The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-26

not sent into the battle as yet one
seventh OF the troops concentrated at
Nerdun.
We have abandoned the villages OF
Haumcnt. Brabant-Sur- Meuse ana
samogneux. hut at Samogneux We
, caught the Germans under partcn-
larry hot fire from cur batteries on the
left bank OF the Meuse. while We our
selves have escaped the fire OF the
German batteries dominating the VII
laKe OF Ornes. IL our first line is over
whelmed. the second line vii be found
stronger and so with the third and
fourth.
''Verdun is not near being taken
by the Germans. 1t is not even in
peril our high command is display
ing the most serene confidence in the
face of this desperate onslaught All
France shares that confidence
All Praislng Humbcrt.
All critics unite in praising the now
famous new general Humbert for
the manner in which he is nursing
HIS forces and magnificently eCono-
MIXING in the lives of his own men,
while marvelously and swiftly extri-
eating them from unimportant points
wherever the German shell-fire wipes
out the defensive works,
In no previous battle in this war
have the French guns wrought such
fearful carnage in the Teuton ranks,
saws IIeutenant-Colon Roussett. the
famous French critic. in dispatch
from Paris.
Il have Just met a doctor who wit
messed Tuesdays fighting" says this
critic. He says the massacre OF
Germans is unspeakahle. He himself
saw complete brigade advancing in
serried columns. our batteries got
the range nicely, and almost instant
" practically the entire force was
moved down"
Continuation of this holocaust. in
which the Brandenburgers suffered
the most for full days and nights, Is
believed in Paris to have bitten into
the Crown Princes attacking army
numbering between 100000 and avn
000 men, to such q fearful extent that
the old marshal General Haessler.
who is sad TO hold the technical COM
mand of the offensive, was obliged TO
call a lull yesterday evening. AS a
result there was no fighting at night.
Although the cannonade IS slacken-
ing on the fringe of the main oattle-
field, Paris experts do not believe that
the offensive has yet spent itself.
The Temps, of Paris. pays tribute
to the quality of the troops who, the
semi Official lSmSPcLPN' Se'Ft
lacking with real courage under a
storm OF death loosed by the French
guns.
According to the Temps the Ger
mans have as yet failed to reveal thor
Wanted supremacy of the mir in TINS
! battle. German aeroplanes as yet have
/ been unable to get through the de-
/ fensive ring Of French machines To
! shell the reserve formations and am
nluntion depots in tile rear of the
| fighting zone.
! Official Report.
| The French night official report
says:
In Champagne this forenoon we at
! tackled and carried u German salient
south of St Marie-a-py In the cours
of this action we TOOK 300 prisoners
I'VE Of whom were Objects and sixteen
noncommissioncd officers.
/ In the Argonne we directed an ef-
fective fire Of destruction against the
! German organizations north Of La
! HaraZee.
In the region north Of Verdun The
snow fell heavily for the day. Artil-
! Iery activity on both sides is contHln-
/ Dusty intense in the extreme on the
whole front and principally to the
east of the Mouse where the battle
! Continues with undiminished feroeity
Several German attacks on LaCote
/ Du Toivre pepper tIiub. "arried ou'
w.th heavy electives ana with un-
| heard of violence. have remained un-
successful. Another attack On oul
positions In La Nauche woods va:
likewise stopped,
West Of the Meuse there have beer
no infantry actions
In the Vosges an artillery duel i:
being fought in the Valley of tn,
/ FeCht