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; I ; i j , . i . . . 1 1 1 . . - - - , -, -, -, I I , -, -, i I 1 i . GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. Slate department officials ai Washington yesterday were preparing tlie answer which the United States will make to Croat Britains replies to the litest American representations against Interference with neutral commerce. Cleat Britain in her notes, pub lished yesterday, refuses to accept the Allien, an contention thai the orders in council are illegal and Justifies the British course as being wliolh within international law. Croat Britain, it la declared, will continue to apply the orders in council, but vi ith every effort to avoid embarrassment to neutrals. It is denied thai international law is violated by the blockading of neutral i ..rts to cut off an enemys commerce with foreign countries and Great Britain decline-, to allow the free passage of goods originating in Germany and territory under German control. Croat Pritains reply is embodied in two notes. one supplemental, and together with the correspondence over the American steamer Neches. seized by the British while bound from Rotterdam to the United Slates with gooda of German origin, also published today, totals 7.O00 Words. The supplemental note is a reply to the American caveat giving notice that the United Stales would not recognise tie orders in council in lieu of international law and defends prise court proceedings. The United State* is invited, however, lo submit to arbitration any prize curt decision it holds unjust. In the case of the steamer Neches the note Justifies British stop- page of commerce from Gerasany ami Gorman-controlled territory, on the ground that Germany bas violated international law in her war on British ami neutral cooaaserce. At Petrograd an official statement given out yesterday by the Russian general staff savs: "During the last three days the enemy has made violent efforts to dislodge us from the seclor of the Narew river, from Ostrolonka to Loatsa. In the district of Jedwabno the enemy is conducting trench warfare, but in the exploding of mines we have continually hold the upper hand. On the Pissa and Skua rivers be whole enemys army at- tacked us. having first launched against un reinforcements broaghl from Frame. Nevertheless, we soon saw a complete German defeat ill this sector. for it took the enemy a week to drive back from the village of Serwatka. M the right bank of the Pissa, our rearguard regiment, while the battle for the passages of I he Narew. near NOTOgorod. has not even begun. Near the month of die Skua the enemy, thanks lo the forests, succeeded in passing P. our side of the river, but we success fully prevented him from bringing his artillery across the Narew, and at the point of the bayonet we annihilated some forces which were deprived of the protection of their artillery. These failures compelled the enemy to Withdraw from this sector the reinforcements which had come from Frame and send them to reinforce the Rozan army, which was moving more rapidly." The official statement at Berlin yesterday was; North of Loinza the Russians were pushed back to the advanced defense positions of the fortress Ehstern Prussian and West Prussian regiments captured, after h avy lighting, the Narew crossing near Osstrolenka, which was strengthened by field fortifications. Several thousands of Russians were taken prisoners, our pursuit of the enemmy is pro reeding. Before Warsaw the Russians were tbr wn from the Plonie position into the outer line of the fortress. The army of Prince Leopold of Pavaria is attacking the fortress. Anstri Hungarian troops and he annv of Con. von Woyrseh are in possession of the west part of the fortress of Ivangorod to the Vistula river, The em my yesterday also attempted t ■ arrest the advance of the annv of Field Marshal von Macker.seu but he again was defeated near Leiiczna. northeast of helm, and west of the Bag river. Sime eailv this morning the defeated enemy has been retreating between the Vistula and Pug rivers in a northerly direction Near and south of Fscilug. on the Pug. the enemy also is retreating." The United States has decided to ask the co opera lion of South and Central America in the next step to restore peace to Mexico. The ambassadors from Argentina, Brantl and Chile and the ministers from Bolivia, Lroguay and Gautemaia nave been asked to confer with Secretary Lansing at Washington Thurs day. This announcement was made at the State Department Monday night: "On Thursday after noon there will be all informal conference at the State Department i consider the Mexican sitaation. Those taking part in the conference will be tin ambassadors from Prazil. Argentina and Chile, ami the three ranking ministers of be American repub lies, namely bone of Bolivia. Uruguay and Gaute mala. Aa to the details which will be considered, nothing can be sajil at the present time, as the conference will be entirely confidential." The Mltylene correspondent of the London Times quotes a report from Constantinople thai Rnver Bey on July 28 gave a ]• litical dinner a; which there were no Geraaana. It is believe I. the dhtpateb read-, thai important decisions were unfavorable to Germany. Serious dissensions are known to exist between Finer Bey and Gen. Liman Von Banders, the German commander, and it is said that some time ago the Turkish commander insistently demanded that the German commander be recalled. . ! 1 1 .
