The English operations in Mesopotamia have been accompanied by a great success. The British flag floats over Bagdad and in all the bazaars of the East the news will resound that the _feringhi_ have beaten the warriors of the padishah, and captured the city which for long centuries was invested with the garment of story and fairy tale. _British Press Bureau, March 14, 1917._ [Illustration] _HELPING HINDENBURG HOME_ * * * * * During the past few days a tract of land between the region of Arras and the Aisne was evacuated by us in accordance with plans. The movements, prepared long beforehand, were carried out without disturbance by the hesitating, pursuing enemy. The rear-guard troops, by their prudent and heroic conduct, screened the evacuation of the positions and the departure of the forces. _German Official Communique, March 19, 1917._ [Illustration] _Uncle Sam: "So you are going to sink my ships on sight, are you?"_ _Tirpitz: "I ... I ... don't think!"_ * * * * * President Wilson has authorised the Navy Department to spend L23,000,000 to speed up naval construction and to purchase auxiliary craft. This expenditure was recently authorised by Congress. _Reuter, March 20, 1917._ [Illustration] _POISONED WELLS_ * * * * * Whole towns and villages have been pillaged, burned, destroyed; private houses have been stripped of all their furniture, which the enemy has carried off; fruit-trees have been torn up or rendered useless for all future production; springs and wells have been poisoned. The comparatively few inhabitants who were not evacuated to the rear were left with the smallest possible ration of food, while the enemy took possession of the stocks provided by the Neutral Relief Committee and intended for the civil population. The fact has been established by our military authorities in the recaptured districts (says this instruction) and notably at Peronne, where the branch of the banque de France was pillaged and the strong rooms were found broken open and empty, that a very large number of securities have been stolen by the German troops in their retreat. _French Official Protest, March 24, 1917._ [Illustration] _THE OUTCAST_ * * * * * I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of non-combatant men, women, and children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German warfare against commerce is warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations.