St Mihiel

French progress and the ultimate aim

In action with Russian fleet

There will be general satisfaction at the news communicated yesterday afternoon that the bombardment carried out in Belgium by British airmen was so successful.

Considerable damage appears to have been done to the airship shed and its contents at Berghen Sainte Agathe while at Hoboken the Antwerp shipbuilding yard, Cockerils was set on fire, two submarines destroyed, a third damaged, 40 German workmen killed and 60 wounded.

This gives some idea of what might possibly result from a raid on a large scale at Essen.

So far as operations at the front were concerned the French official message of the afternoon added nothing to that issued on Sunday. The 11am communique reported the capture of three successive lines of trenches in the woods of Ailly south west of St Mihiel as well as a success to the north east.

There is no doubt that the French are making another considerable effort in the Woevre over which the Germany army is spread in the shape of a foot, the toe of which is at St Mihiel.

Though the communiques have lately been unusually brief there is almost every day some mention of this sector, the object of the French is to threaten the German communications with St Mihiel, in other words by battering the instep and the whole of the foot to make them withdraw.

At the beginning of last week they were attacking at Combres and Les Eparges which lie on the instep and airmen were dropping bombs on various points behind the German lines.

The sole has been suffering severely from advances which the French have made.

Official reports from Petrograd continue to be of a satisfactory character and the great struggle in the Carpathians continues to yield results which cannot flatter to deceive.

Stubborn artillery and bayonet encounters are reported from the region North of Bartfeld in Hungary and the Russians claim to have taken over 12000 prisoners.

To this may be added the simultaneous success of the Russian offensive on the front between Uszok and Mezo Laborez and a triumph in the Bukovina where the Austrians were compelled to retreat leaving 1000 prisoners behind.

British blockade

Rights to trade with neutrals

The American ambassador has communicated to Sir Edward Grey the reply of his government to the British Notes and the Order in Council in which were set forth the principles to be observed by Great Britain in the blockade of Germany.

The main points made are: It is assumed that innocent shipments may be freely transported through neutral countries to Germany.

The inclusion of neutral ports in the blockaded area is a novel feature and a distinct invasion of the rights of the neutrals.

The changed conditions of naval warfare are recognised but it should be possible to conform to the spirit of the rules of war.

Free admission and exit should in any case be granted to all lawful traffic with neutrals through the blockading cordon.

If serious interruption and embarrassment of neutral trade occurs it is expected that the British Government will make full reparation for an violation of neutral rights.