Feb. 17—­Board of Trade plans to compensate all merchant seamen who may be injured during hostilities.

Feb. 18—­Victoria Cross is conferred on twelve men, one of whom, Corporal Leary of the Irish Guards, killed eight Germans in hand-to-hand combat and took two Germans prisoners.

Feb. 23—­Captain who was formerly in command of the super-dreadnought Audacious, generally stated to have been sunk by a mine on Oct. 27, is made a Rear Admiral; promotion revives rumors that the Audacious was saved and is being repaired; British merchant shipping loss thus far is $26,750,000, including both ships and cargoes, the Liverpool and London War risks Association citing figures as showing the efficacy of British Navy’s protection.

Feb. 25—­Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, announces in the House of Commons that Great Britain is in “entire accord with Russia’s desire for access to the sea.”

Feb. 27—­Six newspaper correspondents, including one American, are to be permitted to go to the front under auspices of the War Office, according to present plans.

GERMANY.

Feb. 1—­Official order has been issued that all stocks of copper and other metals used for war purposes are to be reserved for the army.

Feb. 4—­German refugees from Kiao-Chau reach New York.

Feb. 5—­It is reported that a sham railroad station has been built outside of Cologne to deceive French aviators; the Second Secretary of the British Legation is arrested in Brussels.

Feb. 6—­An Alsatian is condemned to death for fighting in French Army.

Feb. 7—­French prisoner condemned to two years’ imprisonment for defacing portrait of the Kaiser.

Feb. 8—­Government orders neutrals expelled from Alsace; Archbishop of Cologne writes pastoral letter predicting victory.

Feb. 9—­Cardinal von Hartman says that the motto of the day is “Trust in God and hold out”; there is a scene in Prussian Diet, when two Socialists protest against the war.

Feb. 10—­Socialists indorse the war at a meeting in Mainz.

Feb. 11—­Berlin communes suggest that all members of the Emden’s crew be authorized to add the word Emden to their names.

Feb. 12—­Government warns against offering insults to Americans.

Feb. 14—­Many French civilians are freed; the Kaiser is said to be fifth in popularity among contemporary German heroes, von Hindenburg being first and the Crown Prince second.

Feb. 15—­Substitute for petrol is stated to have been found.

Feb. 16—­Spaniards are expelled from Baden; Iron Crosses given to Emden’s men; German nurses and surgeons are acquitted by the French of charges of pillage at Peronne.

Feb. 19—­Passport rules are made stricter; all men of last reserve are stated to have been called out.

Feb. 20—­New submarines, airships, and two more dreadnoughts are under construction.