The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-25
GERMANS
WITHIN 5
MILES OF
Big FORT
Take 1000 More Prisoners;
Brings Total to 10000.
Today Occupy Six Towns Be-
fore Verdun.
FRENCH GUNS CHECK DRIVE
Pause Temporary as TeutOns
Defend New Position.
JOffre Now at Front to Meet
Enemy War Lord.
CONSTANT BATTLING IN AIR
AerOplane Fleets Clash Fierce
Iy Above Field.
Paris Confident Enemy Cannot
Penetrate DefenseS.
Pause Temporary as TeutOns
Defend New Position.
JOffre Now at Front to Meet
Enemy War Lord.
CONSTANT BATTLING IN AIR
AerOplane Fleets Clash Fierce
Iy Above Field.
Paris Confident Enemy Cannot
Penetrate DefenseS.

London, Feb. 25.-By a bat
tering assault, the Germans have
smashed their way forward on an
eight mile front, capturing six
villages and farms north of YER
run and taking thousands of
prisoners, Berlin reported this
afternoon.
Not only the French wings but
the French center has been hurl-
ed back to within six miles of
Verdun, the German war office
reported. The crown prince has
stormed and taken the heights
of Champ Neuville, barely five
miles from Verdun, in a bend of
the Meuse river.
The Germans today claim capture Of
Champ Neuville, Cotellette, Marmont,
Beaumont, Chambrette and Ornes, viii
lagos or groups of farms extending in
a line east from the Meuse and less
than two miles from the Verdun forts
The French center, Berlin reported,
has been broken and hurled back upon
Lauvemont. and the wings crippled
under heavy German attacks.
French Ready for En-.
Tine officoal statement from the
French war office, while claiming that
the German Verdun offensive is being
halted, practically admits the capture
of Champ Neuville, Beaumont, Ornes
and villages and farms between them.
I'VE are organizing new positions
behind Beaumont on the heights of
Champ Melville and south Of ornes,
reported the French war office, with
out specifically admitting the loss of
these villages.
Berlin reported that French prison
ers have now increased to 10000 and
that the French losses, under the
crown princes onslaughts, have been
very heavy.
Two War Lords Meet.
In answer to the French claims that
the Germans have suffered enorm GUS
losses. the German war office declared
that the French losses thus far have
been extraordinarily severe.
Berlin also reported the capture of
immense quantities of supplies, the
exact amount having not yet been
compiled.
The two war lords of Europe are
now directing the operations in the
great battle for Verdun. Paris dis
patches this afternoon reported that
General Joffre has arrived at the
French front and is personally direct
ing the defense of the fortress. The
iiCNS AAelo NACehtVo CAliAuSAdSin III
Paris.
LulI in Battle
Across the battlefront the kaiser,
surrounded by his ablest staff officers
and the crown prince, are planning the
blow being struck in the greatest Ger
man offensive since the defeat of the
Marne.
Though there is an apparent con-
tradiction between the Berlin and
French official statements, the latter
reporting a lull of infantry action, it is
believed the Paris official report COW
ers later operations. 1t appears prob
able that the operations mentioned by
Berlin occurred early last evening and
that following these reported ad-
vances, there was little or no infantry
fighting on the Verdun front as Paris
claims, this afternoon.
Check Only Temporary.
The check reported to have been
administered to the advancing Ger
mans may be only temporary. All
Paris dispatches today agreed that
the titanic struggle in the Meusc
woods mark the beginning Of the
greatest German offensive blow since
the drive on Paris was defeated at
the Marne early in the war. Dis
patches quoted from what purported
to be an order of the day issued by
German corps commander, in
Continued on Page Six.l