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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. The Fnited States government is in possession of evidence of a far-reaching German plot to fetal an alliance with Mexico and Japan to war on the Cnited States. The evidence is in the fatal of a note ol instructions sent by erinan Foreign Mini-tcr Zianni Tinann at Berlin to Minister Von Eckhardt in Mexico City. The text of the note is M fellows: -I.erlin, It— try 19. 1917. On the first of February we intend to begin submarine Warfare unrestricted. In spite of this it is our in- teation to endeavor to keep neutral the Dalted Btates of America. If this attempt is not successful we propose an alliance on the following basis With Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico. Texas :md Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbrweak of war with the Inited St its and snidest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan sug-gestisg adherence at once to this plan: at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Flense call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine wtrfare aow promises to compel England to make pi ice in a few months. Zimmerniann." Activities of Dr. Paul Bitter. Swiss Minister to the Cnited states. :uid Germanys representative here since the break between Germany and Fnited Slit. m, is grttlag into tin- near persona-non grata class, according to advices from Washington. It is alleged that Dr. Hitter has inherited certain traits of ii irtaganda WOrt from Count Von BetBStaffl and that the State D-partment may COSM to an early ■how down with him. Dr. Fitter has several times told newspaper men plans, concerning peace pro-pi sals, several hours before allowing the State Department to gain knowledge of them. Secretary Lansing authorized this statement yesterday: "We do not believe that Japan has had aay knowledge of the German proposition or tli it si.- would consider any proposition made by an i miiiy." As to Mexico the secretary said: "We bate confidence that Mexico would not be a party to ;.ny sin h agreement in view of the friendly re-lati. 01 existing between this goernment and the de facto government of Mexico." BapauaM, the strategic position of the Herman Western army on the Ancre. is near capture by the Allies. A new line of trenches, stretching along the liapuimo-IVronne road, hut in the rear of Bapaame proper is said to constitute the new Herman advance line. Bapaume is now under heavy allied fire, the British advancing slowly in an encircling movement. British reports on the submarine chasing engaged in by the j;nglish patrol -boats mid warships, car-i! - information to the effect that the submarine policy a- exercised by Germany hat been a failure. Hundreds of submarines are said to have been i iptar -.1 Or destroyed. Full official confirmation of Oermanys intrigue to ally Mexico and Japan with her to make war on tin I sited States, as revealed last night by the Associated lress. was given yesterday at the White Hoaae, the state Department and in the •eaaae. The German government has offered to replace the seven Diit.lt merchantmen, which were torpedoed off the Fnglish coast last week with Genua freighters until the end of the war on condition that Holland purchase them afterward. The Si nth Manchuria Uailway Company will build a ste.l plant in Manchuria this spring. One hundred and fifty thousand tons will lie produced an-nnallj ,
