Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28

crown prince. who has never despaired
OF capturing the French citadel in the
outskirts of which tens of thousands
of lives have been offered up since the
investment first started, smashed for
ward on that section of the line be-
tween Avocourt and Dead Man hill,
storming French positions over a 1000
meter front. Paris declares that the
German attacks were repulsed in the
main, but Berlin insists that the Ger
mans were able to penetrate the French
positions to some depth in the imme-
date vicinity of Dead Man hill.
The drive of the Germans is the first
important blow to be struck on this
section of the Verdun front for many
months. the battles for Fort Vaux some
weeks ago being farther east. The
Teutons last Sunday began heavy ar
tillery actions, and these were followed
up by several attacks, which the French
report as having been repulsed. The
Germans evidently were merely sound
ing out the enemy. Thursday. however,
the main blow fell.
There is considerable speculation as
to whether the crown prince is to re-
peat his tactics of last year. when he
temporarily diverted allied attention in
other quarters by a determined effort,
early in February. to take Verdun. The
fighting at the present moment may be
but usherinE in even more severe bat
ties for this position. Should the Ger
mans succeed in their desire to take YER
dun, the losses suffered at this time in
this particular section possibly would
be considered worth while, from a
popular viewpoint, and the successful
effort would be acclaimed with rejoice
ing all over Germany. That the seizure
Of Verdun would go far toward stiffen-
ing the backbone Of the German armies
is unqueStioned.
The Germans latest effort did not go
unchallenged. for, following the history
Of the hghting about verdun, the
French moved to regain territory
which they lost, and succeeded. accord
ing to Paris.
There has been great activity on a
m inor scale all along the western front
Flanders, even the Belgfans> partiEk'
pating in sharp engagements at sew
eral points.
British have conducted successful
raids on enemy positions near st. Eloi.
Neuve Chapelle, Loos and Neuviile St
Vast Germans claim to have repulsed
the British at Lens and Fromelles.
German attacks at Lassigny, Melville.
st. Vast and between Armentteres and
have conducted successful offensive
actions near Scissors. Sencnes, near
Richetourt in Lorraine and have moved
forward near Chilly. German attacks
near Altkirch. Alsace. have been re-
pulsed by the French.
There have been many aerial battles.
Germans. French and British all re-
porting destruction of many enemy ma
chires In the sharp clashes.
Taken as whole. the character OF
the operations by both sets of bellig-
erents indicates that spring fighting on
a large scale will be ushered in short
ly. Just which side first will take the
offensive remains to he seen, but 1t Is
very possible that the Germans will
make the initial move in the hope of
scoring such advantages that they Will
divert attention from those points
along the northern end of the western
front where entente forces are most
likely to make their greatest effort.
over the serious internal problems
which have been
Cars Rescript facing RUSSIA
for severa
the imperial rescript addressed to the
new premier. Prince Golitzin. demand
ing that the ministry bend every effort
in the organization of forces behind
the lines that an endless stream of sup
plies may be furnished to the soldiers
fighting the cause of Russia at the front.
Not only does the car ask that the
armies be properly cared for, but that
the ministry see to 1t that the civil
population is fed properly The solving
of the problem of transportation, one
of the greatest confronting the Rus
sian government in the successful
of the war, is put up to
the new ministry. Furthermore. the
emperor asks that there be unity OF ac-
ton between the ministers. the duma
and council of the empire. The latter
body has been changed recently so that
the majority of it's membership is in
sympathy with the ministry. 1t IS re-
ported to be reactionary in thought
which has been delayed. will work in
the same yoke with a ministry sus-
pected of being pro-German and thor
oughly aristocratic in its tendencies
patriotic appeal to all classes to lend
a hand at the common task of defeat
ing the enemy may go far toward fore
ing the rival groups. democrats and
bureaucrats. to bury the Ratchet. at
least temporarily. until the war is
pushed to q successful conclusion. The
taking up for settlement of other great
internal questions then Is
certain.
British forces continue their successful
activities in German East Africa, where
they are at
British Gaining in tempting o
envelop the
German East Africa. Germans on
the lower Ruff river and delta the
Germans are declared to be constantly
retreating, and II they continue the sur
render of the major part of the Teutonic
armies operating in this region eventually
49,