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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. German assualts in another desperate attempt to take Ypres were repulsed with heavy losses, according to official reports from Belgium reaching military headquarters. The entire German offensive, while vigorously maintained, has been a failure iu so far as capttiriug positions of strategic importance is concerned. The allies have extended their lines along the coast through Nieuport and -Wcstendc to .iiiddelkerke toward Marlakcrke, where the Germans main coast line remains. Severe fighting is. still reported between La Bassee and Lille and-between La Bassee and Arras,-but despite the fact that the GeruianH"haYQ.r been strongly reinforced, it is declared they have been unable to make material gains. Austria has invaded Servia again, it is oilicially announced at Vienna. The statement follows: "The Austrinns on Saturday successfully attacked a strong fortified Servian position near Rovryc. Our troops crossed the Save and Driua rivers, which were obstinately defended by the Servians, and occupied Ornabaro, Kademkone, Tabauovics and two other small towns." In an earlier announcement the war office stated that a new battle had begun in Poland. The government denied that Czernowitz. an important city iu Bukowina, had been taken by the Russians. The following official announcement was given out at Constantinople: "According to declarations of captured Russian sailors, the Russian fleet intended to blockade the Bosporus by mines, iu order to divide the Turkish fleet and completely destroy it. The Turkish fleet, fearing the Russians would open hostilities without a declaration of war, pursued the Russian fleet and dispersed it." A Rome dispatch asserts that Turkish gunboats arc reported at the entrance to the Gulf of Suez. Numerous detachments of Turkish cavalry, according to the same dispatch, have reached Akabah. a fortified village of Arabia, on the gulf of the same name. It is reported that a body of 2,000 armed Bedouins has penetrated Egyptian territory. Turkey has definitely thrown lu its lot with Germany and Austria. While no formal declaration of war lias been sent the allies, it is learned that Turkey has sent 2,000 Bedouins, who have been on the Egyptian border for some time, acrcss the frontier." In addition, the sultan has massed 400.0CO of his troops on the Caucau-sian border and 300,000 are awaiting at Beyrout. Jaffa, and other ports for transhipment to the Sinai peninsula. It is officially announced that Turkey has issued a proclamation annexing Egypt. A British vessel, the Frederick, was ignited and scuttled during the bombardment of Novoressysk. The Turks have Iwmbarded Anapa, a Russian sea-nort of the Black Sea at the western extremity of the Caucasus range. A telegram from Berlin announces that after protracted negotiations the war indemnity to the Germans for the city of Brussels has been fixed at ,000,000, payable $.100,000 weekly. The government at Pretoria has granted Gen. Christian Do AVet, the rebel leader, a five days armistice, presumably to arrange licacc. The German casualty lists for the last week amounted to 02,000. The total to date is about 420,000. It is officially announced that the French, British, and Russian ambassadors to Turkey have asked for their passports and left Constantinople. Great Britain and France have placed their" interests in Turkey in the hands of the American embassy and the Turkish consul at Havre has turned over his consulate to the Lnitod States and is preparing along with other Turkish consuls to leave France. Servia has asked the United States to look after its diplomatic interests at Constantinople "In case of war with Turkey." Colonel Alberts has defeated the rebels in the Llchtenburg district of the Transvaal, killing thirteen, wounding thirty and capturing 240. Among the captured is Commandant Claussens. A desperate battle is still raging at Tsintau but the fall of the fortress is expected momentarily, for its resistance is growing weaker, official advices from Tokio state. For miles the sea reflects flames from burning shipyards. Gas reservoirs and houses have been set afire by shells from the Japanese and British warships and land artillery which are covering the rushes -of infant it. Another British light cruiser, the Hermes, has been sunk by a German submarine. The official announcement gives no details except that the Hermes was sunk in the Straits of Dover and that most of the officers and men were saved. Tewiik Pasha, the Turkish ambassador to Groat .Britain, was handed his pass-IKirts. The cruisers Goeben and Breslau and four Turkish torpedo boats iKimbarded the Sebastopol railroad and docks. The Russian shore batteries replied. The warships disappeared along the Crimean shore to the cast, after inflicting trivial damage. The French official announcement says that Sunday the German attack on the French left wing, particularly between Dixmude and the Lys. continued with great violence. In spite of the counter attacks of the enemy in this region, the French made slight progress. An Athens dispatch says that the Turkish gunboat Dubakrelss and the Turkish armed steamer Kinaliada have; been sunk in the Gulf of Tecliechme. One report says that they were sunk by the gnus of the British Mediterranean fleet, although reiMirts from Turkish sources say that the Turkish commanders blew up their ships iu "order to prevent capture by the British. Martial law was declared by Great Britain In Egypt, according to a dispatch from Cairo to the United States government. A private cable from Para, Brazil, reports the destruction of the British steamship Van Dyke by a German cruiser. Tho passengers were put ashore. A dispatch from Sebastopol says that the bombardment of that Black sea fort by the. cruiser Goeben wus put to an end by the Constaritinowskawa batteries, which, forced the warship to withdraw. The shore station subsequently intercepted a wireless telegraph message from the Goeben, which said: "Damaged. Will return to Constantinople for repairs." News that the French have been thrown back across the Alsnt? . near Soissons and that operations have extended west of Verdun is regarded in Berliu as the best from the German standpoint that has been issued for some time. A London dispatch announces that the grand vizier of Turkey lias apologized to Russia and her allies for recent events in the Black Sea. The Russian ambassador replied that he had instructions to leave Constantinople, but that if all the German ollicers were dismissed from the Turkish navy and he received further instructions from Petrograd, he would return. A dispatch from Para, Brazil, says that the German steamer Asuncion has landed there the passengers and crews of the British steamers Vandyck, Hurstdale and Glanton. which were captured by the German cruiser Karlsruhe. The conference of revolutionary ciiiefs at Aguas Calieutes has disregarded Gen. Car-ranzas protest and elected Etilialio Gutierrez provisional president of Mexico, according to an official reiKirt reaching El Paso. Gutierrez was ap-IKiinted provisional governor of the state of San Luis Potosi by Carranza at the beginning of the constitutionalist revolution. He is regarded, however, as more of a sympathizer with Villa in the present controversy. Great Britain lias proposed that American ship bound for northern European ports touch at a convenient Scottish port on the voyage and submit to examination of their cargoes by British authorities, receiving in return certificates which will relieve them of annoyance by British and French cruisers. The state department has not accepted the proposal and indications are it will lie made the basis of a protest. Criminal indictments were returned at New York by the United States grand jury against twenty-one directors and former directors of tho New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company, including William Rockefeller, Theodore N. Vail, George F. Baker. William Skinner, Charles V. Brooker and John L. Billard. The indictments charge conspiracy in violation of the Sherman antitrust law to monopolize, commerce. Lieut. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, retired, former chief of staff of the United States army, died at his home in Los Angeles. His body will be taken to Washington for Interment in Arlington National cemetery. Gen. Chaffee had been confined to his bed for about four weeks, suffering from typhoid pneumonia. The United States has addressed a note through the Brazilian minister in Mexico City to Gen. Carranza reiterating its willingness to withdraw the American forces from Vera Cruz, but insisting on compliance with the original demands of tho state department for certain guaranties. The Rockefeller Foundation has determined to employ its immense resources for the relief of nonconibatants in the countries afflicted by the war. The largest neutral ship available at New York is being loaded with supplies for the Belgians. Declaring his resignation has not as yet been formulated. Gen. Carranza demands further assurances that the conditions under which he would yield his position be carried out before he relinquishes his place. The Panama canal has been closed to navigation by another landslide. Col. Goethals hopes to have it open again by Wednesday. Mount Vesuvius is In, eruption again and the Inhabitants iu its vicinity have become greatly alarmed.
