Italian and French forces effect a junction in Southern Albania, thereby cutting the communication between Greece and the Central Powers. Feb. 20 (Tues.) Sinai Peninsula:--The British capture two Turkish advanced posts. Feb. 22 (Thur.) Mesopotamia:--General Maude again attacks the Sanna-i-Yat position: two lines of Turkish trenches are captured. Seven Dutch ships are attacked by a German submarine outside Falmouth and six of them are sunk. Feb. 23 (Fri.) Minimum prices for wheat and oats are guaranteed for five years in Great Britain. Mesopotamia:--General Maude's forces cross the Tigris at the Shamrun bend, threatening the Turkish line of retreat; the third and fourth Turkish lines are captured at Sanna-i-Yat. Feb. 24 (Sat.) On the Ancre the Germans begin to retire from their front-line positions. Mesopotamia:--General Maude captures Kut-el-Amara; the Turks evacuate the Sanna-i-Yat position and retreat towards Baghdad; over 1700 prisoners are taken and much booty; this ends the Second Battle of Kut-el-Amara (see Jan. 5). Feb. 25 (Sun.) On the Ancre, the Germans withdraw before the British: Serre, Miraumont, Warlencourt, and Pys are captured. Mesopotamia:--The British advance-guard, in pursuit of the Turks, is 15 miles west of Kut. The Cunard liner _Laconia_ is sunk without warning in the Atlantic. German destroyers shell Margate and Broadstairs. Feb. 26 (Mon.) The Ancre Front:--The Germans retire before the British on an eleven-mile front: Le Barque is captured. Feb. 27 (Tues.) The British occupy Gommecourt (on the left of the advance). Mesopotamia:--The Turkish retreat becomes a rout; the British pursue with cavalry, infantry, and gunboats; the British gunboat _Firefly_, lost on the fall of Kut, is recaptured. Feb. 28 (Wed.) (Relief of Ladysmith, 1900). The British capture Thilloy and advance east of Gommecourt. The Germans gain ground in the Southern Bukovina near the Dorna Watra Pass. The French destroyer _Cassini_ is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (many lives lost). Mar. 1 (Thur.) Mesopotamia:--The Turks continue their disorderly retreat on Baghdad. The British destroyer _Pheasant_ is sunk by a floating mine off the Orkneys. Mar. 2 (Fri.) The Somme and Ancre Fronts:--The British continue to advance against the yielding enemy. Persia:--Hamadan is captured by the Russians. Mar. 3 (Sat.) The Germans retreat to a depth of five miles east of Gommecourt. Mar. 4 (Sun.) The British capture German trenches at Bouchavesnes. Verdun:--The Germans attack and gain ground north of Caurières Wood. Mar. 5 (Mon.) The British approach the German main positions on the Bapaume Ridge. Mesopotamia:--British cavalry reach Lajj, twenty-seven miles from Baghdad. Persia:--The Turks retreating from Hamadan are attacked by the Russians in the Asadabad Pass. Mar. 6 (Tues.) Mesopotamia:--General Maude's rapid advance on Baghdad continues. Persia:--The Russians capture the Asadabad Pass. Mar. 7 (Wed.)