26 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 1

With so much of preface, we may briefly chronicle the

latest facts. According to a French official cone muniqui in Thursdays papers, them were in the early part of tho week night attacks by infantry on a front of about fif teen kilometres in the region of Herbehois, near Verdun, in the course of which the French were compelled to evacuate the village of Haumont. The French, however, have begun a series of counter-attacka, and these are now being de cided. That the French. am in sufficient strength we have little doubt, and we may confidently expect that, though the battle will sway backwards and for- wards, and trenches be taken and retaken, the net result when the inevitable lull takes place will not be to the disadvantage of our gallant Allies. The Berlin account shows the usual optimism. The Germans profess, indeed, to have taken in the Woevre district three thousand prisoners and a great amount of war material. They also boast of successes in Upper Alsac....