Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-26
VERDUN BATTLE
RACES IN SNOW;
10000 PERISH
N.IA
Paris Reports Ger ,eSs'' az
tinue with Un ..,AaoH FURY,
but that I Fail to
Break Front.
LOSSES OF TEUToNs HEAVY
French Asserts Assaults Cost Kaier
Nearly Forty Thousand
Men Day.
OFFENSIVE IS LONG PLANNED

PARIS, Feb. 25.-The fighting in
the region of Verdun continues un-
abated, according to the French Of
ficial communication issued this
evening. Several infantry attacks
launched by the Germans with huge
numbers of effectives have been re-
pulsed. The artillery 'duels are go
ing on with great intensity east of
the Meuse, despite heavy snow
fall.
"In Champagne. this morning, we
attacked and captured an enemy
salient to the south of ste. Marie
A-Py. During this action we cap
tured 800 prisoners, including six
teen noncommissioned officers and
five officers.
"In the Argonne our destructive
fire has been efficacious on Ger
man organizations to the north of
Laperazee. -
I'm the region to the north NJ Nerdr"
snow has fallen in abundance during the
day. Activity of the artillery on both
sides has continued very intense I'm the
whole front, and principally to the east
Of the Meuse, where the fighting goes
on with the same tenacity.
Several attacks with large electives
have been conducted with unprecedented
violence on La Cote du Poivre (about
four and half miles north Of Verdun),
but were without success.
Another attack on our position in the
Bots de la Vouche has been stopped.
''There has been no infantry action to
the west of the Meuse.
In the valley of the Fecht, there has
been no artillery engageemnts to speak
Of"
The German losses during the first
four days OF the battle around Verdun
are authoritatively estimated at 10000.
BeEinnIng OF Offensive.
The German offensive is recognized now
as probably only the beginning of de-
termined effort TO take the fortress,
formerly the key to tn (Frnch)> front,
and compares inviolence and losses 10
the battle of the User. The French as
sumo that the battle may continue fort
night It Is believed the calm last night
was only a lul required by the attacking
forces to bury their dead. carry off the
wounded and bring UP reserves to take
the place of divisions half destroyed by
French artillery and machine guns,
The German forces are known TO be at
least 10000 supported by numerous fif-
teen-inch and seventeen-inch Austrian
mortars with all the heavy artillery used
in the Serbian campaign and part of that
formerly employed on the Russian front.
Preparations for the battle were OBJ
served early in December when the first
troops assigned to the operations were
brought up. Eight divisions that re-
turned from Serbia were sent to Belgium
for a rest and then transported to the re-
gion of Verdun in January. Five army
corps in all are known TO have been
brought up to reinforce two corps which
previously held that part OF the line be-
tween Etain and Van-quers.
Best Troops of Army.
These were the best troops of the Ger
man army, including, as 1t learned from
prisoners. the famous Third corps Of
Bradenburg. supposedly equal in valor
to the Prussian guard, and the Fifteenth
army corps commanded by General Won
Deimling known in France as one of the
most brilliant of the German general
officers.
The determination of the Germans to
capture the fortress is explained by the
facination that the name Verdun has had
on the minds of the German people since
1872, and the consequent moral value OF
It to all the Germans. This psychological
reason. in the judgment OF high official
critics, explains the presence of Emperor
William behind the troops and the order
OF the day issued to the army by the
crown prince and the generals. The
French compare the ground gained by
the Germans in the four days with twice
that amount taken by the French in the
first two days of their offensive in Cham
pagne, together with eight times the
number OF prisoners. The confidence OF
the French is mistaken by the fierce at
tacks and the slight bending in the
| French line.
ReinfOrcementE Brought Up.
The military critic of the Temps reports
that heavy French reinforeements have
been brought up. Lieutenant Colonel
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