New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-25
FRENCH HOLD LINE
NEARER VERDUN
Confined from page !

sections Of the front. "West Of Mai
sons de Champagne and south Of Sainte
Maric-a-Py," says the French night
official I'VE have carried out concen-
trated fire on the enemy organizations.
"in the Argonne destructive fires
have been directed against the Ger
man works al La File Morto.
"The artil lery activity slackenod p
little between Malaucourt and the left
bank Of Che Mouse. NO in1aGty &C
tion has occurred as yet in this region.
"In Lorraine We repulscd and pur-
sued an enemy recommending party
which attempted 20 approach one OF
our small posts 20 the north OF '~lnt
Martin"
From the foregoing it appears that
the fighting has been particularly IN
tensive near Beaumont, one ~ the
strongest Of the ~rench positions. but
u is shown that wave after wave or
German infantry rolling against the
defcnces have failed TO dislodge the
French. They have been driven out OF
part Of the wood of Caures. but .ur-
ther TO the east their lines ar hold
ing. The French explain their retreat
i'm certain sectors by declaring !. was
20 avoid useless losses. The withdraw.
ais are WtI4d gu ~ nav HN~4+
in perfect order.
Loss Without Advantage.
The progress of the battle is being
followed both here and in Paris with
the most intense interest by the pub
lie, but confidence is expressed that
the French lines will hold. The SER
mans. il is pointed out. have suffered
tremendous losses without having
gained any really corresponding ad-
vantage.
1t IS pointed out that the French,
prohting BY experience, now rarely hold
their advance trenches strongly, and
that therefore their withdrawal at some
points to the second line IS no sign o.
weakness.
On the other hand. it is believed that
the French generals are pursuing the
tactics of allowing the enemy 10 assault
i'm mass. which involves enormous sacfl-
fees. The military critics point cut
that after three days or desperate as
sault the French second line detences
are still intact everywhere.
Many military observers have ad-
vanced the belief that if the Germans
succeed in pushing forward as taf as
they apparently have planned they Will
bring their 42-centimetre guns TO bear
OIL The fortress in an attempt to re-
duce H.. The possibility is pointed
out. however, that unless the desired
positions are reached the character OF
the terrain might prevent the success
ful employment Of the German heavy
artillery for the purpose, much OF the
territory about Nerdun being broken
and billy, with elevations TOO great TO
be cleared by shells from the giant
guns.
The military expert Of lie Temps
Of Paris, estimates that the Germans
are employing on the average ten in
fantrymen to every three feet Of front
where the attack is iiercest, north Of
Nerdun that is. over a line eight miles
in length between Brabant and Ones
These operations, II is maintained,
are not necessarily preliminary t. all
attempt to besiege Verdun, but com
prise an attack upon wide part Of the
front. of which Verdun forms a part
of the rear support. The attacks, he
points out, are still held within the
first line works, while there are three
other lines at strategic intervals be-
hind the first. These lines are more
solidlv constructed and more elat crate
in their nature than the first lines, as
work on them could be done at leisure,
without the workers being within the
reach Of the German FIRE