Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-24
CROWN PRINCE SMASHES
WAY NEARER TO VERDUN
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
trated in their efforts TO carry the French
position by storm.
Brabant, which the German drive com.
PEELED the French to give up. lies SIX
miles north of the Verdun fortress upon
the eastern bank Of the Nleuse River 1t
was a strongly fortified position in the
sector known as the Heights of the
Meuse 1t is directly southeast of Con.
senvoye, where the Germans made their
first attacks in the big offensive cam
paign)
GERMANS LOSE $4,000 MEN.
Fifty thousand men have been lost by
the Germans in the assaults against the
defenses of Nerdun, according to an est-
mate of military experts here today
Crown Prince Frederick of Germany
is personally directing the operations
against Verdun from Berlin.
Paris is the objective Of the Crown
Prince. in the opinion of military ex-
perts. and they believe that no effort will
be spared to capture. the French fortress
line. including Verdun. Toul and Belfurt
The official commuhique follows:
In the Artois district there was a con
nict with grenades TO the east of Souchez.
I'm the region to the north of yerdun.
the battle continued all night with the
same intensity from the right bank OF
the Meuse as far as a point to the south
enemys bombardment OF the advanced
position of Brabant Sur Meuse, our troops
: evacuated that village under cover of the
night and protected by the flank fire from
our positions on the left bank of the
Meuse.
''An attack, directed against Samog-
neuN was repulsed. Another strong at
tack by force consisting OF at least
brigade launched against the Bois Des
Caures recaptured from us a part OF that
wood of which we now actually hold the
south point
''All the offensive directed upon Beau
mont, before which we have established
ourselves. failed to dlsIodge on the east
front of attack b y
Before Ornes we dominate the passage
situated 10 the south OF Herbebois
The movements of withdrawal MADE
necessary TO avoid useless losses have
been effected with perfect order and the
enemy, who advanced only with difficulty
at the price OF considerable sacrifices. was
unable to break our front at a single
point.
There was desultory and continuous
hombardment in the region between Ornes
and Fromezey.
In Lorraine the enemy gained a foot
hold at one OF our advanced posts in the
forest OF Chemnet, whence we lmmedi-
ately drove him.
There were some patrol engagements
10 the east OF Reillon yesterday.
I'm the course OF the night our bomb
ing sduadrons threw I5 projectles, Of
which many were Of large caIibre on the
station OF Metz-Sabon and on the gas
factory nearby. There was observed aft
erward a large fire"
BELIEVE LINES WILL HOLD
Despite the feroeity Of the German in
faDtry attacks, which have been launched
IN mass formation time after time and the
tremendous violence of the German can
nonade IL Is confidently believed that the
French lines will hold. and that the great
offensive Of the invaders will have spent
itself without any important result,
Facing the 600 men In the army
OF the German Crown Prince are more
than 100000 French soldiers under Gen
eral Humbert The defenders have the
advantage OF fOFtiheations which have
bsen strengthened for a year and the
French artillery is held 10 be equal 10 that
Of the Germans.
Furious counterattacks have been
launched by the French north OF Verdun
70 win back positions lost 10 the enemy on
Tuesday and Wednesday. At some points,
however. the trenches were SO battered by
artillery fire that no EFFORT was made By
the French 10 retake them. Instead OF
rounter-attaeks, the French artillery de-
veioped a heavy fire against these posi-
lions ard some were voluntarily aban-
daned by the Germans