Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-24
GERMAN ASSAULTS
WIN THREE TOWNS
|NVERDUN SECTION
Capture of Brabant, Hau-
mont and Samogneux An
nounced by Berlin.
BEAUMONT REGIONS ALSO
REPORTED OCCUPIED
Battle Rages With Greatest Fury,
Both Sides Suffering
Heavily.
FRENCH ADMIT REVERSES
Crown Prince Said to Be Using
100000 Men in Effort to Seize
Famous French
Stronghold.

LONDON. February "a, .,:I2
p.n-I'urther gains for the Ger
mans in the region north OF the
French fortress OF \erdun were
reported by the Berlin war office
today. The statement says the
entire wooded district northwest
and northeast of Beaumont and
the forest of Herbe arc in pos
session OF the Germans.
Announcement also was made
OF thacapture by the Germans OF
the villages OF Brabant, Haumont
and Samogneux, in the Verdun
region. Samogneux is about one
mile south of IIaumont, the loss
of which was admitted yesterday
BY the French war Office. 1t is
SIX miles north OF Nerdun. Loss
of the village of Brabant is ad-
mitted today.
The French war Office an
nounces that the French line has
not been broken at any point.
Emperor William has estab-
lished his headquarters at the
German positions facing Verdun,
according to information received
rom Berlin by the Evening News
by way Of Copenhagen.
Crown Princes Ambition.
To take the fortress of Verdun is one
Of the chief ambitions with which the
German Icrown prince has been credit
ed. The present effort under his COM
mand is on scale that indicates the
most determined effort yet Of his
armies to break down the barriers with
| which the French have protected their
stronghold and get within striking dis
tance Of the fortress itself.
At last accounts the battle was still
raging with great fury, both sides
keeping up a continuous f1re from all
available artillery and throwing masses
of troops into the fray. Losses on
each side have been extremely heavy.
Over Twenty-Five-Mile Front.
The great battle raging along the
twenty-five-mil front from Etani to
Malincourt, north and east of Verdun,
is being followed with the most in
tense interest by the public. 1t dis
i poses 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 Champa gne in Septem-
| ber. and is believed to be the fore
| runner of stirring and perhaps decisive
| events.
The principal fighting centers in the
| rough and thickly wooded country be-
tween Etain and Damvillers. Here
| some 100000 of the German crown
princes best infantry are trying to
| wrest from the French important roads
! way through to the Meuse. The battle
| as yet is only beginning. but it is said
Slready to have cost the assailants Of
| the French heavy casualties.
Involve Advanced Lines.
| The Germans have been making prep
arations for a big stroke at Verdun so
openly during the past month that the
French had every chance to get ready
for them. The attacks up to the present
only involve the advanced lines. which
are at least two miles beyond the outer
defenses Of the fortress.
Military opinion here is inclined to
IN
carry Verdun by storm. 1t is pointed
out that besides the formidable works of
the fortress it is further protected by a
| field army under command of Gen. Hum
| bert an exceptionally energetic officer.
| The prevailing view Is that the Germans
are feeling the strength of the defenses,
may discourage them from proceeding to
| try to take the citadel by force, even
| with the help Of their greatest guns.
German Statement.
| The German statement of today says:
| The success we obtained east of the
Meuse has been exploited further. The
villages of Brabant. Haumont and Sa-
mognaux have been captured. The entire
wooded district northwest. north and
northeast Of Beaumont and the forest of
Herbe are in our possession.
South of Metz an advanced French
/ post was taken by a surprise attack The
entire garrison of fifty men was captured.
French Communication.
! The French official statement. of to-
day says:
| I'm Artois a struggle with grenades
is in progress to the east of Souchez.
In the region north of Verdun the
struggle continued all night with the
same intensity along the right bank
Of the Meuse as far as Ornes, to the
south of Ordes. Owing to the violence
| of the b0mbardment of our advanced
position at Brabant -sur-M Meuse our
Troops have evacuated this village un-
Ider cover of night protected by the