Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-07
While She Defends German Campaign, He" Answer
 Leaves DooGa Open.
IN ACCORD WITH
 THIS GOVERNMENT
British Forces on SOmme Make Fur ther Advance Against Germans, and Prussian Attempt tO Eyict
 French Is Failure.
Associated Press Summary)

(ASSOCldlcu fIeSS SUDlndrI) Austria's reply to the United States governments request for information as to Austria's stand with regard to undersea warfare, has been received through unofficial sources. While the note says Austria strict ly adheres to the assurances already given" and that the Austro-H -Hungari- an government ''is essentially in ac- cord with the American government with regard to the protection of neu- trals and against endangering their lives," it is said that neutrals will have to bear all the losses they suffer by entering the territory where war like operations are taking place.
 British Continue Advance.
 Fighting continues on various sec tors of the Somme and Ancre rivers in France. North and south of the Ancre, the London war office re- ports the British have made addi- tional gains in the Forme region, north of Puisie au Mont and in the northwest of Irles. East of Bou- chavesnes, in the Somme sector, the British report raiding German trenches and scattering of German forces who were massins for coun- ter attack.
 Berlin, on the other hand, reports the repulse of British attacks east of Bouchavesnes. It is probable that the German official communication refers to an engagement on Monday, while the British specially mention early Tuesday morning as the time of their successful raid. Near Verdun, near Les Chambret- tes and Bezonbaux, violent artillery duels are in progress. An attempt by the Germans to evict the French from recaptured trench north of Cari- cures woods, failed, according to Paris.
 The Russians. north of Brezeny, in Galicia, and in the wooded Carpa- thians, on the northern Rumanian front, have ventured attacks against the Austro-German forces, but have met with repulses, says the German war office.
 Further progress for Russia in Persia is recorded by Petrograd. The villages of Hussenbad and Chariak have been evacuated by the Turks, l who are in retreat from Bijar, south- | west of Hamadan.
 Austria's Reply We'll Received. Washington, March 6.-Austria's re- ply to the American request for a clear assertion of her attitude in the submarine situation, was stated of- l ficially here today to leave the door open for further negotiations, delay I ing, temporarily, at least, the break 1 which has been regarded as inevitable since the severance of relations be-
 tween the United States and Ger- many.
 Although in substance the long
 communication upholds the subma- rine warfare being conducted by Ger many, it is couched in the most friendly terms and points out that "Austria's submarines are operating solely in Asiatic and Mediterranean waters, and, therefore, encroachment on American interests hardly is to be feared"
 There will be no reply to the com
 munication, and unless an overt act precipitates a rupture which both
 sides apparently earnestly desire to
 avoid, the United States probably will
 not be inclined to force the issue fol
 the present.
 The truth is that Germany IS
 credited here with trying to force
 Austria to step which that country
 does not wish to take.