The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-28
VICTORY IN BALANCE
tcontlnned from Page One

Confined from Page one.l
to the east and west of the positions
were being hard pressed.
From Field of Carnage.
Paris, Feb. 2s.-The Verdun woods
may go down into history as the
worlds bIoodiest battlefield.
TrainIoads of wounded moving
Parisward today are bringing evidence
of the fearfulness of the carnage north
of the French fortress. Other trains
laden with fresh troops and annuni-
ton supplies are hurrying eastward to
fill the gaps in the French ranks.
Paris is cheered by the latest ad-
vices from the war office, indicating
that the French left continues to hold
firmly on the Pepper heights, north
of Verdun, while the center and right
deliver violent counter attacks against
the Germans eastward from the ruins
of Fort Douaumont.
Eighth Day of Battle.
On the eighth day of the great Ger
man offensive, accurate estia1Stes of
the casualties are still unobtainable.
Thousands of dead and wounded lie on
the plain north of the Pepper heights
under the screaming hurricane of
shells
other thousands lie among the
stumps of Coures forest. The slaugh-
ter On the plain north of Douaumont
is frightful The first surgeons arriv-
ported that whole regiments on either
side have almost completely disap-
peared. Caught in rain of shells in
the advance trenches, those who sur
v1ved or escaped the first blast or were
slightly wounded were blotted out as
they attempted to fall back.
THE percentage of dead will exceed
shat of the Champagne offensive, be-
cause there has been no lull in the
battle to permit the wounded receiv-
ing attention" said one surgeon.
Plans to End War.
London, Feb. 2S.-With all the re-
sources at his command, the kaiser is
now striking for an immediate and
overwhelming victory planned TO end
the world war. $3.50 r.
The German onslaught directed
against Verdun is but the prelude to
a grand assault by the Germans along
the whole western front-the most
| tremendous offensive movement the
world has ever seen.
Prince Henry of Prussia, has taken
over high command in the German
navy preliminary to the beginning of
the new submarine campaign against
armed merchantmen at the stroke of
midnight Tuesday.
Fleet Attack Expected.
London is tense with excitement
awaiting for news that the German
{ fleet is coming out to give battle in
of an approach of a great Zeppelin
fleet.
TT is the real thing at last" wrote
the military. critic of the Times to-
day. THE decision of the enemy to
put his forces to the test will be re-
ceived with fierce delight by every
allied government in the west
Four miles from Verdun, the great
est artillery and infantry battle per
haps in the history of the world is be-
ing waged over the ruins of Fort
Douaumont. The position has chang
ed hands time and again since the
Brandenburgers stormed the shell
wrecked pile of debris last Fri
day after the most terrific cannoaad-
ing of the whole Verdun assault.
Austrian Artillery JOINS
Two miles to the west of Douau-
mont, the French are projecting
great flame of artillery fire across
Tolu ridge and the approach to the
slope of the Pepper heights. barring
the German advance on Verdun
From Loudemont to the northeast and
SomogneuN to the north, the great
German and Austrian field pieces are
hurting tons of explosive shells into
the armored slopes of Pepper heights
in an attempt to blast away the whole
ridge. leaving the road open through
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