Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-01
Berlin Reported to Have Is
sued Decree Demanding
Boats Be Restored.
vERDUN FRONT QUIET
Little Action Noted-Ger-
mans Believed Preparing
for Big Assault.

London, March 1 (4:47 p. ny
Germany has sent an ultimatum
to Portugal demanding the res.
tOratiOn within As hours of the
German ships recently seized by
that country, according to q dis.
patch from Madrid to Reuters
Telegram company.
The first seizure Of German mer.
chant vessels by Portugal occurred
Feb. % at Lisbon when the naval
authorities took S6 German and
Austrian ships in the Tagus. On
Feb. 25 the seizures of eight Ger
man ships by Portuguese authori-
ties at ST. Vincent, Cape Verde Is
lands, was announced.
A Lisbon dispatch on Feb. 26
quoted Premier Costa OF Portugal
as declaring in the chamber of dep
uties that the government action
In requisitiOning vessels had been
prompted by the necessities Of the
nations economic situation.
Paris, March 1 (2:30 p. m}-There
is nothing of importance to report in
the region to the north of Verdun or
in the Woevre district, according to
the announcement of the progress of
hostilities made by the French war
ofica this afternoon
There was an intermittent lombard
ment last night along the French front
between Regnieville and Remenau-
vile.
West of Pont-A-Mousson French ar
tillery fire was directed against the
second and third Of the enemy's lines,
where the Germans apparently were
putting through certain preparatory
evolutions.
In the region Of Cernay, valley Of
the Thur, French aeroplane, with
double motors, was successful in an
encounter with an aeroplane Of the
enemy. The German machine fell at
La Bassee into the German trenches
and caught on fire.
German Report
Berlin, March / (via London, 3.15
o. NJ NO mention of fighting at Yer
dun is made in the official statement
today.
The report follows:
Western front: Activity of the ar
tillery was very great on various parts
of the front and particularly on the en-
emy's side. In the User region in the
Champagne and between the Mouse
and the Moselle he seemed to be en-
deavoring to do damage, but did not
achieve his object.
"In an aerial combat a British BIZ
plane was forced down near Menin.
The occupants were made prisoner
Two French biplanes were brought
down by our anti-aircraft guns, one
near Vezaponin, northwest Of Sois-
sons, the occupants of which were
captured, the other due west Of Sois-
sons, the occupants Of which appar-
emily were dead.
IAN aeroplane piloted by Lieuten-
ant Kueple, carrying an observation
officer, Lieutenant Faber Of the re-
serve, brought military transport to
a standstill on the Jussey
road by dropping bombs, and then
successfully fought the men Of the
transport with machine guns.
Eastern and Balkan fronts: There
is nothing to report"
Heavy Calibre Guns Taken.
Dispatches to the Lokal Anzeiger,
dealing with the recent fighting on the
Verdun trent in the Woevre region,
state that when the German occupied
the woods of Hennemont, seven kiIo-
metres south of Etain, several canpon
Of the heaviest calibre were captured
together with other guns.
The German advance continued
westward, the correspondent recounts
until at several places the foot of Cote
Lorraine was reached. He declares
that the French have been forced out
Of Fresnes, Az kilometres west Of
Marcheville. They were able to main.
tain themselves there until Feb. IS, bu'
then we're compelled to withdraw I'M
der German pressure.
All the correspondents agree tina
the territory over which the German,
advanced was exceptionally difficult
for attack and are deeply impressed
by what they characterize as the won
derful, pushing. never-tiring elan" o
the German troops.
| All the correspondents insist on tn
smallness Of the German casualties