, 1916-02-23

their announced intention to sink without
warning all armed merchant ships of the
enemy after Feby. 29th, will be II statement
that assurances given in the "Lustania" and
"Arabic' cases had to do only with unaTmed
vessels, that Germany must feel certain that
it's submarines which warn II merchant ship
will not be attacked aud that this country
will be asked for it's definition Of defensive
armament. 1T was considered certain that
the problem of defining defensive armament
would be the basis of lengthy negotiations.
The first information that the United States
does not accept as in accordance with the
established principles Of international Law
the latest intention of Germany and Austria
is a notification on its way to-day to ali diplo-
matte and Consular representatives abroad
to the effect that this Government cons lers
that merchant ships have II right to carry
defensive armament.
Petrograd, Feby. 18lh-(via London)
The following official statement was issued
to-day. On the western Oiussian) front on
Thursday on the Dviua river between
Jacobstadt and Dyinsk The enemy bombard-
ed violently the stations at Nitzhal and
Lavrenskoia. The enemy again attacked
CARIBOU Eovka IN the Dvina sector but was
ropuIsed. Our airmen threw several dozen
bclnbs on the enemy sap III the Dvinsk
SECTOR. lu tue DnlGSt6f region III Gl-
licia we repuIsed an enemy attempt to
attack our trenches at the village Of
Michaltsch north of Uscieczko. With the
help of w~arships our troops occupied II forti-
fed position on the Vtzesu river in the
Armenian littoral region along the Black Sea.
The w~arships went close iushore and sheIled
the retreating Turks. The casualties on
board the ships consisted of only a few men
wounded by rifle bullets.
Amsterdam, Feby. 10Th (via London)-In
the course OF the last six days great German
troop movements have occurred ia south and
central Belgium, says a despatch from the
frontier to the "TeIegraf'. Long trains
with artillery and infantry were run along
the railways to the west and south, some
small detachments were transported by way
of Louvain, WHveren, Gembloux to the south
east. Louvaln, the despatch adds, still is II
strong point OF support of German strategy
aud many conferences Of military officers are
held there.
Petrosrad, Feby. 20lh-The Russians
are pressing The advantage gained at Ere
rum on both fnnks. On the right along
the Black Sea coast by tie cooperation of
the sea and land forces they are driving
the Turks from one position after another
to the east of Trebizond and it is expected
that active operations against that important
seaport will not be long deferred. In the
last two days the Russians have occupied
Wld9e and pressed forward ten or twelve
miles westward. The feet has destroyed
in succession several shore batteries
which might have been of assistance to
the Turks, and by keeping well i'll advance
of the land forces and by destroying bridges
over several streams in the path Of the re-
treating Turks have rendered their RET elt
more difficult. The fleet has been working
SO close to the shore that The warships have
been reached by riae-fre from the turkish
troops. On the other hand the ships have
spread confusion in the ranks of the Turks by
dropping shells among them. On the left
flank after the occupation of Koph the
Russians passed on to Mush and Ach-
latt, the latter on the north shore
of Lake Van. From Koph to Mush
sixty miles over mountain roads they fought
several battles and occupied Mush by storm.
The Turks fed southwark toward Diarbekr
the next objective of the Russian army. Once
IN possession of Diarbekr it is only a days
march to the last remaining communication in
Syria. The rapid offensive beyond Erzerum
it is believed here makes it probable that the
retreat of the Turkish corps operating along
the Black Sea coast and of those troops