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Show LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES ARE HEAVY Germans Have An Army of 280,000 Making An Attack on Verdun in France. London, Feb. 23. Led bv the crown prince, 2S0.000 Germans afe attacking the French on a front of twenty-five miles in a colossal smash for the great fortress of Verdun They have broken through the French lines on a front of ten miles to a depth of two miles and aro within eight miles to a depth of two miles and are within eight miles of the fortress. The village of Hau-month Hau-month is in German hands. The French are Inflicting bloody losses on the attacking troops. French and English view it as the last tremendous effort of the Germans which, if it fails, will condemn them to a shackled defensive on eveo' front. Tho most terrific artillery duel in history Is proceeding on the twenty-five-mile stretch between Malancourt to the region in front of Etain, The great German guns are keeping up an uninterrupted bombardment with shells of great caliber. The French in reply are unchaining hurricane of lead and iron. Losses Are Terrific. The losses on both sides are counted count-ed in the tens of thousands, according to all 'accounts. Paris correspondents describe the German losses as "appalling." "appall-ing." The attacks are being, made by picked troops, veterans of Russia and the Balkans, men who took part in the first great smash at Paris which carried to the Marne. "In tho regions north of Verdun." says a French official statement issued is-sued at midnight, ''the German attack is developing into a very important action ac-tion prepared with powerful forces." |