The Republican journal., 1917-02-22
THE WAR NEWS IN BRIEF.
Naval officials in London express the opin

Naval officials in London express the opinion
free,v tba, the .unrestricted submarine war.
fare" decreed by Germany Is nat failure.
They point to the fact that British ships like
the Baltic and the Adriatic are able to pass
through the prescribed zone without difficulty,
and the further fact that the tom age of ves-
sells sunk is nowhere near the million tons
month";" which was declared to be the Ger
mans aim. :. Re ports are current In WASH
ington of indignities to which American wom-
en- were subjected by German military au-
thorities on the Danish German border, not
only after but before the break in relations.
Wives of American private citizens and of
American consular officers it is said were
stripped by women inspectors and compelled
to take the acid bath before being permitted
to proceed. ..... Herter, American attache
loaned by Gerard to Whitlock. was imprison-
ed in Germany in midst of journey to Switzer-
land, though provided with German passports
.A peremptory demand upon Germany for
the release of the 72 American seamen brought
in by the prize snip Yarrowdale was prepared
at the State Department Feb. 18th with Presi-
dent Wilson's approval, and the same day a
news despatch from Berlin said that the men
had been liberated. The German govern
ment recently ordered the Americans en-
gagged in relief work in Belgium to leave the
country but while the order was rescinded
few days later the Germans are still hamper
ing the work by restricting the movements
of relief ships and their cargoes. They have
cancelled the safe conducts formerly given
those vessels. and have absolutely prohibited
the transport of vessels merchandise be-
tween Great Britain and Holland. :. Last week
the Germans were reported to have penetrat-
ed the French line in Champagne, midway be-
tween Verdum and Rheims and captured 858
prisoners and 20 machine guns. Gains were
reported on the British 'front.'. The admins
traIion continues its waiting policy towards
Germany's ruthless subm Arine warfare, and al
though it ID taken for granted in all quarters
that President Wilson will go before Congress
the situation before adjournment, March
4th the statement was authorized that SO far
he had made no definite plans to that end....
The news from Paris and Berlin is conflicting Z,
but it is thought that a general offensive on
all fronts is impending and that the greatest
fighting of the war will soon take place..
German subm arioes continue to sink vessels,
but the tonnage destroyed is not up to their
expectations and it is believed that the worst
is over. The Zepplin raids are said to have
been given up. Although there are some
salings to and from foreign ports, American
shipping is practically tied up by the German
submarines, and the blockade is more effective
this side of the Atlantic than in British
waters. Mexican affairs have attracted little
attention. but bandit raids over our border and
the killing of American citizens continue
Four Americans said to be prisoners of
Gen Salszer. a Villa commander, and S., 600
ransom is demanded for negro. Villa is pro.
German and Germans in Mexico are at work
provoking trouble with this country. German
agents are also said to be behind the revolu-
tionary outbreak in Cuba, and the Germans are
believed to be preparing to establish a sub
merine base in the West Indies.