The important battle that has developed in the Woeuvre, north of Verdun, is obviously another attempt by the Germans to counteract the impression created on neutrols, and particularly Rumania, by the brilliant victories of the Russians in Turkish Armenia. Apparently the Germans achieved some initial success, but in view of the German Crown Prince's vain boasts after the battle of Longwy we can safely afford to ignore the Berlin communique issued yesterday. The French line runs direotly north of the fortress of Verdun and then bends sharply southeastwards below Etain, the country being heavily wooded and hilly. The French defences are of immense strength, while the Germans have tunnelled all the heights along their line. Apparently what he] pened was that the Germans, after terrific bombardment, launched heavy infantry attacks extending from the right bank of the Meuse to southeast of Herbebois. In the woods there were bloody encounters, positions being taken and retaken, the enemy being held in check by the formidable French artillery known to be on this front. A very violent bombardment with heavy guns extending over s front of forty kilometers from Malan-court to near Etain on the river Erne ensued. Our Ally, after breaking down stacks on Hau-mont, crushed the enemy's offensive in the Wood, but the Germans pene trated another wood to the east. At the time of writing the German effort appears to be exhausting itself; our Ally is delivering counter-attacks and seems to have the situation well in hand.
Feb. 28.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.