The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-09-22
TILE FoRrREss or vERpuN

The fortress OF Verdun near which the French
desperate stand that halted the invading egons OF Germany mark
ing the limit Of the German advance against the Allies right to
date and which the Germans reported today from Be
lin be massng in force Of the pieces OF forhca
ton in the French chain of defences. ~ s
II forms the left of what is known the Meuse Line barrier
The ITSELF with small antiquated fortress of the Vauban
period lies in basin OF the Meuse and surrounded by hills
Upon these hills have been placed the forts which compose the in
line Of the fortress They Beupt and St Michel the
north, and La Chaume and Regret on the west
Beyond the military engineers have extended the eastern line of
defence the cliffs that overlook the plain of Woevre Here
front of than FIVE miles chain of the works
has placed From south they fIardont Vaux
Lanee Mard Gas, Elk Mouanylle, Manez and Chatiuon.
sAlpngsbe south right angles these
western spur the heights are Forts Roze St Synphoren
and Haudanvi The last named overooks the river The entire
north front is studded with line Of strong forts some Of which
only hundred yards and the last fort this line
also yefleoks the river Along the east front poectnhe valley
by which railroad line Metz through the heights Fort
rayannss large fertilization with oawors and Of flank
ing batteries v" "a #
complete semcrce defends the left bapof
the northern end Of which is Fort Forts
Mare Bourrus and Byeres single ridge facing the north
batteries the line
Of fire Of the left of the north 'front.' sweeping this section Of the
approaches l4Etta 7tR 4aN+.,' ~. s .sr
The west front of the works is composed Forts Gemonve
Bots de Sae Landecourt and Dugy the last being sight
Of Fort Haudainvie the Meuse AS second line behind
these forts Forts Chose and Sartees and the Chana edoub
There all sixteen large forts and twenty smaller works,
the permeter being approximately thirty miles and the greatest
diameter of the fort ring nine miles. 49,"
The mobile garrison of Verdun weeks ago. is
composed of the 5l 62d 64h l6 and Tooth regiments of line
infantry the Nineteenth Chaeur Pied the Second and Fourth
ussars Sixtyfrst artillery Sixth
engineers The big guns of the fort manned by the Fifth reg
of foot artillery .s. .a"esrc
tedoubts projected by entange-
ments designed halt asaung infantry in positions where they
be enIaded by the FIRE of machine guns and rifles
The town itself is of historical Importance At the time
the Roman conquest under the OF Neodunum it made
part Begca Prma 1t suffered in the babarc nvasons
did until the fifth century Clovis seized in 502
aerard belonged the kingdom OF Austrasa In 843 the
treaty between the of Louis the Pous made
there In the tenth century Verdun conquered by
and under the temporal authority OF its bishops In 1852 Henry
II France possession of the Tos Eveche Of which Yer
dun formed part through the treaty Of Westphala
In l792 after few hours Of pombadmept by the Pussians
the city surrendered For this the inhabitants severely
ished by the revolutionary government afterward,
Franco 1870 Werdun was
after desperate through three of
bonbardent The French garrison that time resisted
the last was late in November 1870 that the fortress finally
surrendered. H 3' p. tt8S l1a 5'.'' :4a