo ,Mi,oi,,ol HuhtiOCy caJ,Eroa
III the rough and thickly wooded country
between Elain and Damvilles. Here some
100000 of the German Crown Princes best
infantry are trying to Wrest from the French
important roads which would enable them to
nuke their way through to the Meuse. The
battle as yet is only beginning, it is said to
have cost the assailnnts of the French heavy
casualties and without any appreciahle nd
vantage having been al attained. The Germans
have been making preparations for Il big
stroke at Verdun so openly during the past
month that the French had every chance to
get ready for them. The attack up to the
present only involves the advanced lines,
which are at least two miles bevord the out
er offences of the fortress. Military opinion
here is inclined to doubt that the Germans
will attempt to carry VeIdun by storm.
1t is pointed out that besides the for
midable works of the fortress, it is fur
Their protected by a field army under
command Of General Humbert, an excep-
tionally energetic officer. The prevailing
view is that the Germans are feeling the
strength of the defeuces, and that the re-
sistance they meet With may discourage hem
from proceeding to take the citadel by force,
even with the help Of their greatest guns.
Lisb n, Feby. 24th.-Captain Leotte
Rego, the Commander of the naval divisions
here at four o'clock this afternoon, Dppur-
emily of his own initiative, took forcible poss-
ession of t~hirty-six German and Austrian
vessels lying in the Tagus river, hoisted the
Portuguese colours on them, aud saluted them
with a 81 gun salvo from the Portuguese
fleet. 1t is said that the act OF Captain Rego
in selling the interned vessels was totally
unexpected by the governing authorities,
who were unaware of the step until it had
been carried out. Despite several rumours
since the outbreak of the war that Portugal
was on the point of declaring a state of war
with the Central Empires on account of the
Treaty relations with Great Britain, no such
declaration was ever made. The Portuguese
Congress, by resolution on August 9Th 1914
and November 23rd of same year, decided
that Portugal would cooperate with the AL