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gether for defense against Russia, which country he characterized as the great menace to the future : peace of Europe and the world. Once this war is finished, lie said, Europe will probably have at least twenty-five or thirty years of peace, until the , generation which has passed through this conflict has departed from the stage. This should give time , and opportunity to a wise and far-seeing diplomacy by which the western states of Europe can arrange for protection against the disturbing element in the east. Further negotiations between the American and Britisli governments over Americas objections to Great Britains trade blacklist were considered ccr-Jbiin at Washington yesterday. A British reply to the latest American protest, made public by the state department, defends the British position and leaves open the door for further exchanges. Great Britains defense of the blacklist declares the measure is purely a municipal regulation, denies it invades neutral rights and asserts its purpose is to shorten the war. There can be no contention, the note declares, that the British have not the right to deny the facilities of British commerce to those who assist the cause of Britains enemies wherever domiciled. "The feelings which I venture to think have prompted the note," the foreign minister declared in the Britisli reply, "must have been that the measures will be expanded to an extent which will result in their interfering with genuine neutral commerce; perhaps also that they are not exclusively designed for belligerent purposes, but are rather an attempt to forward our own trade interests at the expense of neutral commerce." Even these conclusions, it is asserted, are wrong. The foreign minister promises the measures will not be extended further than is absolutely necessary, declares they are strictly war measures and says that the end of the war is not near enough in sight for Britain to neglect any just means to bring about its termination. The note fails to meet the American demand that the names of Amercan firms be stricken from the blacklist, but attempts to convince the state department that the British position is just and founded on law. The note was subscribed by Viscount Grey, the British foreign minister, and was addressed to and transmitted by Walter Hines Page, the American ambassador at London. A part which attracted much official notice dealt with the subject of peace, based on the theory that one American contention had been that there exists no military necessity for the blacklist; that it is unnecessary for the allies to prejudice neutral commerce and that nothing which happens in distant neutral countries can influence the result of the great conflict. "If that really were the position," says the note, "it is possible that the measures taken by his majestys government might be described as uncalled for, but it is not. We well may wish that it were so. Even though the military situation of the allies has greatly improved, there is still a long and bitter struggle in front of them, and one which in justice to the principles for which they are fighting imposes upon them the duty of employing every opportunity and every measure which they can legitimately use to overcome their opponents. One observation which is very commonly heard is that certain belligerent acts, even though lawful, are too petty to have any influence in a struggle of such magnitude. It is, I know, difficult for those who have no immediate contact with war to realize with what painful anxiety men and women in this country must regard even the smallest acts which tend to increase, if only by a hairs breadth, the danger in which their relatives and friends daly stand, or to prolong, if only by a minute, the period they are exposed to such perils. Whatever inconvenience may be caused to neutral nations by the exercise of belligerent rights, it is not. to be compared for an instant to the suffering and loss occasioned to mankind by the prolongation of the war even for a week." A dispatch from the scene of fighting in northern France yesterday says: The Britisli advance silong both sides of the Ancre, which continued yesterday with the capture of the village of Beau-court, is considered by the Britisli commanders as one of the most important successes in the four months of the offensive. They insist especially on the relatively insignificant character of the German resistance in a position which they consider of strategic importance and one of the most highly fortified on the entire western front. More than n.000 prisoners have been collected in the extensive subterranean galleries and chambers which were sunk on both sides of the valley and were miles in extent. Five hundred Germans surrendered in a tunnel near St. lierre Division, which was a mile and a half long. This tunnel gave access to scores of electric lit chambers in which companies of infantry were housed and which contained quantities of machine guns and bombs. Another 700 prisoners were caught in a ravine south of Beaumont-Hamel, where they were cut off by the first attack on Monday afternoon. The British success scuth of the Ancre was increased, owing to the fact that the Germans in this section were on the point of being relieved by fresh troops when the attack was launched. The result was that twice the normal strength of the garrison was trapped by the barrage fire. Among the prisoners taken here were many men of the Ninety-third infantry, of which the Duke of Albany is honorary colonel-in-chief. The regiment lost heavily. According to the prisoners the duke was waiting in the rear to inspect the regiment when it left the fighting line. The majority of the infantry fighting was done with grenades instead of bayonets. The Britisli swarmed over the surface between the trench linos and hurled showers of bombs into the German dugouts and shelters, capturing in quick succession seven parallel rows of the main German trenches between Beaumont-Uamel and Beaucourt. Prisoners from the Prussian guards told the correspondent that the terrific British bombardment destroyed the machine gun emplacements and made resistance to the infantry charge impossible. They said they were cut off from their reserves on an entire front of seven miles which was issolated by the British curtain fire. They declare they were glad to surrender. A tank which helped to destroy machine gun positions at the bottom of the valley south of the Ancre was attacked with bombs by the Germans who swarmed about it in large numbers. All of the attackers were killed by the guns of the tank. Two-thirds of the British casualties soutli of the Ancre were walking cases. The total losses were lighter in proportion than in any previous operation of the last four months. The British attack was pressed continuously last night. All ground as far as Beaucourt has been consolidated well and the troops are pushing beyond Fee-nele. The Germans so far have not attempted any counter attacks. From Atlantic City, N. .T., yesterday a dispatch says: Despite indications of obstructionist tactics on the Mexican side, the American members of the joint peace commission hero believed today there is still a chance of reaching an agreement for a lwirder patrol and General Pershings withdrawal. While tlie apparent obstruction annoyed the American group perceptibly, one of its members said: "The foundation has been laid for a structure which we have excellent reason to trust will take the form of an agreement. And, while we have come to something concrete, it is nothing more than tentative. There is now a situation wherein we come to the criticisms, which we trust will result in a unity of mind." The Carranzista members had planned to send the tentative agreement to Carranza by messenger for ratification, while the Americans expected to submit the proposals to the Washington government by telegraph. Whether the eleventh-hour opposition of the Mexican side will thwart the expected agreement was impossible of prediction today. Hut the Americans indicated that there will be little dallying from now on. In addition to the military agreement, the Americans hope for action more favorable to American investors, such as the big mining interests. One million feet of inflammable films were de-stroved when fire attacked the building at 203 "VYest Washington street early yesterday and caused a loss estimated at 50,000. The burning of the ribbons of celluloid, which at intervals caused explosions, made the fire one of the most spectacular witnessed in the loop in years. Fireman had difficulty in fighting the stubborn blaze in the fcur-story building. The second and third floors are occupied by the Laemmle Film corporation. Francis Edler and Co.. pipe manufacturers, are on the first floor. The fourth floor is unoccupied. Edward Gchriiig. 1474 Carmen avenue, employed us checker in the film company, was severely burned when he attempted to close the door of the vault in which were stored the moving-picture films. In attempting to reach the vault door, ho fell and the next instant there was an explosion. Flames shot in every direction. Gehring succeeded in crawling on his hands and knees to the rear stairway and readied the street. lie was taken to the Iroquois hospital. The Chicoga Telephone building is almost directly across the street, but although the flames which burst through the roof of the building shot high in the air and illuminated that district no panic was caused among the telephone operators. Many left their boards and watched the firemen fight the blaze. For a time it was thought that Theodore Lukits, elevator operator in the building, bad perished. He was missing for several hours, but was found by A. L. Sherman, night manager of the film company, in the crowd watching the fire. Twenty-five members of Cosmopolitan Press club, on the second floor at 34 North Fifth avenue, left the club after the first explosion. Diners in Kings restaurant left . their meals when smoke reached that place. The : fire started on the second floor and spread rapidly through the building. Fire Map hall Thomas ; OConnor, who directed the fire fighting, feared . : , , . : ; . that the flames would spread to adjoining buildings and sounded a 3-11 alarm. " Out of the woods of Minnesota word was flashed to Chicago early yesterday that Ilorace E. Jackson, , Chicago broker, who had been lost for five days in the woods, had been found, alive but completely exhausted. Mr. Jackson lias been taken to a camp , about fourteen miles north of Ely, Minn., where lie will recuperate for a few days before his return to Chicago. His physician says that on account of his rugged physique lie probably will be none the worse for his experience, despite the fact that he is G3 years old. Since Friday, searching parties had combed the woods about his camp for him. He had gone there with Clair Ellis More, attorney for the British consulate in Chicago, on a hunting trip. On Friday, they had visited another camp several miles from their own, and had decided to return singly to their own camp late in the afternoon. From the hour when Mr. Jackson waved a farewell and strode off into the forest, he had not been seen until Tuesday. lie was found by ten additional woodsmen, who had joined the searchers when late "signs" of the missing man were found in the woods Tuesday. The ten separated into two parties and worked independently. Late in the afternoon he was found. Participation of the French government as well as the United Kingdom in the sale of short-term treasury notes in this country, reaching a possible total of 100,000,000 is expected by bankers of New-York. Arrangements for the sale have virtually been completed by J. P. Morgan and Co., financial agents for both governments. The British notes will take the form of 4 per cent exchequer bills running from thirty to ninety days subject to three or four renewals. The French treasury notes, it is believed in the financial district, will take a similar form. The plan is understood to have the approval of over a score of leading bankers and is the result of requests from bankers in various parts of the country for a short-term obligation. The American invasion of the foreign financial fields advanced another step yesterday with the announcement that the National City Bank had obtained authority from the Russian government to establish a branch in Petrograd. The branch is to be opened at once. It will be the second foreign bank in the Russian capital. As on outcome of the war in Europe financial and trade relations between Russian and the United States have greatly expanded. From Berlin yesterday a dispatcli says: The invasion of Roumania is being carried on successfully by the Austrians and Germans, the war office announced. Engagaments along the road leading into Wallachia southwestern Roumania yesterday terminated successfully for the Teutonic forces, who took more than 1,S00 prisoners. Serious Russian attacks were made yesterday on the front southeast of Lemberg along the Narayuvka river. The war office announces that all the Russian assaults were repulsed. In forest and mountain engagements along roads leading into Wallachia, says, the statement, which were successful for us, the Roumanians lost yesterday twenty-three officers and 1,800. men in prisoners, together with four cannon and several machine guns. Army group of Field Marshall von Mackensen Dobrudja: The situation is unchanged. The fortress of Bucharest was bombarded by airmen. Notably heavy losses were sustained by the Russians in the engagements near Lipnica Dolna, on the Narayuvka river, in Galicia, on Novemlcr 11, says a review of operatious issued today by the Overseas News Agency. With the government and the various railroads preparing their fight in the federal courts the constitutionality of the Adamson eight-hour law for railroad employes, more roads are expected to file suits attacking the bill. Seven suits are already on file questioning the validity of the law. The roads of the country will unite their legal talent, it is said, in the test case, by which decision the roads will abide. District Attorney Charles F. dyne has made the announcement that when the cases come to trial one will be selected as a test case. Tlie trial will be held in Chicago, with three judges sitting enbanc. Judges Carpenter and Lan-dis will be two of them, the third not having been decided upon. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois road was the seventh to file its suit. Others have been brought by tlie Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago and Great western road in Chicago, the Louisville and Nashville railroad at Louisville and the Santa Fe and the Union Pacific systems at Omaha. Bishop Charles Edward Cheney of tlie Chicago synod of the Reformed Episcopal church, which he helped establish, and for fifty-six years rector of Christ church, died yesterday in his eighty-first year. Dr. Cheney was born in Cannudaigua, N. Y., in 1S3G, and was a graduate of Ilobart College, Geneva, N. Y.. and of the Alexandria Theological Seminary, in Virginia. He was ordained in the Protestant Episcopal ministry in 185S, and two years later he was married to Clara Emma Gris-wold of Chicago, who died March 1, 1911. Shortly after his marriage he became a leader in organizing the Reformed Episcopal church. He was consecrated missionary bishop of the northwest, December 14. 1873; and assumed the duties of this office while at the same time serving as rector of Christ church. He was made bishop of tlie synod of Chicago in 1878. no served as president of the synod of Reformed Episcopal churches of the central states for two terms, being elected in 1905 and re-elected two years later. A Petrograd dispatch of yesterday says: Heavily re-enforced German troops have succeeded in further pushing back Roumanian forces which for several days have been on the defensive in the Jiul Valley below the Vulcan Pass district, the war office statement said today. There have been some Roumanian reverses also on the Transylvanian front in the Alt River Valley. At other points on the Transylvanian lines, however, the war office announced, the Roumanians have taken the offensive and repelled the enemy. The successes occurred north and south in the Oituz Valley, where three machine guns and many prisoners were taken. Occupation by the Roumanians of the town of Boasic, in Dobrudja, is announced. William Jennings Bryan will devote the next four years of his life to making democracy dry. In an interview published at New York yesterday, the one-time secretary of state declared his party could not afford to take the "immoral side of a moral issue;" that prohibition is a big issue now that members of the democracy will not allow tlie party to be buried in a drunkards grave. Bryans drive against the demon rum will start immediately, for lie leaves tonight to speak Sunday at Indianapolis, and Monday in Chicago. Conservatism, he says, will support the Wilson economic and legislative program by 1920, hence the party will be free to look to new, important issues such as prohibition and woman suffrage. The passengers who were taken off the American steamer China February 18 by the British auxiliary cruiser Laurentic while tlie China was on a voyage from Shanghai to San Francisco, have arrived at Shanghai from Australia, where they had been held. Thirty-eight Germans, Austrians and Turks were taken from the steamer China when she was intercepted by the Laurentic. Tlie British authorities claimed that they were concerned in a plot for a revolution in India. The United States government sent notes to Great Britain asking for tlie release of the passengers, and last May Great Britain announced that she would comply with the request. Tlie order for the release was made in the middle of September. The Belgian cabinet, terming itself "The authorized organ of a nation condemned to the silence of death," yesterday sent to King Albert on the occasion of the fete day of his paternal saint, a telegram of felicitation. The message said the present time was particularly painful to their unfortuuate country, as tlie war continued to he more and more odious and cruel. Despite the sufferings of tlie people, tlie message added, the cabinet was confident of a revengeful victory. Tlie members of the Belgian chamber of deputies also sent a congratulatory telegram to tlie king. It likewise condemned the acts of Germany in Belgium. Dr. Alexander Hamilton Rice and a party of scientists sailed from New York yesterday pboard tlie yacht Alberta on an exploration cruise of 5,000 miles on tlie Amazon. Rio Negro, and other South American rivers for the purpose of mapping unknown land in Brazil. Mrs. Rice, formerly widow of George D. Widener, a victim of the Titanic disaster, will make the cruise. Others in the party are William T. Councilman, professor of pathology at Harvard: Ernest Howe, a geologist of Newport, and Earl E. Church of the United States coast and geodetic survey. Army officers at Fort Sills, Okla., were elated yesterday over the showing of truck company No. 4, which arrived there late yesterday from San Antonio. They said the thirty-three trucks of the company established a new long-distance record for the army in making the 51S miles in one week, averaging seventy-four miles a day. The fastest portion of tlie run was made on the eighty-three miles between San Antonio and Austin, Texas, which required only seven hours to cover. Plans for establishment in Denver and other large western cities of federal bureaus for collection and dissemination of information regarding prices and supplies of marketable live stock and meat products, were received at Denver Tuesday by J. B. Killian, assistant secretary of the market committee of the American National Live Stock association. Mr. Killian said he was informed tlie department of agriculture plans to spend 1916.sh5,000 in the establishment of the bureaus.
