Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-14
TWO CRUISERS OF ALLIES ARE SUNK
THE WAR
TODAY

France, intensity of the fighting
being most pronounced in the Ar
tots district, where the Germans
claim to have made notable gains.
In the Balkans the entente forces
are reported extending their posi-
lions around SalOniki, c0ncentrat-
ing troops as far as the Bulgarian
frontier. In Albania the situation
continues mixed. Bulgarian troops
are said to have advanced south as
far as Fferi, Is miles from AylOna,
while an Austrian column recently
was reported at Tirana, about 20
miles west of DurazZO.
The Italians have been In force
at Avlona and seem to have also a
considerable body OF troops oppos-
ing the Austrians in the DurazzO
sector.
Reports from Athens credit the
Turkish government with the in
tentiOn strongly to reinforce its
armies in MesOpotamia, where the
British on the Tigris are struggling
to push their way to Kut.El-Amara
and the relief of their beleaguered
little army there. Turks in f0rmid-
able numbers, it is said, are being
sent to the MesOpOtamian war the
atre, some from the Dardanelles
and some from Thrace.
Recent Turkish official accounts
have indicated no important change
in the situation near kut, but the
last one contained a report that
insurgents" probably irregular
Arabs, were active along the Brit
iSh lines Of communication.
All single men of military age in
Great Britain who have not been
exempted under the military SER
vice act were called to the colors
by an official proclamation today.
1t is un0fficially stated that the
next British vote of credit, soon to
be introduced in parliament, will
be for 25O,O0O,000, making the total
war credits S1,912, 100000.
The furious battle which has
been in progress for more than a
week on the western front con-
tinues with varying results for
both the allies and the Germans.
Berlin claims the German forces
In Champagne have captured a
front of 700 yards from the French
and the French admit that the
Germans have gained footing in
some of their advanced trenches
near the Tahure and SOmme road.
In desperate attack yesterday in
the face of hail of shells and bull
lets, the Germans entered one Of
the French first line trenches
around ArtOis, but according to
Paris reports they were driven out
with considerable losses in dead
and wounded.
On the British end Of the line
there have been heavy lombard
ments by both sides.
On the northern section of the
Russian front heavy guns have
been in operation on both sides but
changes in positions have been un.
important.
The Austrians have taken en-.
trenchments from the Italians in
the IsOnZ0 region, while the Ital-
ians artillery has been b0mbarding
Austrian positions, especially in
the Gorilla sector. Austrian sea-
planes have dropped bombs on Ra.
VIENNA and several other towns in
northeast Italy, killing Is per-
sons and iniuring number.
On the Black Sea, Russian tor
pedo boat destroyers have sunk
several Turkish sailing vessels.
The French cruiser Admiral
Charner, the French ministry fear,
has been sunk by a German SUBJ
marine Of the Syrian coast.
The German gunbOat Hedwig
on Wissman, has been sunk on
Lake Tanganyike, Africa, by the
Belgians.
Defeat of the British in q battle
near Korna on the MesOpOtamian
front is announced by the Turkish
war Office. 1t is said the British
were compelled to flee, abandoning
their dead.
Milan, Italy's second largest
city, has been bombarded by aero
planes, six persons being killed, &C.
cOrding to a London news agency
dispatch.