, 1916-03-01

H0N
of the North German Lloyd Co. Dr.. AL
fonso Costa, the Premier, IN answer to q
question by Deputy Camacho regarding the
employment to which the requisitioned Ger
man and Austrian vessels would be put, sad
that the Governments action in requsition-
ing them had been promoted by the neces-
sites of the nations economic situation.
The, requsition, be said, had been carried
out sim ultaneously in order to forestall, as
far as was possible, attempts at wilful dam
age of the ships which there was reason to
believe would be made aud which had in
fact been made on Z of them. An explosive
apparatus had been found in the boilers of
the steamship "Buelow" which would have
caused an explosion when the vessel moved.
An explosion was prevented but the ma
chinery was damaged. Those acts, he de-
clared, were offences punishable by the
Portuguese Courts. DR.. Costa further said
that lac considered it was in the best inter
ests of the country that the existing Treaty
with Germany should be denounced and
allowed to lapse Oh June 5th, 1917. In con-
clusion be said: "We are prepared for all
eventualities that may arise from our exercis-
ing our rights"
Paris, Feby. 27th-Paris is extraordinarily
calm i'll the presence of the great battle now
in progress around Verdun. There are no
indications of tension or nervousness, but
only sober confidence in the result prevails.
Tn desire among those who know the de-
fensive strength Of the lines seem to be that
the attacks should continue, for they argue
the losses on the German side would be ia
proportion to the efforts. The whole front
from the North Sea to Switzerland is on the
alert, and all leave of absence has been re-
called. The French Maximum effort has not
yet been made. The total French losses en-
tailed, wounded and prisoners since the Yer
dun battle began,i it was authoritatively stated
this evening has been less than the German
official communication claims III prisoners.
The ''Temps Military Review, which is usu,
ally written by General De La Croix, sums
the situation up thus The battle being
fought is extremely serious. Even should
the heights of Poivre aud the Vauche Wood
be taken, the enemy would find u perhaps
stronger on the Froideterre- Douaumont line
from which begin the detences, properly
speaking,o of the fortress, covered with trench
es and batteries. This is not a seige by The
Germans, it is a battle against Que OF our Al
mics in the garrison at Verdun and It's forts
do not figure in these combats as q support.
The big guns of the enemy might destroy
the fort of Douaumont without destroying
anything more than an inelt block of cement.
The snow has not caused any diminuIion of
the attacks, because they connot be suspend
ed. They must be continued TO the
end. The tro ps engaged would be uu-
able to remain idle long in the Territory
captured, while, awaiting better weather
conditions, they would render their situa-
ton worse and it must already be pain
ful. The "Temps' refers to the possibility of
the attacks continuing for two weeks, and
adds "let US continue to complete and un-
shakable confidence in the final issue" Tie
official communication reads as follows: Be
tween SCISSORS and Rheims destructive fires
have been carried out on the enemy works
in front of Venizel and to the east of Tro-
yon. In the region to the north of Yer
dun following the violent actions of the
preceding days, there has Leen some abate-
ment in the efforts of the enemy in the
course of the day, except between the
height of Douaumont aud the plateau to
the north of the village of Vaux, where
a strong attack carried out against Our
positions was repulsed. To the east and
west of the position of DoDaumont,
the slopes OF which are covered with Ger
man bodies, our troops are pressing closely
the enemy detachments which were able to
ga II a foothold there, and who are maintain
ing themselves with difficulty. According