Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-03
GERMAN OFFENSIVE
ON VERDUN COMES
TO A SUDDEN HALT
LuII Extends Along Virtually
the Entire Front-NO ImpOr-
tant Developments During
the Past Night

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The Ger
man offensive against Verdun, which
had brought the crown princes armies
up to the inner lines of French detenses'
mas halted there, according to today
official statement from Paris
The IuIl which yesterday gave signs
of setting in now extends along Vlrtu-
ally the sentiTe front where the desper-
ate struggles of the past week and
more have been going on There were
no important developments at any point
during the night, the French war Of
flee reports.
Unofficial commentators IN entente
ca pitals ADMIT themselves at a loss to
determine whether the German drive has
spent it's force or whether the pause
is simply the prelude 20 its renewal
before the hard-Won positions at Nerdu1
or elsewhere on the front.
GERMANS PREPARING.
Possibly significant in this connection
is the French official statement that
there are signs OF German preparation
behind the front west of Pont-a-Mous-
son, eighteen miles southwest of Metz
and in the Moselle river region. The
French guns have been pounding the
second and third line German positions
here, while I'm intermittent lombard
,ment has been going on at various
POINTS between Regnieville and Rame-
nauville, some half dozen miles west
of Pont-a-Mousson.
Apparently the recent German attack
in the Champagne was nothing more
than one of the numerous local opera
lions such as the Germans carried out
i'm several sectors from time to time in
the three weeks preceding the Nerdun
offensive, as 1t has not been followed
up.
Dispatches report opinions of military
observers, that if the German offensive
broadened they would be more likely
10 spread to the south than the north,
the many signs of activity along the
lines in Upper Alsace and down TO the
Swiss border being pointed to in this
connection.
Paris dispatches declare the sitra-
ton north of Nerdun satisfactory to the
French. who have strongly fortified their
position from Cote du Poivre, four miles
due north to Douaumont. three miles to
,he east, along which line the German
pressure above Verdun has been heav-
lest At Douaumont itself several hun
dred Germans are reported still cut of
in the fort. which the French have sur
rounded. .'..'=
Today marks the opening of the new
German submarine campaign in which
armed merchantmen are to be considered
as warships and treated accordingly.
ITALIAN SITUATION.
report that the British steamer
Thornaby of 1,7S2 tons had been sunk
came today from London, but the dis
patch did not reveal whether the report
ed sinking occurred before or after the
new order became effective or whetheT
the vessel was armed.
In the italian parliament which reas-
sembled today, it is expected that the
question of declaration of war by TIA
ly against all the foes of the entente
powers will be brought up. Italy has
never declared war on Germany.
Today is the last day for voluntary
enlistment in Great Britain, the conf
Uulsion measure hereafter being effect
i've. London advices report considerable
numbers of recruits presenting them
selves during the past few days but
no overwhelming rush to volunteer.