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Show FRENCH EXPECT I A GREAT BLOW I Press and Public Mystified by Continued Pause in Ger- man Attacks. iH JOFFRE IS PREPARED Great General Reserve Held Intact for Counter Attack When Opportune H Time Comes. s Paris, March 1, 11:45 p. m. fDe- H . layed). The press and public of H , France are mystified at the continued M pauses in the German attacks around M Vorduu. Saution, born of experience, M leads generally to the rejection of the M , viow that the Germans have given up tl all hope of trying to capturo the Lor- JM , ralue fortress. It is thought more ll likely they arc merely resting beforo il starting afresh with greater energy. il It is believed in many quarters that the attack on Verdun was only a pre- jl lhninary to operations on a much jtJI larger scale for the purpose of try- ll Ing to crush the French once and for ll . all. However that may be. It is af- iH . firmjcd that General Joffro Is fully pre- 'tl , pared for all eventualities. So far, jl only the local French reserves have JH i been called upon at Verdun, tho great jH general reserve forces remaining in- ill tact for use in repelling other heavy 'll onslaughts, or for carrying out a great ! counter attack when the opportune iH moment comes. IH The question is raised as to wheth- '1 er the next German attack will again jH be at Verdun or along the front from 'H tho Somme to the Alsne, as it is Jl known that the Germans havo been 'H making preparations along the latter IH lines, tho southern,, limit of which is jl many miles noarer to Paris than is jH Verdun. TJiese preparations, hov- 'H ever, aro not so elaborate as those j which had been made for Verdun and, iH should tho Germans attempt the lat- IH ter plan, tho military observers say iH they would be liable to a flank at- fH tack by the British in Artois and Flan IH ders. 'IH No news has been received of Lieu- iJH tenant-Colonel Dryant, a-son-in-law of 'IH the late General Boulanger and dep- NH uty for Nancy, since the beginning of llH the battle in which he commanded ,H two battalions of light Infantry, ' |