, 1916-03-01

'I1uSllanla case nfe DlDI1D3 DUL tnnE InGV
only refer to merchantmen fof a peaceful
character. Germany contends that British
merchantmen armed ostensibly for defence
and carrying guns for the special purpose of
attackingGerman submarines thus show them
selves not to be peaceful and are subject to
destruction. To support this claim the Ber-
lin Foreign Office sends q list of a score
of incidents where British merchantships
have attacked submarines. The inetruc-
tions call attention to the claim of
Germany that despite assurances of
Great Britain that her merchantmen armed
for defence will never fire unless first fired
upon, and that they will never attack any
vessel, British ships are prepared and in
structed not ouly to resist but to attack. Ger
many claims that her new policy toward
armed ships squares with international Law,
in as much as British merchantmen violate
the law as interpreted by the United States.
Germany realizes that should it sink an
armed ship upon it will rest the burden of
proof regarding the guns, but contends that
upon the Government owning the ship would
fall the burden of proof regarding the non
offensive character of its armament. The
Ambassador was instructed to call attention
to the fact that French ships are not armed,
that British ships entering American ports
are not armed, and that consequently the
Berlin Government considers, remote diff
culties with the United States as a re-
suit of the new policy Of sinking all armed
enemy merchant ships beginning tomorrow
at midnight,
Paris, Feb. 18th. Attacks by the Ger
mans to the north of Verdun where the
battle for the fortress is still raging tiercely,
we're driven back by the French fire and
counter-attacks according to the official
communication issued by the War Office
tonight. Hand TO hand encounters occur
red to the west of fort Douaumont and the
Germans were driven from a small redoubt
which they had taken. German attacks
on Fresnes in the Woevre, the communica-
ton adds completely failed. The text
reads: In the Argonne our heavy batter
les and field gnns shelIed the roads of
access of the enemy particularly IN the
region of the Cheppy Wood. This morning
at Hill 289 we exploded a mine, the crater
of which we occupied. In the region to the
north of Verdun artillery activity on both
sides is still very spirited except in the
sector to the west of the Meuse where an
abatement of the enemy is detected The
Germans during the course of the day at
tempted several partial attacks which were
driven back by our fire and our counter
attacks. To the west of fort DouaumOnt
particularly our troops have engaged in
hand to hand encounters with the enemy
who was elected from a smolI redoubt
where he had succeeded in installing himself.
In the Woevre two attacks against Fres-
mes completely failed. In Lorraine our ar
tilIery has displayed marked activity in
the sectors of Reillon, Domevre and Badon-
stiIler. The Belgian official communication
saws: A bombardment rather weak on both
sides occurred along the Belgian front.
London, Feby. 29th. -Great interest is
being displayed here in the possibility of a
declaration of war on Germany by Italy,
when the Italian Parliament opens. At the
date of adjournment in December it vas
stated hat Parliament would be convened on
March, 1st.-According to Rome dispatches
the Italian Government has not yet decided