The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-03-23
GERMAN ARTILLERY
STILL ACTIVE IN
BAT TIE OF VERDuN
Engagement Now In
Its Fourth Week Con-
tinues Intense
BUKOWlNA FALLS.
Falls To Russians. London
Hears In Unofficial Dis
patch From Rome

London, England.-The battle for
Verdun is now we'll in its fourth
week 1t continues with intensity,
but at present the infantry is held in
leash while the big guns prepare for
further assaults.
The powerful German thrust west
of the Meuse, which developed early
this week, halted when it reached
the southern edge of Avocourt wood.
But the activity of the German artil-
lery in this sector, which Paris re-
ports particularly violent, indicates
that the German intention probably
is to make further determined at
tempts to advance this important
f1anking operation.
The situation on the eastern bank
of the Meuse is unchanged, but here
too, the artillery fire continues to be
intense near Vaux and Damloup.
Russian warships are reported &C
tive in the Black Sea, where the
Z, ,OOO-ton German steamer Esperan-
"a, loaded with foodstuffs, was sunk
off the Rumanian coast, according to-
advices from Bucharest.
Austrians Abandon Stronghold.
London, England.-The abandon
ment of Czernowitz, the capital of
Bukowina, b ythe Austrians, is re-
ported in an unofficial wireless dis
patch received here from Rome.
Sunk Ship Day.
London, England March
1 and 1S. nineteen hostile ships OF
the Entente Allies, aggregating forty
thousand tons, have been sunk, says
Reuters Amsterdam correspondent,
crediting the statement to we'll in-
formed source in Berlin.
'No Peace Near"-Morgan.
New York City,. P. Morgan.
back in his office after trip to Lon-
don and Paris, told friends that talk
of an early conclusion of the conflict
was not based on correct under
standing of the conditions He said
it was true the end of the struggle
was in sight, if one used that ex-
preston to mean that the turning
point had been set by the attack on
Verdun. But he believes Germany
will be long time on the defensive
before the kaiser agrees to the terms
that the Allies are bound to claim.
London. England.-In their at
tempts to flank Verdun on the west,
the Germans, having succeeded IN
working their way through the Ma
lancourt wood and the Avocourt
wood. have begun heavy lombard
ment of the village of Esnes, about
eight miles northwest of Veroun,
and Hill 3O4, which lies about mile
l,o1 Of
The French, however, are vigor-
ously contesting further advance,
which not alone would bring the Ger
man line nearer the fortress, but,
spreading fan-like northeastWard,
would put them in jeopardy in the
region of LIE Mort Homme SO great
has been the counter offensive OF the
French guns that after debauch1ng
from the woods the Germans were
unable to launch an infantry attack
and presumably are being held hard
to their newly gained lines.
To the north and east OF Verdun
the cannonading has been only in
termittent. In the Argonne forest,
in Lorraine and in upper Aisace the
French guns have been active
against German positions and
marching columns. On the river
somme the Germans entered a
British trench, but were immedl-
ately driven out.
There has been lively fighting be-
tween the Russians and the Ger
mans west of Jacobstadt along the
/ Dyina river and in the lake region
between Dvinsk and wilma, with the
Russians generally on the offensive.
While Berlin reports the attacks
as having been repulsed with heavy
losses, the admission is made that
a German salient near Lake Narocz
was withdrawn in order to escape
the encircling of the Russians.
Near Butzitisczki, between Dyinsk
and Wilma. the Russians have cap
tured advance German trenches and
just south of Dvinsk, in the region
of Novo AleXandrovsk have repulseo
t German counter attack on posltlons
T!l,ken at Velikoieselo
4, Petrograd says that in the capture
: of the Austrian bridgehead near the
l village of Mikhaltche in Gallcia, mos
V of it's defenders were killed in hand
to-hand fighting.
s The Russians in the Caucasu
S have thrown their line several mile
r nearer Trebizond on the Black SCI
0 coast, after further fighting with tn
Turks. 1spahan, Persia, is reported
n to have been taken by the Russians
: Deny Russian. Gains.
q Berlin, Germany.-The Russian
d have gained no success in their grea
e extended offensive against the Gel
$ man lines the war office announce
d today.
d -