Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-03-01
GREAT DRIVES IN WEST FRONT.
Germans Claim Large Gains Before
Northumberland Report.

battle on the western front, where
more than 100000 Germans are as
eaulting the French lines along 25-
milo front to the north Of the for
tress OF Verdun, Is the outstanding
feature in the current war news.
Three moro villages have been
wrestcd from the French, according
TO the Berlim official statement to-
day and the French statement ad-
1nits the loss of one of these.
Brabant, IIaumont and Smaog-
neux are the villages captured, the
latter being only six miles from the
great fortress Of Verdun.
The German statement also claims
that the entire wooded district
northwest, north and northeast Of
Beaumont and the forest Of Herbe
are in German hands now.
Kaiser Wilhelm, says dispatch
received in London, has established
his headquarters facing Verdun and
is directing the German drive against
the French lines.
French Say Lines Not Broken.
The French war Office I'M to-day's
statement announces that the French
lines have not been broken at any
point. 1t admits tho loss Of the viii
lage Of Brabant, but denies the cap
ture of Samogneux.
TO take the fortress Of Vertlun is
one of the chief ambitions with
which the Gorman crown prince has
been credited Tho present effort
under his command is on a scale that
indicates the most determined effort
yet OF his armies to break down the
barriers with which the French have
protected their stronghold and get
tress itself
At last accounts the battle was
still raging with great fury, both
sides Keeping up a continuous fire
from all available artillery and
throwing masses Of troops into the
fray. Losses OH each side have been
extremely heavy. Paris declares
that the German losses are enorm-
Gus.
Unexpected Development.
An unexpected war development is
reported from Lisbon, where thirty
six German and Austrian vessels in
the Tagus river were seized yester-
day by the commander of the Portu-
guesse naval division. The comman-
der, who apparently acted on his
own initiative, hoisted the Portu-
guese colors and saluted them with
salvo from the Portuguese fleet.
Portugal, although not in state
of war with the central powers, is in
close treaty relations with Great Bri-
tain and the Portuguese Congress
long ago voted to cooperate with
the allies whenever that step seemed
necessary.
a bottle containing last MESA ges
from tho captain Of the German zcp-
pelin Lilo, which was wrecked in
tho North Sea after tho recent air
ship raid on England, has been pick
ed up. The final message said that
the airship had dropped into the sea
and that the crew was drowning.
Germany Is reported to have Sc
cured a second contract for 100000
car loads Of Roumanian grain, and
to have entered into other CONNER
cial engagements in Roumania
Emperor Nicholas, after attending
the opening session Of the Russian
duma, has returned to tho front.
The death OF Admiral Won Pohl,
who had just retired from command
of the German battle fleet, is an
7lounced in Berlin.
Kaiser Before Vcrdun.
London, Feb. 24.-Emperor Will
liam has established his headquar-
ters ut the German positions facing
Vcrdun, according to information re-
>ceived from Berlin. The dispatch,
which is dated February 23, says:
According to information receiv-
ed from Berlin, Emperor William
since his visit to tho Balkans has
been in Belgium and France His
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