Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-22
GERMANS AT BAY
UNDER. SHELL FIRE
Allies Assert Offensive at
Verdun Brought
to a Close
LOSSES REACH 100000
Allied Conference at Paris Believe:
Disaster 10 TeutOns Greatest Since
Marne Defeat
AIarne Defeat

|
bably the last phase of the Nerdur
battle has ended, according uls
patches received here toaay.
The German successes III Avo'
court wood were Of minor Importance
French military men declare, con-
stituting only an admission Of Ter
man failure elsewhere.
II is not bcliev ; the Germans will
rcncw their heavy assaults on tho
northern front of Ecrdun. at least not
soon.
Thus great German drive, pre-
cipitatcd early in the year ny the
phenomenal spring-like weather, has
,ndcd in what the French believe Is
the biggest German disaster since the
defeat at the Marine.
Nearly 100000 specially trained
Young German trench StOrmers nave
been either killed or put out of COM
mission by wounds in the four weeks
If the Vcrdun offensive. These troops
.annot be quickly replaced. 1t is eaSl-
~. therefore, to talk about using. the
interlude to mass fresh forces than
t is to carry out the performance
Allied officers arriving here for the
military and political conference are
all smiles. They are confident that the
lilies now hold the whip hard.
Berlin, March 22-Frcnch positions
northeast of Avocourt We're captur-
cd bv the Germans, who took 2.3oO
prisoners. the War Office announced
yesterday.
The text of today's official state
mcnt is as follows:
Western theatre:
West of the Meusc Bavarian rcgi-
ments and hattaions of "urttcm-
berg Landwehr. after careful pre-
paration, stormcd The entire strong
ily fortified French positions III ard
near the forest northeaSt 1i Avo-
court. In addition 20 considerable
sanguinary losses, the r"cn| has
thus far incurred two in comm"Ed OF
.rcpiments. and move tilan 2,''" 'nen
in unwounled prisoners ahh hitEh
war material, the amount of when
b,s not vet been asccrtained.
..Counter-attacks attempted by the
enemy did not bring him any advar'
tage, but. on the contrary 'n'''e'e''
further serious losses upon hIm.
"East of the Mctsc the situation
is unchanged.
Eastern theatre:
"Thc Russians are extending 'h@if
attacks on the uttcrmoT northern
,;no south of Riga, and on the
Dvina front and west OF JacohStad'
They were repealed with sangulnary
losses. Strong enemy accommodating
dat,chments advancing against th'
German front northwest OF Posta'!
and between Lakes Narocz and Wis
snicw, delivered especially strong
81 f,,,;tlass attacks throughout tht
dav and night The losses OF 1h'
anamv were proportionate 20 @he
number of troops employed.
"a far protrudine marrow sailen
~; orr front due south of Lake Mar
ocz has been withdrawn few hun
drod metres toward the heights o
Blisnicki to avoid the enemy's EN-
circling fire.
Balkan theatre:
"Anart from unimportant patro
cnpapements on the lines OF the
Anplo-French front the situation
unchanged:'
Paris March GA heavy German
bonbardment on the left bank o
the Sleuse is reported in the oftlcla
communication issued by the Wa
Office last night. This operation wa
carried out against the village 0
Esnos and Hill 304, which lie from
o,o IN two miles east of the Avocourt
ua,ancourt line. The French guns re
|. n,;ed vigorously 10 the shellins ant
no attempt to assault with infantr'
was made.
! The text of the statement Is a
follows:
an the Arsonnc there has bee'