The Washington times., 1915-08-07

such a drive would be pre-doomed to
failure" one officer said. Then weak
ened by frishtful losses. the kaisers
lcgions would be at the mercy Of the
allies, who with time working to their
advantage, have from the first con-
served their troops to this end largely
thanks to the genius Of General Joffre.
Frances commander -in-chief."
Not only Is this assertion made re-
peatedly. but with n frankness which
startled one accustomed to the old time
secrecy Of the early days OF the war.
The French Officers. with General
JofYre's full permission. threw their
cards face upon the table. proving. at
least to the layman. that only disaster
awaits a Paris or Calais drive by the
Germans
A Subterranean City.
On this trip to the battlefront. I was
shown sights which few. II any. civilians
heretofore HAD seen. or II they did see
and were cauSSe for winch they paid
the penalty blindfolded before a firing
| squad. The secrets Of the great citadel
Of Verdun were made an open book by
the French officers.
l was conducted through subterranean
Passages nearly 200 feet below the sur
face Of the forts. where the siege prepa.
rations comprised everything from food
and shells to grist mills. water works.
quarters for the netire civil as we'll as
the military population.
Work 100 Feet Underground.
! The military governor and his STAN
were working 100 feet underground in
an office OF considerable size. directly
b. meath the citadel. The governor ex-
| - A. hal
| taken not because Verdun was actually
| In danger OF attack, but because on
June I twenty-six 80 millimeter shells
were hurled on the town by the Ger
mans. who used the same long-range
guns that shelied Dunkirk from a dis
tsnce Of about twenty miles.
HIS staff. he explained. was now able
Gers. and 1t was also possible for the
civil population to find refuge under
ground II the bombaidment was re-
peated.
Time Working For France.
subsequently l was shown through
the outlying forts and munition fac
tories. A French officer offered me a
ccior plate and working drawing OF a
rev bomb. which refused rs useless
to me. I was allowed to handle hand
grenades. to inspect several new kinds
Of mortars and strange shells. and to
examine miles of the front line defenses
and also the organization system back
u the line. Apparently nothtng was
secret
We are ready for any move" said
one Of the officer escorts. but We are
in no hurry. Time is working for us.
We can break the Gel man line any min:
Lte VIC want to. but the operation would
be costly. We prefer to wait and let
Germany try to break our line; They
when they do. let them look OUT"
Expect Another Year of War.
One Is visibly impressed by the spirit
OF determination everywhere prevalent
in the French ranks after a year of the
war. Men and officers agree that an
other year Of the war Is a practical GER
tainty. Both are most cheerful over the
French prospects. They say they are SO
used to campaigning now that they fear
they will fnd peaceful pursuits tame
when the war ends:
All along the battlefront the trenches
and the villages back OF the lines have
been renovated to add to the comfort OF
the soldiers. further evidence that the
troops expect to be In action for a Ions
time. In some little villages elaborate
power stations water works. churches
and theaters have been established
Quiet crossroads towns have beer
equipped with electric lights, The photo.
graph galleries and the postcard stores
have put In their appearance.
Drawing the Veil Aside.
American barbed wire. strung between
the opposing trenches. has esta blished a
deadlock from the sea to the Swiss from
tier and the war has been reduced tc
routine business The French officers
however. expect change shortly
though few think that peace is at al
| near.
, On August 4. the anniversary Of the
formal declaration Of war between
France and Germany. asked one OF
Joffre's ablest generals how long th'
war would last.
Until we are in Germany" he an
swered quietly. We will fight unit
this Is accomplished. be it two years Oh
ten"
The significant thing In the situatior
= TODAY Is that France Is drawing the vel