President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration that 'a state of war exists.' The British take Holnon Wood (two miles from St. Quentin) and Francilly-Selency and Selency; they also advance on a ten-mile front between Bapaume and Arras and capture Croissilles and Doignies. The American armed liner _Aztec_ is torpedoed off the French coast. April 3 (Tues.) The British gain ground south-east of Arras; the French advance between St. Quentin and La Fère. The Germans defeat the Russians on the Stokhod; they win a bridge-head and take many prisoners. April 4 (Wed.) The U.S.A. Senate resolves that a state of war with Germany exists by a majority of 82 votes to 6. April 5 (Thur.) The U.S.A. House of Representatives resolves that a state of war with Germany exists by a majority of 373 votes to 50. The sanction of Congress having thus been obtained, President Wilson subsequently declares the United States of America to be at war with Germany. April 7 (Sat.) Cuba declares war against Germany. Two German destroyers are torpedoed off Zeebrugge, one of them being sunk. The British torpedo gunboat _Jason_ is sunk by a mine off the west coast of Scotland. April 8 (Easter Sunday) Austria breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States. Mesopotamia:--The British capture Belad Station, and occupy the left bank of the Shatt-el-Adhaim. April 9 (Mon.) Brazil breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany. The First Battle of Arras begins: the British advance on a fifteen-mile front between Lens and Arras, and capture the Vimy Ridge with 6000 prisoners (see May 16). On the Bapaume-Cambrai road they take Deniécourt and Havrincourt Wood, and, north of St. Quentin, Fresnoy-le-Petit, Pontru, and Le Vergnier. April 10 (Tues.) The British continue to advance: they reach the outskirts of Monchy-le-Preux, and capture Louveval. The British hospital ship _Salta_ is sunk by a mine in the English Channel. April 11 (Wed.) The British capture Monchy-le-Preux and La Bergère. The French advance east and north-east of Soissons. Mesopotamia:--General Maude defeats the Turks with heavy loss near Deltawa. April 12 (Thur.) The British advance on Lens; south of the Scarpe, Wancourt and Heninel are carried with the aid of tanks; Gouzeaucourt is captured. April 13 (Fri.) Bolivia breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany. On the fifty-mile front between Loos and west of Cambrai the British take a number of important villages, including Vimy and Givenchy-en-Gohelle; south of the Scarpe they capture a portion of the Hindenburg line. The French attack and gain ground south of St. Quentin. April 14 (Sat.) The British capture Liévin (the western suburb of Lens), Cité St. Pierre (north-west of Lens), and Gricourt (near St. Quentin). An Allied air-raid on Freiburg, as a reprisal for the sinking of hospital ships. April 15 (Sun.) German counter-attacks are repulsed by the British.