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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. Defeat of the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia by the Britisli was reported officially at London Friday. In an engagement on the Tigris the Turks were driven back from one and one -half to three miles. The text of the statement says: General Lake reports that on the afternoon of April 12 our forces on the right south bank of the Tigris forced back the enemys advanced lines over a distance varying from one and one-half to three miles. To do this they had to cross an inundated belt intersected by deep cuts from 500 to 1.200 yards wide, extending from the Tigris to the Tmm-El-Brahm marsh. On the left bank water from the marshes has been driven by a northwest gale into some of the enemys trenches at Sannayyat. The enemy was heavily punished as he took refuge from the flood in the new position. Officers casualty lists for the month of February show that the British army lost 263 killed, 597 wounded and 15 missing, a total of 875. This brings the aggregate loss since the beginning of the war to 23,962. of whom 7.420 have been killed or have died of wounds. 14 755 wounded, and 1,787 are missing or prisoners of war. In February, losses were heaviest in the Indian contingent operating in Mesopotamia and at the Persian gulf, the returns showing 63 officers killed. 159 wounded and eleven missing. Koyal engineers lost 6 killed, 40 wounded; Yorkshires, killed. 33 wounded; field artillery. 13 killed. 23 wounded: Canadians. 5 killed. 18 wounded. During the month Brigadier Generals Hodson and Harvey were killed. Four lieutenant colonels were killed and four brigadier generals wounded. An American. John D. Harrison, of Chicago, was aboard the steamer Margam Abbey, sunk without warning April 8. American Consul General Skinner cabled the state department. Harrison was rescued. Consul General Skinners report was the first advice to the state department that the sinking of the Margam Abbey involved any American citizens. Mr. Skinners information came from the American consul at Cardiff. Whiles, where Harrison evidently was lauded. Harrison was a steward on the vessel. which was sunk without warning. Only a voluntary change of attitude by Germany on the Sussex case can stop the dispatch by President Wilson in the next thirty-six hours of a drastic ultimatum which will be preliminary to the recall of Ambassador Ger-rard. Official Washington accepted this status of the Berlin situation yesterday as it awaited word from President Wilson summoning to the while house congressional leaders to whom the president will state the latest developments in the submarine warfare controversy. Secretary Lansing continued work on the new note to Germany, thus dispelling intimations that it might already have been started on its way. Mr. Lansing compared the affidavits on the attack on the Sussex which arrived at Wash- ington Friday night with information already before the department. * Detailed instructions on his official attitude in regard to the Carranza suggestions for a withdrawal of American troops from Mexico, were dispatched to Consul Rodgers at Mexico City by Secretary Lansing. While officials refused to make any public announcement in the matter, it was learned on high authority the dispatch informs Rodgers of this governments willingness to discuss the suggestions formally with Mexican Ambassador Designate Ar-redondo. Rodgers. it is understood, is not instructed to treat with Carranza. He is merely to inform the first chief of Secretary Lansings decision to receive overtures from Senor Arredondo. A resolution directing President Wilson to stop further exportation of arms and ammunition to Mexico was offered in the house by Representatives Rodenburg of Illinois. Apparently the immediate withdrawal of the American forces in Mexico is not contemplated. It is understood that the success of the de facto government in demonstrating its intention and ability to hunt down Villa and his bandits, in event the American expedition is recalled, would have great weight with President Wilson in reaching a decision regarding the matter. The German official report of yesterday says: Western front: A strong English advance against our crater positions south of St. Eloi* Belgium was completely repulsed after a hand-grenade engagement. In the Argonne and to the east of that region there were lively local artillery and mine duels. On the left bank of the Meuse enemy attacks against our positions on Dead Mans hill, south of the Bois des Corbeaux and in the Bois des Cumieres, preparations for which were made by a great increase in the violence of the enemys artillery fire, could only be carried through by a few battalions against Dead Mans hill, thanks to the destructive concentrated fire of the troops which we had put in readiness on both sides of the Meuse. The attacking enemy waves broke down with the heaviest losses before our lines. The few men who penetrated our trenches were killed in the hand-to-hand fightiug. On the right bank of the Meuse and on the Woevre plain the fighting activity chiefly was limited to violent artillery duels. Two weak em my hand-grenade attacks southwest of Fort Douaumont were without result. State department dispatches from El Paso yesterday refer to unconfirmed reports of a second fight with American troops at Parral. General Funston yesterday telegraphed the war department that he had not heard from General Pershing for three days. Secretary Baker said that General Funston was urging General Pershing to rush a re-I»ort on the Parral incident. General Kiuistons message was taken to indicate that the silence of General Pershing probably was duo to inability to get information rather than to interruption of communication. Geneial Funston has been in communication with other authorities in close touch with the advance expedition, but had asked General Pershing to report oftener. if possible, to ki ep tin-war department advised. Secretary Baker said ha still was waiting for a report on the conferences between General Pershing and Generals Ken-era and Gutiem z. Declaring that there is no change in -contemplation regarding the Mexican punitive exi«dition. Se«re-tary Baker of the war department yesterday afternoon gave out the following statement: "The status of the expedition into Mexico is as it was at the beginning, in cordial co-ojKration with the de facto government of Mexico. That co-operation continues and the expedition continues. There has been no change either in purpose or in orders. No change has been made in the orders and none is in contemplation." It is understood in London that the British cabinet has virtually decided that there shall be no general compulsion on the lines of "equal sacrifice for all." The final decision of the cabinet in this matter has been deferred until Monday but it is saftl that a majority of the ministers are against conscription of married men. The steamship Shenandoah has lieen sunk by a mine, a Lloyds report says. The captain and part of the crew have been landed. Two men are missing. The British steamship Shenandoah, of 3.S86 gross tons, was built at Glasgow in 1S93 and was owned by the Furuess Withy company of West Hartlepool. It sailed from Si. John, N*. B.. March 28 for London. A statement issued, by the German admiralty under date of April 13 says that in tin- mouth of March eighlv trading ess,-ls belonging to hostile countries, nilh an aggregate tonnage ,il" 207.-000, wen- sunk by German submarines or their mines. Yesterdays baseball results- National League: Cincinnati 2. Chicago 0: Philadelphia 5. New York 4; Boston I, Hrnokl.wi 2. American I.eague: Boston 2. Philadelphia 1: New York 3, Washington 1; Cleveland 3, St. Louis 0.
