The Alaska citizen., 1916-03-13
Great French Fortress Still Practically Intact Despite Tireless Efforts of Army
 of German Crown Prince.
MORE MEN BEING
 RUSHED FROM RIGA
French Militarists Expect That German Attack on Verdun Will Have Spent Itself by End of Week.

It is evident from the dis.
 patches of today that the Ger
 mans are still engaged in a des- perate attempt to take the city and fortress of Verdun from the French. They are reported to be reinforcing the army of the German crown prince with soldiers and guns from the
 eastern battlefront, report from Rotterdam stating that considerable force of Germans
 is now moving toward Verdun.
 A French report is to the ef. feet that, while the German
 attack continues unabated, the
 Germans have made no import ant gains during the past 24 hours. And it is also stated that French mi itaris are of the opinion that the German
 attack on Verdun will have spent Itself within the next week. For the dispatches indi- cate that, If they are able to beat off the expected attack
 of the Germans, which will undoubtedly be made with fresh and seasoned troops, the French expect to hold the fortress and city of Verdun with but IittIe trouble.
 The present attack of the Germans seems to be centerino around the village of Vaux. The town is located on a pia- teau overlooking the city and fortress of Verdun and for this reason the German are particu- IarIy desrous of accomplishing its capture. They would then have the advantage of being able to pour a fire from their guns directly into the main de- lenses of the ace.
 Lord NorthcIffe, the famous English newspaper man, has been on a visit to the field of conflict at Verdun, according to the dispatches. He is re- ported as having made the as- sertion that the Germans fight ing before the fortress were drueged before they went into battle, in order that they might be made to not realize the magnitude of the danger to themselves attending their ad- vances toward the French trench es. For, according to his state ment, he believes that it is an possibility for a human be- ing to advance in the face of almost certain death.
 A Berlin dispatch contains an estimate of the casualties of the French and British dur ing the war. Another dispatch tells of the treatment of the German wounded and of how many of them return to the front after suffering wounds.
 PARIS, Mar 12.-Despite the fac hat the Germans are reported to b ushing endorsements from all othe to the assistance of tn rmy of the German crown prime ighting before Verdun, it is con idently believed in French mill ary circles that before the end 0 mother week the attack of th iermans' perhaps the greatest il Il history, will have 6. ent itself he battle for possession of thu eights which overlook the cit. f Verdun has been going on un bated for the past week, with tn, iermans making only unimportan aims, despite the fierceness o heir attacks, and that they ar' onstantly throwing men into thu attle. only to have them shot dowI y the French and trampled unde pot by their comrades. who ar' lso advancing in the face of wha proves to be almost cer ain death.
 Owing to the fact that more fresl Ierman troops are to be throwI lto the battle, If reports concern 1g endorsements be true, it il bought that there will be one las rand final assault on the oute efenses of Verdun, possibly toda! r tomorrow at the latest. Ant is confidently believed by lead lg French militarists that if tn, rench are able to withstand th' tack, they will have won wha as proven to be one of the great st battles of all time.
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