BATTLES C;NTINUE
FIGHTING TAIMS PLACE IN THE
EAST AND THE WEST.
ACIVE AT DARDANELLES
Turks Report Renewal of Attack
London Says Prohibition Talk Ex
cites Interest-Vienna Says Battles
In Carpathians Increase in Vigor.
Berlin reports Wednesday: "In
the west the village of Drei -Grach
ten, which was occupied by our
troops day before yesterday and
which the enemy has bombarded with
his heaviest artillery and mine throw
ers, for this reason was again aban
doned by us last night.
"The other French attacks at
Flreiy likewise completely failed.
Numerous bodies cover the fields be
fore our front and the number is in
crasing, owing to the fact that the
French threw those who had fallen
in their trenches in front of our posi
tions.
"On the.western border of the Bois
1 Petre one of our battalians beat
back strong forces of the 13th French
regiment after a bayonet engagement.
"Notwithstanding a hreavy snow
storm, fighting has been going on
since yesterday at Hartmanns Weiler
kopf.
"In- the east: During an advance
on Russian territory in the direction
of -Andrejew, 30 kilometres southeast
of Memel, our cavalry annihilated a
Russian battalion. The commander,
fve officers and 360 men, were taken
prisoners while 120 men were killed
and 150 seriously injured. Another
Russian battalion which hurried to
the rescue was repulsed. We lost six
men killed.
nRussan attacks to the east and to
the south of Kalwaya as well as those
against our positions at Augustowo
were repulsed. Otherwise nothing
special occurred on the eastern
front.
Pads reports Wednesday: "A Ger
man detachment with three machine
guns succeeded in crossing to the left
bank of the Yser, south of Dry Grach
ten. It was -attazced yesterday and
dislodged by Belgian forces.
"An attack by us in the vicinity of
Etain rendered us masters of hills
No. 219 and 221, in addition to the
Haut Bols and the Hospital farms.
"In Eparges we gained ground and
maintained our advance, at the same
time taking 60 prisoners, including
three officers.
"In the Ban de Sapt we mined and
blew up a German position."
Vienna reports Wednesday,: "The
Increased violence in the Carpathian
fighting is coincident with the advent
of fte weather. From both slopes of
the Ondawa valley to a point near the
* 'Ussok pass, tremendous fighting is
going on Against the local successes
achieved by us must be'reckoned the
local successes of the -enemy and the
4ormer must be a little overestimat
M as the latter.
"The Austro-German successes on
the heights east of the Laboroza val
ly have not weighed so heavily in
the scale as to-justify expectation of
a general decision. Final results in
modern fighting mature very slowly."
and Serbia are at to conclude an
agreement. says teExcelsior's Rome
*correspondent, on the following ba
.sia:
"Italy will not oppose Serbia's oc
Ocupation of territory giving her an
outlet to the Adriatic on condition
that -this territory be not fortified.
The question of Trieste and Istria.has
not even been discussed, the allies
. having recognized the Italian charac
ter of these localities.
"If this agreement is -signed this
week as expbeted," the corresporident
says, ."the entry of-Italy into the war
may be ednsidered imminent."
R ome reports Wednesday: The
Tribuna thinks the attack by Bulga
rinan Irregulars on Serbian guards
must have displeased the triple en
tente powers, but that Bulgaria ap
parentl's negotiating with the allies
at the same time that she Is main
taining intimate relations with -Aus
-tria and Germany.
* Bulgaria, looking' for a realization
ofl the provisions of the treaty of San
Stefano, the Tribuna declares, "is
playing a most audicious game, which
The-treaty of San Stefano, signed
in 1878 at the end of the Russo-Turk
ish war, provided that a pricipality of
-Bulgaria was to be created extending
from-the Danube to the Aegean. The1
provisions of the treaty, however, lat
er were greatly altered by the con-i
gresa of Berlin.
London reports Wednesday: The
military situation in the Carpathians
Is -competing with the prohibition
question in the Interest of the British'
-public. Some- announcement of meas
-ures for drastic restrictions on con
sumption of liquors was expected to
follow soon after a cabinet meeting.
Total prohibition was not expected.
-In the Carpathian conflict, which
is the most important military action
now In progress, the Russians are
now bringing up heavy reinforce
Sments to push their attack. the sue
cess of which,. is .expected only
through weight of numbers. The
Austro.German commanders also are
making strenuous efforts to strength
en their forces.
Petrograd reports that the section
n'ear the Ujzsok pass where Vienna ad
mits a retirement extends for a dis
ne~ue of seventeen miles.
laVinna. however, claims a counter
Coffensive near Lupkow pass and says
the Aiustrians took several Russian
Apositions and 7,000 prisoners. A con
servative interpretation of both the
Russian and the Austrian -reports
-leads to the belief that the Russians'
offensive at Lupkow has been check
ed but that they have forced their
way through the Rostok pass. captur
- lug two villages on the southern side
of the range.
Constantinople reports by wireless
Wednesday: "No serious attack was
-made yesterday by the enemy on the
Dardanelles. The day before two hos
tile cruisers bombarded our batteries
at the entrance to the straits but
without result. One of the enemy's
cruisers and one torpedo boat were
struck by our shells."
-- ORDERED HOME.
*U. S. 3Mitary Observers Recalled
From German Posts.
The American army officers on
duty as military observers with Ger
man armies have been ordered home
*and their places will not be filled.
The reason assigned by Secretary
Garrison for the recall order was that
their mission has been fulfilled. That
explanation, it was announced, would
be the war department's last word in
the matter. It is known, however,;
that other reasons largely of a per
sonal character were considered by
army officials in determining to with
draw the observers.
The American observers have
found their positions somewhat diffi
cult because of the high tension to
which at least a few of those with
whom they must come in contact ir.
Germany have been strung by months
of warfare and press reports in Ger
many criticising the attitude of the
United States on various subjects re
lating to the war.
BATTLE IN PROGRESS
DARRANZA AND VILLA LOCK
HORNS WITH BIG ARMIES.
state Department Issues Statement
on General Condition of the Mexi
can Situation.
A dispatch from Washington Wed
riesday said a battle with 40.000 y
troops engaged which may be a deci
sive action in the war between the
Carranza and Villa factions in Mexico
is in progress, or impending near Ira
puato, in the state of Guanajuato.
State department dispatches dated
April 5 said the fight would take
place soon. That was construed to
mean Villa had assembled a force
strong enough to meet Gen. Obre- r
gon's army and was moving south a
from Torreon along the National rail
way.
Obregon was last reported at Que
retaro and was said to have sent a
column against San Luis Potosi,
while he protected its march with a
second column, and a third column
under Gen. Hill moved toward More
lia, capital of Michoacan.
Obregon is understood by officials
to have 20,000 men and it is said
Villa has gathered an equal number.
Irapuato is the junction of the Mexi
can Central and the National railwaps
toward which Obregon's forces are
advancing.
The state department issued this
summary of the situation: "The de
partment is informed that Gen. Villa
-has announced that if he is success
ful in defeating the forces of Gen. Ob
regon south of Iraquato he will im
mediately open the lines of communi
cation to Mexico City. The depart
ment's advices indicate that should
the forces of Gen. Carranza be defeat
ed in this expected engagement his
important strongholds will be Vera
Cruz, Tampico and Matamoras."
advices to the Carranza agency
said the Carranza gunbot Guerrero
reached Guaymas Monday night and
her commander notified foreigners to
leaves as he intended to open a bom
bardment. Mobs in Guaymas and
Hermosillo, the agency , statement
added, were looting business houses. 1
The agency also reported that Gen.
Maptorena failed to check Carranza
troops marching from -both north and
south and was defeated at Navajo.
Sharp fighting continues at Ebano,
near Tampico.
The element supporting Gen. Gut
tierez as provisional president made
public at Washington the papers giv
ing the appointment by Guttierez of I
Jose Vasconcelos as special envoy at
Washington, and the statement pre
sented by Vanconcelos to Secretary
Bryan on March 24.
The statement reviews Mexican af
fairs from the time of Huerta's with
drawal and maintains that Guitterez
is the -regularly chosen provisional
president by virtue of the Augus
calientes convention. The Guitterrer
seat of government is said to be es
tablished at Doctor Arroyo, Nuevo
Leon, from which place -the state
ment saps, Guitterrez "is directing af
fairs and has under his command a
considerable army." It adds:
'President Guitterrez will at the
first opportunity reassemble the con
vention of Aguascalientes, and before
that legal body he will offer to -resign
his 'power, in order to leave the con
vention free to elect as president any
man who may answr to the necessi-|
ties and rights of all the Mexican peo-|
ple."
DENOUNCES LIQUOR.
(Continued from first page.)
making the question an issue in the
selection of a national committeeman.
those opposed to the liquor traffic can|
not well ignore the issue. As a mat-|
ter of fact, the liquor question now|
being .before the people of Iowa, it|
could not be ignored in the selection|
of party officialo no matter which side|
desires to ignore it.
"I do not know to what extent the
liquor question will be an issue in the|
campaign next year. At the presentj
time it does not seem probable that it
will find a place in the platform of|
either the Democratic or the Republi-l
can party,- but there is no reason. why
the netional committeeman should
not represent the sentiment of. the
party on this subject as on other sub
jects.
"Prohi'bition is not an issue in all
the states, but wherever it is an issue,
I hope to see the Democratic party
take the prohibition side.
"It een not ally itself with the li
quor interests without losing its
moral standing and the moral stand
ing of a party is the thing that gives
it permanent strength. A surrender
to vice or immorality seldom gives
even if temporary advantage could be
secured by such a course it would be
at the expense of the permanent wel
fare of the part?. It is not only right
for a party to take the moral side of a
question, but it pays to do so."
BULGARS FIGHT SERUZANS.
Serbs Are Driven From Their Posts,
Along Frontier.
Hostilities between Servian troops
and Bulgarian irregulars have broken1
out along the border. An official
statement issued at Nish, Servia, as
forwarded to the Havas agency says
that the Bulgarians overwhelmed the
Servian frontier guards Saturday and
occupied Servian territory. The state
men follows:
"Last night about 2 a. m. Bulga
rian irregulars wearing military uni
forms attacked in large numbers our
outposts at Valndovo. Our frontier
guards, overwhelmed by superior
numbers, were forced to give ground
and retreated in the direction of the
railway station at Strumitza.
"At 5 a. m. the Bulgarians occu
pied all the heights on the left bank
of the Vardar. The losses on both
sides were serious.
"Wounded soldiers state that the
Bulgarian bands manoeuvred and
fought under the direction of Bulga
rian officers. The number of troopsi
engaged was slightly more than a
regiment.
"Neighboring frontier posts imme-<
diately sent reinforcements. The re-i
sut of the battle still is unknown1
and details are lacking.'
An official dispatch from Ghev- 1
gheli, Servia, to Saloniki, forwarded
by the Havas agency, says the Bul
garian bands are reported to have
captured from the Servian frontier
guards two cannon, with..which they
bombarded the railway' station at t
Strumitza. Railway and telegraph
communications were cut. After 1
heavy fighting, this message says the
Bulgarians were repulsed and fled,
closely pursued by Servian troops.
Escape Down Ladders.
An explosion in the sawdust blowerc
of a big cigar factory at Avenue Ce
and east Seventeenth street, Newc
York, set the building afire and sentt
nearly 200 men and women employes t
of the place down the fire escapes to c
safety. Nicholas Althuus, owner of t
the factory, said all his employees t
had been accounted fot. t
Italian Ships Stopped. c
Italian steamers in American parts C
have been ordered to postpone all I
sailgs until April 20, according to aa
Rome dispatchi to the Exchange Tel- d
weah company.l
NOTE TO ENLAND
NITED STATES OBJECTS TO
BLOCKADING METHODS.
IEUTRALS HAVE HIGHTS
[ope is Expressed That There Will
be no Trouble-Reparation Expect
ed if Neutral Commerce Suffers
Attitude of Neutrality Explained
Blockading Methods Discussed.
The United States government has
:ade public its note to Great Britain
nnouncing that it "could not ad
ait" either the right of the allies or
heir claims for justification in plac
ag an embargo on all commercial
atercourse between Germany and
eutral countries.
"To admit it," says the communi
ation, "would be to assume an atti
ude of unneutrality toward the pres
nt enemies of Great Britain, which
bviously would be inconsistent with
he solemn obligation of this govern
aent in the present circumstances
nd for Great Britain to make such
claim would be for her to abandon
nd set at naught the principles for
vhich she constantly and earnestly
Las contended in other times and cir
umstances."
The note r-views at length the
egal phases of a blockade of bellig
,rent territory and virtual blockade
if neutral coasts. In conclusion the
Jaited States states its expectation
hat Great Britain, after having con
idered "tho possibilities of serious
nterruption of American trade," un
er the order in council, "w-ll take
he steps necessary to avoid them,
nd in the event that they should un
1appilf occur will be prepared to
nake full reparation for every act
which under the rules of internation
1l law constitutes a violation of neu
ral rights."
Uncle Sam's Interpretation.
The American communication in
erprets the circumstances under
which Great Britain claims to be jus
ified in adopting retaliatory meas
ires towards her enemies "as merely
L reason for certain extraordinary ac
ivities" by her naval forces "and
iot an excu..e for a prelude to any
awful action."
"If the course of the present ene
nies of Great Britain," the note
dds, "should prove in fact to be
ainted by illegality and disregard of
the principles of war sanctioned by
mlightened nations, it can not be
upposed, and this government does
iot for' a moment suppose, that his
Uajesty!s government would wish the
same taint to attach to their own ac
dions." .
Ambassador Sharp at Paris was in
tructed to present a copy of the
American note to Great Britain to the
French foreign officewith the state
ment that, although the French ad
miralty decree had not been received
afficially in Washington, it was un
lerstood to be identical with the Brit
ish order in council and the Ameri
zan government, therefore, made
similar reply.
Text of American Note.
"You are instructed to deliver the
following to his Majesty's govern
ment in reply to your Numbers 1,795
and 1,798, of March: The govern
ment of the United States has gives
areful consideration to- the subject:
treated in the British notes of Marci
13 and March 15. and to the Brit
ish order in council of the latter date
"These communications contais
matters of grave importance to neu
tral nations. They appear to menac'
their rights of trade and intercourse
rot only with belligerents, but alc
with one another. They call for fran11
omment in order that misunder
standings inay be avoided. The gov
enent of the United States deem:
it its duty, therefore, spreaking is
the sincerest spirit of friendchip, tC
make its own views and position with
regard to them unmistakably clear.
"The order in council of the 15th
of March would constitute, were its
provisions to be actually carried intC
effect, as they stand, a practicr.l as
sortion of unlimited belligerent right:
over neutral commerce within the
whole European area, and an almos1
unqualified denial of the covereigs
rights of the nations now at peace.
Nation's Sovereignty.
"This government takes it fo:
granted that there can be no questio!
what these rights are. A nation':
sovereignty over its own ships anc
itizens under its own flag on the
high seas in time of peace is, of
course. unlimited; and that sover
eignty suffers no diminution in tim4
af war, except insofar as the practici
and consent of civilized nations ha:
imited it by the recognition of cer
tai now clearly determined rights,
which it is conceded may be exercis
ad by nations which are at war.
"A belligerent nation has been con
eeded the right of visit and search,
and the right of capture and condem
ration, if upon extamination a neutral
essel is found to be engaged in un
seutral service or to be carrying con
ra,band of war intended for the ene
nys government or armed forces. It
as been conceded the right to estab
ish and maintain a blockade of ".i
enemy's ports and coasts and to cap
~ure and condemn any vessel taken
a trying to break the blockade.
Suspected Vessels.
"It is even conceded the right to
etain and take to its own ports for
judicial examination all vessels which
t suspects for substantial reason to
se engaged in unneutral or contra
and service and to condemn them i:
:he suspicion is sustained. But such
-ights, long clearly defined both in
loctrine and practice, have hithertc
been held to be only permissible ex
teptions to the principle of universal
squality of sovereignty on the high
seas as between belligerents and na
:ions not engaged in war.
"It is confidently assumed that his
iajesty's government will not deny
hat it is a rule, sanctioned by gen
ral practice, that even though a
lackade should exist and the dec
:rine of contraband as to unblockad
d territory be rigidly enforced, inno
ent shipments may be freely trans
orted to and from the United States
hrough neutral countries to bellig
:rent territory without being subject
o the penalties of contraband traffic
r breach of blockade much less to
letention, requisition or confiscation.
Declaration of Paris.
"Moreover, the rules of the Decla
ation of Paris of 1856-among them
hat free ships make free goods
rill hardly at this day be disputed by
he signatories of that solemn agree.
nent.
"His Miajesty's government, like
he governmentl of the United States.
tas often and explicitly held that
hese rights rerlresent the best usage
f warf: re in the dealings cf bellig
rent with neutrals at s a. In this
onnection I desire to direct atten
ion to the opinion of the Chief Jus
ice of the United States in the case
f the Peterhof, which arose out of
he civil war, and to the fact th'-t
hat opinion was unanimously sus
ained in award of the arbitration
ommission of 1S71, to which the
ase was presented at the request of
~rest Britain. From that time to the
eclaation of London of 1909.
dopted with modific-.tions of the or
er in ccuncil of the 23rd of October
ously questioned by the British gov
ernment. And no claim on the part
of Great Britain of any justification
for interfering with these clear- rights
of the United States and its citizens
as neutrals could be admitted.
Attitude of Unneutrality.
"To admit it would be to assume
an attitude of unneutrality toward
the present enemies of Great Britain,
which would be obviously inconsist
ent with the solemn obligations of
this government in the present cir
cumstances; and for Great Britain to
make such a claim would be for her
to abandon and set at naught the
principles for which she has consist
ently and earnestly contended in oth
er times and circumstances.
"The note of his Majesty's princi
pal secretary of state for foreign af
fairs, which accompanies the order in
council, and which bears the same
date, notifies the government of the
United States of the establishment of
a blockade which is, if defined by the
terms of the order in council, to in
clude all the coasts and ports of Ger
many and every port of possible au
cess to enemy te.;rritory. But the
novel and quite unprecedented fea
ture of that blockade, if we are to
assume it to be properly so defined,
is that it embraces many neutral
ports and coasts, bars access to them
and subjects all neutral ships seeking
to approach them to the same suspi
cionthat would attach to them were
they bound for the ports of the ene
mies otGreat Britain, and to unusual
risks and penalties.
Invasion of Rights.
"It is manifest that such limita
tions, risks and liabilities placed upon
the ships of a neutral power on the
high seas, beyond the right of visit
and search and the right to prevent
the shipment of contraband already
referred to, are a distinct invasion of
the sovereign rights of the nation
whose ships, trade or commerce Is in
terfered with.
"The government of the United
States, is, of course, not oblivious to
the great changes which have occur
red in the conditions and means of
naval warfare since the rules hither
to governing legal blockade were for
mulated. It might be ready to admit
that the old form of 'close' blockade,
with its cordon of ships in the imme
diate offing of the blockaded ports, is
no longer practicable in face of an
enemy possessing the means and op
portunity to make an effective de
fence by the use of submarines, mines
and air craft, but it can hardly be
maintained that, whatever form of ef
fective blockade may be made use of
it is impossible to conform at least to
the spirit and principles of the estab
lished rules of war.
Extending the Cordon.
"If the necessities of the case
should seem to render it Imperative
that the cordon of blockading ves
sels be extended across the ap
proaches to any neigh-boring neutral
port or country, it would seem clear
that it would still be easily practi
cable to comply with the well recog
nized and responsible prohibition of
international law against the block
. ading of neutral ports by- according
free admission and exit to all lawful
trade with neutral ports through the
blockading cordon. This traffic would,
of course, include all outward bound
traffie from the neutral country and
all inward bound traffic to the neu
tral country, except contraband in
transit to the enemy. Such procedure
need not conflict in any respect with
the rights of the belligerent main
taining the blockade, since the right
would remain with the blockading
vessels to visit and search all ships
either entering or leaving the neu
tral territory which they were In fact,
but not o'! rIght, investing.
England's Reason.
"The government of the United
States notes that in the crder in
council his Majesty's government give
as their reason for entering -upon a
course of action, which- they are
aware is without precedent in modern
warfare, the necessity they conserve
themselves to have been placed un
der to retaliate upon their enemies
for measures of a similar nature,
which the latter have announced it
their Intention to adopt, and which
they have to some extent adopted, but
the government of the United States,
recalling the principles upon which
his Majesty's government have hith
erto been ssruphlous to act, inter
prets this as merely a reason for cer
tain extraordinary activities on the
part of his Majesty's naval forces,
and not as an excuse for or prelude
to any unlawful action. If the course
pursued by the present enemies of
Great Britain should prove to be in
fact tainted by illenlity and disre
gard of the principles of war sanc
tioned by enlightened nations, it can
not be supposed, and this govern
ment does not for a moment suppose
that his Majesty's government would
wish the same taint to attach In their
own actions, or would cite such il
legal acts as in any sense or degree s
justification for sinfilar practics on
their part insofar as they affect neu
-tral. 1-ights.
Uncle Sam's Interpretation.
"It ls thus that the government of
the United States interprets the lan
guage of the note of his Majesty's
principal secretary of state for for
eign affairs which accompanies the
copy of the order in council, which
was handed to the ambassador of the
United States by the government in
London, and by him transmitted to
Washington.
"This government notes wi-th grat
ification that 'wide discretion is af
forded to the prize court in dealing
with the trade of neutrals In such
manner as may in the circumstances
be deemed just, and that full provi
sion is made to facilitate claims by
persons interested in any goods plac
ed in the custody of the marshal of
the prize court under the order'; and
'the effect of the order in council is
to confer certain powers npon the ex
ecutive officers of his M.ajesty's gov
ernment'; and that 'the extent to
which the powers will be actually ex
ercised and the degree of severity
with which the measures of blockade
authorized will be put into operation
are matters which will depend on the
administrative orders issued by the
government and the decisions of the
authorities especially charged with
the duty of dealing with individual
ships and cargoes according to the
merits of each case.' This govern
ment further notes with equal satis
faction the declaration of the British
government that 'the instructions to
be issued by his Majesty's govern
ment to the fleet and to the customs
officials and' executive committees
concerned will impress upon them the
duty of acting with the utmost dis
patch consistent with the object in
view, and of showing in every case
such consideration for neutrals as
may be compatible with that object,
.which is, succinctly stated, to estab
lish a blockade to prevent vessels
from carrying goods for or coming
from Germany.'
Discretionary Powers.
"In view of the assurances, formal
ly given to this government, it is con
fidently expected tha~t the extensive
powers conferred by the order In
council on the executive officers of
the crown will be restricted by 'or
ders issued by the government' di
recting the exercise of their discre
tionary powers in such a manner as
to modify in practical application
those provisions of the order in coun
cil, which, if strictly enforced, would
violate neutral rights and interrupt
legitimate trade. Relying on the
faithful performance of these valun
tary assurances by his Majesty's gov
ernment the United States takes it for
granted that the approach of Ameri-i
ca merchantmaen to neutral portsl
situated upon the long line of coa
affected by the order in council wi
not be interfered with when it
known that they do not carry goo
which are contraband of war <
goods destined to or proceeding fro
ports within the belligerent territo:
affected.
To Recognize Rules.
"The government of the Unit.
States assumes with the greater co
fidence that his Majesty's governme
will thus adjust their practice to t1
recognized rules of international la
because it is manifest that the Br
ish government have adopted an e
traordinary method of stopping ca
goes destined for or coming from t
enemy's territory, which, owing
the existence of unusual conditions
modern warfare at sea, it will be d
ficult to restrict to the limits whi
have been heretofore required by t
law of nations. Though the area
operations is confined to 'Europe
water including the Mediterranea
so great an area of the high seas
covered and the cordon of ships is
distant from the territory affect
that neutral vesels must necessari
pass through the blockading force
order to reach important neuti
ports, which Great Britain as a bi
ligerent has not the legal right
blockade and which, therefore, it
presumed she has no intention
claiming to blockade. The Sc-mi
navian and Danish ports, for examp
are open to American trade. Th
are also free, so far as the actual c
forcement of the order in council
concerned, to carry on trade wi
German Baltic ports, although it
an essential element of blockade tl
it bear with equal severity upon
neutrals.
Instructions to Commanders.
"This government, therefore,
fers that the commanders of his 1V
jesty's ships of war engaged in ma:
taining the so-called blockade will
instructed to avoid an enforcement
the proposed measures of non-iLt,
course in such a way as to impose:
strictions upon neutral trade m<
burdensome than those which ha
been regarded as inevitable when I
ports of a belligerent are actua
blockaded by the ships of its ener
"The possibilities of serious int
ruption of American trade under I
order in council are so many, and i
methods proposed are so unusual-a
seem liable to constitute so great
impediment and embarrassment
neutral commerce that the gove:
ment of the United States, if the ,
der in council is strictly enforced, .
prehends many interferences with
legitimate trade which will impi
upon his Majesty's government heg
responsibility for acts of the Brit
authorities clearly subversive of I
rights of neutral nations on the hi
seas. It is therefore, expected t]
his Majesty's government, havi
considered these possibilities, -
take the steps necessary to av,
them, and, in the event that tl
should unhappily occur, will be p
pared to make full reparation
every act which, under the rules
interntional law, constitutes a vic
tion of neutral rights.
In Friendly Spirit.
"As stated in its communication
October 22, 1914, 'this governm<
will- insist that the rights and dut
of the United States and its citiz<
in the present war be defined by
existing rules of international I
and the treaties of the United Stai
irrespective of the provisions of
Declaration of London, and that t
government reserves to itself
right to enter a. protest or demand
each case in which those rights
duties so defined are violated or th
free exercise interfered with by
authorities of the British gove
ment.'
"In conclusion you will reiter
to his Majesty's government thatt
statement of the views of the gave
ment of the United States is made
the most friendly spirit, and in
cordance ~with the uniform can.
which has characterized the relati.
of the two governments in the pa
and which has been in large measa
the foundation of the peace and a:
ty existing between the two natie
without interruption for a century
*(Signed) . "Bryan.'
CONFEDERATE VETS REUIO:
Will be Held at Columbia en Aj
22 and 23.
The following General Orders]
1 were issued by B. H. Teague, ma
general South .Carolina division, Ui
ed Confederate Veterans, from he
quarters at Aiken, S. C., Sunday:
"The State reunion of South Ca
lina Division United Confederate s
erans, will be held in Columbia, S.
Thursday and Friday, April 22
23.
"The official ladies of the divis
for 1915. are Miss Martha A. B
ham, Anderson, sponsor; Misses 0]
McGowan, Columbia, and Caroline
Sinkler, Eutawville, maids of hon,
and Mrs. R. S. Ligon, Anderson, I
tron of honor. The commander
quests that the names of the offic
ladies of the brigades and camps p
sent at the Columbia reunion, be i
upon cards and handed to him duri
the first day of the reunion.
"The reunion orator is a gifted
of South Carolina, Rev. Win.
Boggs, D. D., now of Atlanta, Ga.
will be worth attending this occasi
to hear his address.
"For information as to boarda
lodging, apply to Mr. WV. H. Jan
chairman of Information and Hoi
committee.
''As the time for the State reuni
is near at hand, the camps shoi
meet at once, elect delegates, appo
their official ladies and send in th
names without delay.
"The dues for the division are f
cents per member, and the camps
requested to forward the sa:
promptly to Adjit. Gen. S. E. Well
77 Market street, Charleston.
"The dues for the United Conf<
rate Veteran organization are 1
cents .per member, and must be se
direct to. Gen. Wmn. E. Mickle, P.
Box H, 97. New Orleans, La.
'If ycur dues are not paid. yc
camp will not be entitled to vote
either reunion.
"The annual reunion of the Unlit
Confederate Veterans will be held
the historiC c'ty or Richmond, whi
te old soldiers have always been ci
d'ally v~eeonied, on the 1st, 2nd a
3rct days of June, 1915.
"One of the interesting events
this reun'on will be the formal opi
ing of the Confederate Hall-'T
Battle Abbey' of the Confederacy.
"The hotel headquarters of Sou
Carolina division will be at Murpa1
hotel. Those who wish other qu;
.ers should address Col. Charles
Loehr, Richmond, V'a., and those
siins:i free entertainment should
ply to Mr. David A. Brown, 607
Main street, Richmond, Va.
"Feduced rates will be given one
railroads to both State and genei
reunions.
"It is with deep sorrow that t
commander announces the death
another of the division staff, that
Surgeon General. T. F. Croft, M.
who on the 10th .of March 'cross
over the river and now rests und
the shade of the trees.'"
British Sieze Dutch Boat.
A Dutch steamer laden with oi! h
been captured by the British wl
claim she was furnishing fule to tl
German submarines.
Yeggmen at Honea Path.
The post office at Honea Path w;
blown open by robbers Tuesday nigl
and $2,000 secured.
PLOT TO AID SHIPS
Is
m BRITISH SHIPS ARE SUPPLIED
ry
FROM NEW YORK.
,d
a HARBOR IS SEARCHED
t
x. Fast Sailing Torpedo Boat Destroyers
r- Skip Over Dark Waters Seeking
to' Those Who Are Violating Neutral.
in
if- ity Proclamations-Activity of Of.
:h
ie cials Kept Secret.
of Evidence of a widespread conspira
Ln cy to violate the neutrality proclama
n tion of President Wilson by the es
is tablishment in New York of an exten
so sive organization and central agency
ad to supply the British warships lying
outside the three-mile zone with food
and fuel is to be presented to the fed.
eral grand jury by Collector of the
Port Malone.
to The facts on which he is prepared
is to base such an allegation were col.
of lected by Mr. Malone in a series o:
spectacular midnight tours of the
le, waters surrounding New York, whici
ey he made aboard the torpedo boat de
'is stroyer iParker, one of the fastes
is ships of this type in the service.
th With a powerful searchlight t<
is guide him, Mr. Malone has scoure<
at the docks aldng the Hoboken an<
tll New York waterfronts, and has dash
ed out to sea in search of carrier
which he had reason to believe wer(
[n violating the laws.
[a- The Collector made his tours o3
[n- board the MacDougal, following i
ba long conference with United State
Of District Attorney Marshall. He said
ar- just before starting, that he expecte
r.e to ask the grand jury to act withou
re further delay. -
ve Coincident with these - develop
he ments it became known that Mr. Ma
ly lone had called upon the governmen
y. for additional ships and was plannini
r- effectually to seal the port of Nev
he York to the British vessels. He nov
he has under his direction for that pur
nd pose the torpedo boat destroyers Mac
an Dougal and Parker, each capable of .
to speed of 33 knots; the destroye
mn- Drayton, which is of an older type
Dr- the Dolphin, Secretary Daniels' ship
p. which carries four six-inch guns, an
its a naval tug. Two more torpedo boa
se destroyers are expected to arriv
within a few days :for scout duty i:
ish connection with Mr Malone's plans
le All of these ships are equippe
gh with wireless, and Mr. Malone ex
,at plained that he was in touch by tele
ng phone also with the naval stations a
rill Tompkinsville, Kill von Kull, an
Aid Whitestone.
Ley Co-operating with Mr. Malone I
re- the work of breaking up the allege
for conspiracy are the .members of th
of Neutrality Squad, headed by Georg
la- F. Lamb and a score or more of see
ret service agents who were sen
from Washington at the Collector'
of request. They have been workin
t day and night for more than a mont
les scouring the waterfront and accom
les panying Mr. Malone on the myster
, ous and exciting scouting trips abot
aw the harbor and in the open sea.
aw In this way they have covere
every wharf and pier in the port c
New York from Newark Bay t
his Whitestone, the territory under th
in jurisdiction of the Collector, an
ihave south to detect sea-going tus
nd and other vessels upon which susp
er cion rested.
te A secret -service agent has bee
istationed at the Highdand Light r
Navesink, N. J., every morning, an
ate it has been us duty to scan the hor
his zon with a powerful telescope fe
invessels carrying supplies to the Bri1
ac ish warships. Whether any vessel
ac- actually had been caught in the at
oof violating the neutrality proclame
ntion by transhipping supplies Mr. Mr
st, lone would not say, Inferring the
re such Information would come or
Sonly when the case was placed befor
ns the faderal grand jury.
The Investigations of Mr. Malone
agents on land and sea have disclo!
ed, it is understood, that part of
*downtown hotel was engaged as
headquarters by the alleged conspirr
tors, and that there the plans wer
formulated and orders Issued. '
An organization of great power an
o. Influence was formed, it is asserted
or and negotiations were opened by It
it- agents with dozens of captains an
ad- owners of vessels who live in Ne'
York, Philadelphia and the New Eni
ro- land states. The services of man
et- captains were engaged, it is said, an
C., a fleet of big tugboats was put int
nd service to move supplies from variou
points to the British warships. Fb
on perienced crews were engaged quietl
n- to operate the tugs, and were Irt
le pressed with the necessity of silene
S. It is understood 'evidence has bee
r; presented to the collector that th
2- principal operatives of a private dE
re- tective agency, which Is known a:
ial over the country, have been workin
re- with the agents of the organizatior
ut So much information has been ot
ng tained that Mr. Malone has been abl
to outline his case and his last tou
on was made to obtain a few detail
E. which, he believes, will insure actio
It by the grand jury that will boreak u
on the~ conspiracy and make it impossibl
for the British ships to use New Yor:
nd as a base of supplies.
es, A sensation is promised after th
ise facts have been placed before th
grand jury. While Mr. Malone wouli
on not discuss the case in detail he ad
Ild mitted making the trips in the tor
nt pedo boats and did not attempt. t
eir deny that he had obtained evidenc
which had astounded him.
Lye Mr. Malone has boared the Parke
tre four nights of each week and hi
Ene tours have' continued from just afte
h, midnight until 5 o'clock in the morn
ing, when the torpedo boat has slil>
ad ped back quietly to her pier. The co]
en lector assumed personal charge o
nt these trips. On other nights he ha
0. inspected the docks alo-2g the wate
front and conducted secret investiga
ur' tions of the cargoes which were bein:
at placed aboard the vessels he had un
der suspicion.
ed No boat which could have been us
in ed surreptitiously to violate the neu
re trality proclamation has escaped th
yr- scrutiny of Mr. Malone and his as
nd sistants. Shops in Hoboken an
South Brooklyn from which supplie
of :might be transferred also have beel
n- inspected. All of this work was car
he ried on so secretly and successfull:
that the news of the investigation dit
th not become known until Tuesda:
y night.
ir- The searchlight on the torped<
T boat Parker was noted by some alont
-~ the water front, but it was believec
p- the vessel was on an entirely differ
E. ent mission. As a rule she startet
from Ninety-Sixth street and passec
ill down around the battery. searchini
'al the docks, and then to the Hoboker
docks. This trip would be followed
he by a dash to sea which carried the in
of spector within sight of the Britist
of vessels.
edTurks Assure Protection.
er Assurances that protection would
be given to the entire population ol
Urumiah, Persia, where attacks on
Americans and other foreigners and
as on native christians have been re
1 ported, has been given Ambassador
ie Morgenthau *at Constantinople by
Turkey.
The German steamer Grete Hem
as soth, 1,5Z4 tons, was struck by a
at mine and destroyed in the Baltic Sea
DENIES RESPONSIBILITY
GERMANS SAY THRESHER HAD
AMPLE TBIE TO ESCAPE.
Merchant Ship Armed and Submarine
Had to Act Quickly-Neutral Pas
sengers Warned of Dangers.
Government officials took under
consideration Tuesday a statement
from the German embassy quoting an
official message from the Berlin for
eign office in which responsibility was
disclaimed for the loss of any neutral
lives on board the- British steamer
Falaba, recently sank by a German
submarine.
The claim is set up by Germany
that the Falaba, as well as other
British merchantmen, was armed and
that military necessity made it im
possible for the submarine to give
any longer time than was allowed for
the passengers to escape.
State department officials say the
death of Leon C. Thresher, an Ameri
can lost with the Falaba, constitutes
a complicated case. If the German
view that all merchantmen 'being
armed are in the category of war
shiuis is accepted, the rights of neu
trals to travel aboard belligerent
craft of any kind would be circum
scribed.
Furthermore, Germany contends
that sufficient time was permitted for
the escape of the -passengers-and the,
intimation is given that if he was not
included among those saved there
was an act of negligence for which
the Germans were not responsible.
President Wilson told callers that
no steps had been taken diplomati
. cally by the United States 'in the
, Thresher case beyond efforts te ob
, tain the facts and circumstances un
I der which Thresher was droiwned.
t The statement issued by the Ger
man embassy was: "The Germn
- ambassador has received the follow
- Ing official message from Berlin:
t 'A report from the submarine has not
i yet been received. However, accord
ing to trustworthy reports, the.sub
marine requested the steamer Falaba
- to put passengers and crew into life
- boats when other ships came up.
Lately English merchant ships have
r been provided with guns by the Brit
ish goveinment and advised to rom
or otherwise attack German subma
I rines. This advice has repeatedly
t been followed in order to win prom
Ised rewards. Military necessity con
I sequently forced the submarine to act
quickly, which made granting of
I longer space of time and the saving
- of lives impossible.
-" 'The German government regrets
t the sacrifice of human lives, but both
British ships and neutral passengers
I on board ships were warned urgently
and in time not to cross the war zone.
e Responsibility rests, therefore, with
e the British government, whith, con
!trary to international law, Inaugu
t rated commercial war against Ger
t many and, contrary to international
9 law, has caused merchant ships to
offer armed resistance.'"
DESCR1BES BOMBARDMENT.
t
Zeppelins Drop Luminous Bombs on
Citp of Paris.
e The Zeppelin bombardment of
d Paris during the early morning of
March 21, was described by eye-wit
nesses who returned to New York
Wednesday aboard the Transylvania.
"It was a clear, starry night," said
t Joseph -Harriman. "A bugle call
d awakened us. The Zeppelin seemed
. to be' almost directly above us. We
r. could make it out clearly, like a great
.grey cigar.
s "The searchlight on Eiffel tower
Sand other searchlights shot their long
. beams on the airship and the city's
.guns let loose. They fired luminous
t shells-projectiles that lighted the
sky. The glare when they exploded
was almost blinding.
"I counted six bombs that the air
s ship dropped. A tiny red light glow
.ed from the Zeppelin each time. This
awas the only light the airship show
a ed. As the bomb fell we could trace
its course 'by a trail of sparks.
'"Several second elapsed from, the
time the bombs reachsd the earth till
we heard the explosion. In one case,
however, a bomb fell within a few
Sblocks. The roar of the explosion
was terri-ble. The- airship remained
Sabove the city for some time-it
seemed to me like half an hour-and
then sailed away apparently undam
Saged."
s TEN PERISH IN STORM.
SCrews of Barges Drown When Ships
-Goto Peces.
I Saturday's coast storm claimed ten
e victims in the vicinity of the Dela
-ware capes. They were the crews of
Ithe Consolidation Coal company's
Sbarges Nos. 6 and 9, from Baltimore
.for Boston who were drowned when
-their crafts foundered near Cape
e Henlopen. The barges broke adrift
r from the tug Cumberland.
s Despite heroic efforts in the face of
2 a blinding snow storm and a 60-mile
a gale, the Cumberland 's crew was un
e able to get another line to the
i barges. For hours the tug stood by,
but the fury of the sea made It Im
possible to render assistance. Final
I 1y the barges broke to pieces and
I sank with all hands aboard. The
- bodies of Capt. Johnson, Baltimore;
- Karl Larsen, a Swedish subjiect, and
> Dempsey Jarvis, also of Baltimore.
Swashed ashore late in the day.
The wind at one time blew seventy
r miles an hour. Coast guards and
life-savers from the Lewes and Re
rhoboth stations made repeated efforts
- to launch a life boat, but could not
- get through the boiling surf.
WRECKED BY STORM.
Captain and Six Members of Schoon
er's Crew Rescued.
-Captain Emerson Murphy and the
six members of his crew were landed
at Charleston Sunday by the Clyde
steamship Lenape which rescued
them from t'ie schooner Alice Murphy
Saturday fifteen miles south of Dia
mond Shoal lightship. The schooner
had sprung a leak and been shatter
ed by the heavy seas. It was bound
from Savannah for Providence, R. I.,
lumber-laden. The crew were lashed
to the mizzenmast and had been with
out food for thirty-six hours when
rescued by Second Officer 3. B. Wood
and a boat crew from the Lenape.
Because of the heavy seas oil was
freely used by the rescue crew.
ALL ENGLAND ABSTAUS.
British Isles to Abstain from Use of
Alcoholic Liquors.
A London dispatch says the king's
abstemious example is being rapidly
followed, for, in addition to Earl
Kitchener, all the cabinet ministers
in London announced to Chancellor
Lloyd-George, according to The Daily
Mail, their intention to follow the
king's pledge to abstain from alco
holic liquors during the war if it is
thought necessary. -
Over Five Thousand Lost.
Since the.beginnin othe: war the
British armzion te ' tient has lost
1,503 offigerskit aM'2,833 wound
I ed, whil''7A.; have. hea renport
IAPAN MAKES REPLY
'EKIM CHINA TELLS Of IEPLY
TO INQUIRIES Of U. S.
1EGOTIATIONS CONTINOE
rapanese Government Objects to Con
struction of Naval Dock by Ameri
cans in the Harbor of Sintuao OR
Account of Its Strategic Impoir
tance.
According to a Peking, China, dis
atch, China ieceived - Thursday an
)utline of the note of the United
3tates to Japan concerning demands
nade upon China by Japan and of
:he reply of the Japanese govern
nent. It was said the reply was
nade on March 22 by Takaaki Kato.
apanese minister (f foreign affairs.
The Chinese report said the -Amer
:an note specifically asked fdve ques
tions. Those questions and Japan's
replies thereto are set forth as fol
lows:
The United States inquired con
eerning Japan's demand that in the
province of Fukien Japan shall have
the right to work mines, build rail
roads and construct harbor works,
and in the case of employment of for
eign capital that Japan shall be first
consulted.
The Japanese government replied
that those concessions were desired
for the primary purpose of prevent
ing other nationals from acquiring
special rights there, Japan under
standing that Americans wish to
build dock yards in the harbor of
Santuo. That position is of great
strategic importance. . Japan pointed
out, -on account. of the possibility of
its use for directing operations
against Formosa in case of war.
The second question concerned Ja
pan's - demand for supervision- over
the manufacture or purchase of war
munitions' by- China. The Japanese
government Axpressed the opinion
that this question could .be solved
most satisfactorily by the employ
ment of mixed forces of Japanese and
Chinese; a system which, Japan says,
already exists.
The third question dealt with the
Japanese demand that ?he Chines.
police in certain places be administer
ed jointly by' Japanese and Chinese
officials, or that China shall- employ
numerous Japanese to organize the
Chinese police.' The Japanese gov
ernment replied that this demand ap
plied only to Southern Manchuria.
The fourth question concerned the
demand for employment by China of
Japanese political advisers. Japan re
plied that political advisers will not
be imposed upon China, but merely
recommended.
The fifth question related to he
demand Japan was said to have made
that "no island, port or harbor along
the coast shall be ceded or leased to
any third power." The Japanese.gov
ernment replied that this proposed
restriction would apply to Japan as
well as to other powers.
The Chinese government, it is said,
has been informed that if the Ameri
can government pledges itself not to
construct a naval dock yard at San
tuao, the Japanese will forego their
demand for special privieges in Eu
kien, probably excepting the building
of railroads. It has been learned
that the agents of an American liteel
company visited Santuao -two year.
ago at the request of the Chinese gov
ernent and considered the, project
of a naval base there, but'that even-a
preliminary contract was not signed.
It is asserted that the late 'Japa
nese minister to China, Enairo Yam-'
aza, subsequently infornlbd Pahl. S.
Reinsch, the American minister, that
Japan could not permit the consum
mation of such a project and that Mr.
Reinschl replied that there was no
treaty, to prevent American contrac
tors undertaking the task and that
Japan's declaration of a sphere of In
fluence in Fukien did not apply.
The American steel company still
holds a contract with China aggre
gating $20,000,000 for undefined
naval construction, and under which
only one gunboat has 'been'specified
up to the present. This contract was
awarded by the Manchu government.
The republican government evidently
desired the Santuao project to ab
sorb the remainder of. the $20,000G,
000, but the company expressed dis
satisfaction.
Regarding the reply, of Japan to
the second question of the Unit-ed
States, it is denied in well informed
quarters that a ''mixed system" ex
ists in the arsenal. It Is added that
the replies to the third, fourth and
fifth questions are contrary to -the
text of Japan's deniends, but that
Japan already has given the Chinese
to understand that she would modify
these demands.
President Yuan Shi Kai has car
ried the entire responsibility for
China, and virtually alone he has ob
tained the best terms he could. The
president often has sought foreign
advice, conferring only this week
with two foreigners.
.The progress of these negotiations
ibeing watched with the 'closest at
tention by all the foreign- diplomats
at Peking. and the British and Amer
ican newspapers'published in China
are equally interested.
Interest now centres on what con
cession China will make on the
clauses of the Japanese demands pro
viding for employment by China of
Japanese advisers; for Japanese right
of ownership to land in the interior
of China; for employment of Jap~a
nese police in China; that China pur- .
chase munitions of war from Japan;
that China grant Japan railroad con
cessions in Eastern Central China;
that China permit Japan to -work
mines and build railroads in Fukien
province, and that Japanese- subjects
be allowed to propagate Buddhism In
China.
Some foreign newspapers antici
pate that China will accept some of
these demands, but editorially they
warn the republic of a "future reck
oning.''
Jewels Admitted Free.
Four hundred and eighty-six thou- -
sand five hundred and seventeen dol
lars worth of jewels, sent to the Pan
ama-Pacific exposition by the Legion
of Honor of France have been ad
mitted into this country free of duty.
Army Prohibition.
The French general in command of
the army of the Vosges, with consent
of Gen. Joffre, has forbidden pur
chase or sale of spirituous liquors in
the territory occupied by his army.
Sails With Cotton.
The American steamer City of
!ephis sailed from Wilmington, N.
3., Tuesday, carrying approximately
10,000 bales of cotton for Rotter
lam. Her cargo is v'alued at $600,
)00.
Indictments Quashed.
Sixteen indictments remaining
igainst Joseph Fish; millionaire fire
sisrance adjuster, who has been ac
uitted twice -'f charges of arson,
were quashed Wednesd.y. The evi
lence in all of the caes is similar.