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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. The French official report of yesterday said: In the Argonne district a surprise attack delivered by us this morning on one of the enemys trenches near the highway of St. Hubert resulted in our inflicting perceptible losses on our adversaries and in bringing back to our lines some twenty prisoners. During this attack our artillery in the next sector violently bombarded that portion of the Avocourt woods occupied by the Germans. In the region of Verdun the enemy, after the relative calm of yesterday afternoon, gave evidence of great activity during the evening hours. As the night progressed there took place, to the west of the Meuse, a bombardment of extreme violence in the region betwen Avocourt and Bethincourt. This was followed by a series of attacks in which large numbers of men took part against the two principal salients of this front. All the efforts of the enemy against the village of Bethincourt were checked by our fire. During this same time the enemy delivered a furious attack on the center, against the village of Haucourt. In spite of repeated checks and of bloody sacrifices they were successful in getting a footing during the night in this village. We now hold the village under the fire of our domination positions. On our side, after a short preparatory artillery fire, we delivered a spirited attack, our men coming out from the redoubt of Avocourt, their purpose being to connect this redoubt with one of our works situated on the boundary line of the wood to the north of Avocourt. During this operation, which was in all respects successful, we occupied a large portion of the territory known as "Le Bois Carre" and took fifty prisoners. To the east of the River Meuse two attacks on the part of the enemy directed against our positions to the north of the Caillette wood resulted only in serious losses to the Germans. Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg protested vigorously in the reichstag at Berlin Wednesday against the report that Germany, now or in the future contemplated aggression against the United States. The chancellor indicated that any suggestions of peace on the basis of destruction of Prussian military power would make possible only one answer — the German sword. He stated that if Germanys adversaries desired to continue the slaughter of men and devastation of Europe the guilt would be theirs, and that Germany would have to "stand it as men." The chancellor, in his most comprehensive speech of the war, reviewed the military and political situations and the use of various means of warfare and said: The latest offspring of the calumniating campaign directed against us is a report that we, after the end of this war, shall rush against the American continent and that we shall attempt to conquer Canada. This is the silliest of all the imputations invented against us. Equally silly are the reports that we contemplate the acquisition of any territory on American soil as in Brazil or in any American country whatsoever. We fight for our existence and for our future. For Germany anil not for space in a foreign country are Germanys sons bleeding and dying on the battlefield. A dispatch of yesterday from London says: The increasing effectiveness of Englands anti-aircraft defenses was demonstrated last night when the ; single Zeppelin which undertook the fifth raid in six days was prevented from penetrating the northeast coast and was forced to flee, after the briefest visit of the kind jet made. The night was clear, with moonlight and without wind. Searchlights discovered the raider coming over the sea and never once lost him during his stay. As he reached the coast he was flying comparatively low, and the smallest guns found him such an easy target that he was forced to rise to a great height. The larger guns then found the range and, aided by the searchlights, they surrounded the Zeppelin with a terrific hail of shrapnel and high explosive shells. After maneuvering near a northeast coast town for about tne minutes, during which only a few bombs were dropped, the raider was seen to turn and to sail homeward. From headquarters at San Antonio a message of yesterday says: "In the last twenty-four hours not a single word has been received at army headquarters of the progress of the Villa man hunt. All the information from the front in two days has been contained in dispatches totaling less than 200 words. Colonel Browns engagement four days ago with a Villa band at Aguascalientes was told in a few words. General Funston. however, is firm in the belief that the next two days will bring definite news of the bandit leaders whereabouts, and indicate the probable effectiveness of the expedition. Staff officers intimated that the successful prosecution of the pursuit depends on the arrival of re-enforcements and improved transportation facilities. They expressed confidence today that proper aid would be given." Germanys official statement of yesterday said: Western front: There was great activity west of the Meuse during the day, chiefly on account of the preparatory fire which we directed against the iistri-t of Haucourt. During the afternoon, the activity of our infantry became more pronounced. It stormed the village of Haucourt and the strortgly fortified French point of support east of the village. In addition to considerable losses in killed and wounded, the enemy lost eleven officers and 531 unwounded prisoners, belonging to two different divisions. On the right bank of the Meuse the French renewed the attempt against positions we captured in Caillette forest and northwest thereof on April 2. This attack was checked quickly. Colonel Theodore Rooseveldt is again out in the open as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. The fight which has been made by his followers to have him named when the convention meets in Chicago June 7 will be carried on with redoubled vigor from this time, stripped of all quibble and pretense. The Colonels position, summed in a few words, is this: He is in a receptive mood, ready to head the fight against Wilsonisiu and for adequate preparedness and Americanism if the country wants him to and that desire is reflected in the action of the Republican convention. The Elder liner Zent has been sunk. Part of the crew has been landed, but it is feared some lives have been lost. A German submarine has been sunk by a squadron of French and British warships, the ministry of marine at Paris announced yesterday. The crew of the submarine was captured. The steamer Z-nt was built in 1905 and displaced 3.S90 tons. She has four decks and is 367 feet long, with a forty foot beam. She was owned and registered at Belfast. Meat cards will lie introduced in Bavaria and Saxony on April 15, permitting consumption of one-third pound per capita daily, except on two meatless days each week. Bavaria has forbidden the sale of canned meats, whole hams, whole sausages, etc., to individuals, to prevent the accumulation of stocks in advance. Individual meat cards probably will not lie is ued in Berlin. Regulation of distribution will be effected by limiting the supply for each retailer. In Mississippi a constitutional amendment, with initiative and referendum provisions, voted upon by the people and udopted two years ago, has been ratified by both houses of the Mississippi legislature and is now a part of the state constitution. By the terms of the awtniUuo-t the voters have the privilege of initiating legislation and the power to veto by popular vote any law the legislature may enact. Reports to the Department of Justice at Washington indicate that there now is no longer any doubt that Felix Diaz had landed in Mexico. Officials have been informed that he is at the head of a considerable force in the south of Mexico and lias received material aid through Gautemala. It is the first official information of the revolutionary leaders whereabouts. The Brazilian steamer Saldanha de Gama. which sailed from Para, Brazil, February 0 for New York with a cargo of 120 tons of raw rubber, has been seized off the Orkney Islands by a British patrol boat. This is believed to be a deliberate case of attempted blockade running. Emperor Francis Joseph, disregarding the warnings of doctors, has determined to visit the Italian front. Preparations for the journey have been completed and possibly the aged monarch will leave Vienna next week. The town of Felahie. in Mesopotamia, has been captured by the British, it was announced officially yesterday. All the positions gained have been con-bolidated and counter attacks by the Turks repulsed.
