The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09

PERT.
As a result OF the overwhelming defeat
OF France in 1870 the matter OF opportune
defence was carefully studied by the
Council of Defence, which selected the
plan OF Gen. Sere de Ia Riviere Of the
French engineers to defend the lire OF
the Mouse and Moseile rivers, 20 niles
from the border.
The Belgian border was protected by
the guarantee OF neutrality by the Eu-
rcpean Powers. so the frst efforts were
given to the German frontier. The four
cities. Belfort. Epinal. Toul and verdun.
control the principal railroads and high
ways across the border. They were Sc
lccted for supporting points in the line
OF defence and were converted into en-
trenched camps. These cities divide the
border into three parts. each being about
forty rides.
BelfC.t has central defence and has
circle OF detached forts eight miles
from the city and averaging two and a
half miles apart The artillery In the
forts controls the intervals between them.
so that no large body of the enemy can
get through. Small bodies can be turned
hack BY the inner defences and by the
mobile garrison.
The forts are similar in plan. about 400
yards long and $50 yards deep. They
provide for bombproof shelters where men
and guns can be sheltered during an
enemy's bombardment and have under
gre ind passages so that any part OF the
fort can be- reached or reinforced withou,
exposure OF the defenders.
Ditch Prevents Charge.
Each fort is surrounded by a ditch
thirty feet deep and is impregnable "a
direct assault. They can be taken only
by slow siege works, such as the japanese
used at Port Arthur. or by starvation
Eplnal has a similar g!rdle OF eight de.
tached forts OF the above type.
To further close this southern third
OF the buruer a line OF five forts has bee r
constructed between Belfort and Swit1er.
land and line OF six forts between tho
outer lines Of Belfort and Epinal. It is
considered impossible for any large force
to break through the defences OF tn,
border from Epinal to Switzerland.
From Epinal to Toul there is an unde.
Tended space. The French mobilization
and concentration plans provide for q
field army that with the support giver
by the fortresses OF Epinal and Toul or
/ It's tanks can hold back an invading arm,
long enough to develop It's strength and
to give opportunity for requirements tc
/ be- rushed up.
Toul Is on the most important rail line
from Paris to Strassburg and southern
{ Germany and controls the route likely e
! he followed by an important nvadns
army. II is defended by an outer line Of
detached forts ten miles from the city. bS
an intermediate line and by the citade
( N the city itself. There are also outly
Ing defences at Nancy. Pont St Vincent
! Colombey and Neufchateau, too distant e
form part OF the defences of Toul. bu
furnishing important supporting points fol
the field army.
Verdun . strong Point.
Verdun Is the principal defence agains
a German advance up the Moselle from
Coblentz and north Germany. This Ii thu
line of advance Of the German forces nov
operating IN Luxembourg. Reports so IA
indicate that this German army Is SECOND
only to the one advancing through Rel
GUM. that 1t is In fact the left wing o
thu German forces attempting to nvad
France from the north. Verdun II de
Tended like Toul by an outer line OF de
tached forts eight miles out by an inter
mediate line and by n citadel.
The interval between Toul and Verddi
is closed by seven forts, averaging thre