Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-25
IS NOW
AT THE FRONT
Determined to Win Attack
on Verdun at all Costs
it is Said
CHECKING GERMANS
CHECKING GERMANS
Crown Prince With 100000 Men Still
Hammering 25-Mile Line-french
Lines UnbrOken

London, Feb. 25-The French are
now checking the great German drive
on Verdun and appear to be holding
| their own except at few minol
: points, according to special DIS
patch from Paris today.
The crown princes legions. sweep
ifng southwark. are now under heavy
! fire from three of the Verdun forts.
i At the same time they arc exposed
to a murderous fire from the French
+ field redoubts and trenches in advanc-
led positions before the fortress.
The French artillery has maintain
ed such heavy bombardment that
the Germans have been unable to
bring up needed supply trains, accord
ing to Paris dispatches.
| Great battle fleets of French and
! German aeroplanes are in constant
clash high above the woods anG en-
| gagged in hurting down bombs upon
enemy artillery positions.
The check reported to have been ad-
ministered to the advancing Ger
mans may be only temporary.
All Paris dispatches today agree
that the titanic struggle in the Meuse
woods marks the beginning OF the
Germans greatest offensive biuw
since the drive on Paris was defeat.
ed at the Marine early in the war.
One dispatch quoted from what
purported to be an order Of the day
issued by German corps commander,
informing his troops that they were
bent on their 'last offensive in France
London. Feb. 25.-The arrival Of
Emperor William at the Ferdun front
where 100000 Germans under COM
mand of the Crown Prince arc at
tacking a 25-mile flnnt indicates the
tremendous Importance of that en-
gagement, which is continuing with
undiminished intensity.
The French admit a further with
drawal before the furious attacks OF
the Germans.
son the Wings" says the midnight
official statement issued in Paris, I've
have carried back our line on one
side to the rear of SamogneuX and
on the other side to the south Of Or
ncs."
The Germans, fighting within five
miles of the great fortress of Verdun
itself. now hold the village of Brab-
ant Sur-Meuse, Haumont. Samogneux
and Ornes, as well as the entire wood
ed district to the northwest, north
and northeast. They also report the
capture of Beaumont and HerbeboiS
The French deny that their front has
been broken at any point. The re-
tirement has been made in good or
der. il is stated, and certain points
| surrendered in order to avoid unncc-
cssar losses.
Berlin, Feb. 25.-Further gains for
the Germans in the region north Of
the French fortress of Verdun were
reported yesterday by the War Office.
The statement says the entire wood
ed district northwest and northeast
of Beaumont and the forest of Herbe
are in possession of the Germans.
Announcement also was made of
the capture by the Germans of the
village of Brabant, Haumont and
Samogneux. in the Verdun region.
(Samogneux is about one mile south
of Haumont, the loss of which was
admitted by the French War Office
It is six miles north of Verdun.)
Paris. Feb. 25.-At the War office
Yesterday it was pointed out that al
though some ground had been lost
by the French north of Verdun, where
German attack in enormous force
has been in progress for the last four
davs. the French lines have not beer
broken at any point. Great confidence
was expressed that the lines would
continue to hold.
The Temps, in its military review
extimates that the Germans are en-
ploying on the average 10 infantry
men to every three feet of front
where the attack is fierest north o1
] verdun; that is over line eight