Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-02


serves and to keep increasing those re-
serves for action when the Germans
have exhausted themselves"
Support for Belief.
The writer's belief that the Germans
are preparing to launch their main at
tack at some point other than verdun
is supported as follows:
ANY great success by the Germans
farther to the northwest than Cham
payne may under the present condi-
tions bring about an enforced retire.
ment from the Mouse. What the Ger
mans hope for is to attack the bulk of
the allies reserves east Of the Mouse,
making an immense clatter there, and
west probably awaits the fulfllment
of this desire. The French appear to
have met the Verdun attack with re-
serves just sufficient to maintain the
Joffre has yet drawn upon or even
moved his main forces"
French Official Statement.
The text of todays French war Offices
announcement reads:
I'm the Artois district to the east Of
Folie we caused the explosion of a mine
located under an old crater which was
occupied by the enemy. We took posses
sion of the new crater.
"In the region Of Verdun the enemy
bombarded violently last night lie Mort
Homme tthe dead mani. at the Cote de
LOie, between Malancourt and FORCES, as
we'll as the principal crossings of the
river Meuse. There was little activity on
he or ~ ho 10 he at ~
the Mouse.
Attack at Fresnes.
"In the Woevre district. after an intense
retaliatory fire from the artillery. the
enemy yesterday evening delivered a
spirited attack on our positions at Fres-
nes. They were at once driven back by
our counterattack from the few positions
which they had succeeded in penetrating.
"In the Lorraine district a lombard
ment of several hours duration against
the Sainte Marie farm to the west of
Bezange was followed by an attack on
the part Of the enemy which resulted
in complete failure.
In Alsace certain tentative move
ments undertaken by strong German
patrole against our outposts in the val
ley of the LAUGH were repulsed by the
use of hand grenades."
Artillery Action in Belgium.
Last nights communication reads:
I'm Belgium our artillery in concert
with the British artillery effectively
shelled the enemy trenches to the
southeast of Boesinghe. To the east
of Rheims a detachment comprising
two companies which attempted to
reach our line retreated hastily under
our fire. leaving some dead on the
ground
'In the region of verdun there was
of the day. The enemy bombardment
continued to the west Of the Mouse in
the zone between Malancourt and
FORCES, to the east o fthe Meuse, espe-
cially in the regions of Vaux and Dam
trenches at Fresnes. ~ ." our
our artillery displayed great activ-
To the west of Pont Mousson our
trench guns shattered the German or
ganizations in LIE Pretre wood. and our
establishments in the region of Thia-
court.
in Alsace there were rather spirited
actions by our batteries in the valleys
of the Fecht and the BOILER"
The Belgian official communication
reads: There is nothing particular to
report on the front of the Belgian
army"
German View of War.
The text of the German statement of
today follows:
THE situation is unchanged. In the
User district the enemy's artillery was
very active.
"On the eastern bank Of the Meuse
the French once more sacrificed troops