The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-04
FRENCH DEFENSES
HOLDING GERMANS
Presence of Kaiser Inspires
Terrific 0nsIaughts Against
Troops. al Verdun.
BOTH SIDES LOSING HEAVILY
Despite Incessant Artillery Fire :
French Line Remains Intact Al
though Beaten Back.

Paris, Feb. 25.-Inspired by the pres
ence of their emperor and led by
Crown Prince Frederick William the
German troops are engaged in one of
the greatest battles of the war on the
western front. centering around the
fortress of Verdun. Attack has follow
ed attack against the French line after
bombardments, incessant and terrific,
continuing for several days.
While the Germans have not been
able, despite the rain of shells and fu-
rious onslaughts by infantry, to break
the French line, nevertheless the
French on their right and left wings
have been compelled to withdraw their
lines respectively to the south of
Ornes and behind the town of Samog-
neaux, six miles north of the fortress.
Only between Malincourt and the
left bank of the Mouse has there been
any diminution in the intensity of the
artillery fire. With Brabant, Humont
and Samogneaux and the wooded sec
lions north and northeast of Beaumont
in their possession the Germans from
the Mouse eastward to Fromez are
forcing the fighting, seemingly regard
less of the cost Of life.
Piles of Dead on Field.
The French guns have answered the
German guns shell for she'll, and the
casualties on both sides are very great.
The French official reports describes
the battlefield between the Mouse and
Ornes as piled with German dead. In
Champagne at several points and in
rIzc
have been pounded by the cOncen-
trated fire of the French guns, while
in Lorraine the French repulsed a
German accommodating party that at
tempted to capture a FrencR post
north of st. Martin.
Loss of the village of Brabant is
admitted by the war office.
England Watching.
London, Feb. 25.-The great Verdun
battle, which is being watched in Eng
land with keen interest, but thus far
without anxiety, is regarded here as
the long expected big German spring
offensive.
It is pointed out that the French,
profiting by their earlier experiences
in the war, now rarely hold their ad-
vance trenches strongly and that,
therefore, their withdrawal at some
points to the second line is no sign of
weakness.
Germans Claim Gains.
London, Feb. 24.-Troops belonging
to seven German army corps under
Crown Prince Frederick William are
engaged along a twenty-fve-mile front
north of Verdun, in a desperate effort
to drive back the French defending
forces, probably with the capture of
the great fortress of Verdun in view.
There has been very heavy fighting
for a considerable period in this dis
trict of the French war zone, but with
in the last few days the attacks of the
Germans have taken on added
strength. The battle line has been ex-
tended and now reaches from Malin-
court, on the west, to Etain, on the
east, with Verdun in the center, only a
few miles southwark.
The Germans claim to have made
important advances. Their prepare
tons were extensive and the lombard
ment of the French positions with
thousands of shells was uninterrupted
AS the French had foreseen this battle
all their available guns were called
| into action and responded to the heavy
Smelling of the Germans.
| While at some points the French
were unable to resist the onslaught OF
the attacking force, along much of the
front, according to the Paris commun
| ication, the attacks were well sus
tanned and very heavy losses were in
fiicted on the Germans.
Public Deeply Interested.
The great battle is being followed
with the most intense interest by the
public. It disposes effectively of the
question whether or not the Germans
would make an early offensive. The
battle is the first on a large scale since
the offensive in the Champagne in Sep
| TENDER and is believed to be the fore
runner of stirring and perhaps decisive
| events
Fighting en- other Points.
On the Russian and Austrian front.
there has been considerable fighting
and the Italians admit that at on'
| point the AustrianS succeeded in pen
etrating their lines. No late advice.
have been received from the Caucasus
where the Russians are continuing
| their pursuit OF the retreating Turks