Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-27

French anticipating the movements of the
Germans, whose activities plainly were
to be seen at all times. began feverish
preparation.
The attack came, great lines of Ger
mans sweeping forward in mass forma-
ton. They are declared to have at
tackled nine men to every three feet at
some points. but that this system of
fighting has resulted IN enormous losses
Is indicated by allied reports that whole
the French, occupying first line trench
es, began to pour vicious machine gun
fire into the enemy's ranks. One report
from the front declares that the slaugh-
ter has been absolutely sickening. the
Germans at points being forced to climb
over their own dead. At some points
corpses are piled high. That the Teu-
tons anticipated just such losses. and
were prepared to make them to reach a
given goal-the penetration of the
ress of Verdun-is indicated by the fact
that, notwithstanding the raking. death
dealing fire of the French, they continue
to attack night and day. There appar-
emily has been no let-up in their eff
forts during the past few days. Berlin
claims the capture of at least nine VIII
lagos and fortified places within q few
miles of Verdun. Haumont, Samogneux,
Brabant Ornes. Beaumont. Chambrettes.
Marmont Cotelle and Champneuviile and
OFL DCudInOnt ltSei1 all nave Deen &C.
cupied, according to German accounts.
Thus 1t may be seen that the Germans
are knocking vicfously and determiuedly
at the doors of this vital position.
With all the success of the Germans
1t must be borne in mind that their
achievements,
Allies Let Enemy using as they
Wear Himself Out. 1r..t..t
forces and strategy. possibly were to
be expected in view Of the French eys-
tenn of fighting. Early last year, when
Gen. Joffre was called upon to explain
just why the spring offensive Of the
allies had not materially developed, de-
clared that the French and British
would play waiting game. In other
words. they would be content to pre-
sent the point of a spear and let the
system seems to have been carried out
practically at all times.
The French and British have builded
the strongest defensive works they
know how. and it is believed that they
Of thousands of men in the efforts to
break through and gain either Paris
or Calais. Under present conditions
brought about by the lesson learned
through the loss Of tens of thousands
of men earlier in the war, the French
do not concentrate their main force
along the first line Of trenches They
rest on the second, third, fourth and
fifth lines. and really depend on these
works to successfully hold the enemy
a of &C. i
The Germans in other regions than
Verdun, although reporting material
advances. have not yet claimed to have
stormed many yards of second line
that even though the French have
been forced back the French battle line
Is intact. The French depend on their
hrst line to infiict the greatest pos
sible damage on the enemy in his
numerous attacks. and the second line
not only performs the same mission
but brings such enemy advances to a
sudden halt. In but rare cases during
the present German offensive have at
tacks reached over the second line, and
subsequent to these Berlin has admit
attacks.
However. attacking as they have over
a line OF twenty-five miles in the regions
OF the Meuse, the Germans have in.
nicted great losses on the French. for
any troop retirement from more than
SIX miles OF drst-line trenches on close
up attack means losses of staggering
proportions. Thus, while the Germans
may have lost heavily. the French also
have been victims, the extent of which
may not be known for weeks. IL ever.
1t may be expected that both Paris
and Berlin will attempt to shield their
! own losses in the present engagement
which gives every evidence of being
the bloodiest of the war
While great interest naturally i. he
Ing taken in all Of the belliserent En-.
ropean capt.
Believed Final tails. consider
German Offensive. . .' specuia-
INDUCED by the allied nations over tho
possible results of the German effort
According to popular belief, the Ger
mans may be making their final Of
fensve effort in the west: in fact. It is
declared that Gen. Won Deimline one
of the German stan officers. intimated
to his men that 1T would he ~. 1,.t