The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-12-28

| (By Henry Wood, United Press Stan
Correspondent.
| Paris. Dec. 17.-(By mailg.-During
the closing days OF 1916 three events
took place in France which demon
strated as never at any previous pc
riod OF the war the apparently mex
haustible resources of Frances mill
tary genius and strength. the equally
inexhaustible resources of her finan-
cial aud economic energy and the abb
solutely unshaken determination Of
both her army and her civil popula-
tion to continue the war to a sue
cessful close.
Two epic events were the launching
on Oct "a of the French offensive at
verdun. in which practically all the
ground and positions won by the crown
princes armies in six months OF SAN
culinary fighting were reconquered
within six hours with a minimum Of
losses for the French. and secondly the
subscribing by the French nation as
whole in three weeks, from Oct. 5
TO Oct. 2e. of an unprecedented war
loan OF nearly $4,000 100000.
The third was the Reorganization OF
Frances cabinet along the lines Of
compactness and efficiency which Da-
vid Lloyd George introduced in Eng
land. Premier BRAND remained at
the head OF the ministry and loire.
idol of France and former generalissi-
mo OF her forces. while still retaining
supreme command of French forces.
became counsellor to the war council.
General Nivelie. defender OF verdun
\ and one of the popular heroes OF the
army. was made commander OF the
French forces in the north and north
east
While the French victory at Yer
dun. taken entirely by itself. stands
out as an unparalleled achievement in
the military history OF the world. yet
its real significance in the present
war is only apparent when it is view
ed in connection with all that had pre-
ceded 1t.
When the Germans Launched their
great offensive at verdun on Feb. q
no secret was made of at least two
OF the objects which the Germans
had in view. One of these was TO pre-
vent the allies from starting their
combined unique offensive. and the
other was TO deliver an absolute death
blow to France.
/ While the Germans failed TO reach
Verdun and while their grea, effort
failed to prevent the Launching of the
allied offensive. yet they openly
boasted that at least one OF their OBJ
iectives had been attained-namely.
that they had caused France TO bleed
utter exhaustion before verdun and
that henceforward she would be in.
capable of further military effort
Despite this boast and despite the
losses which France undeniably sus.
tanned before verdun. she launched
on July list. in connection with the
English. the offensive on the Somme.
which has never been checked for a
single instant. and in which. in addi-
tion to all of the villages and ground
regained. all the losses in dead and
wouded inflicted on the enemy the
French themselves. independent OF
what the English have done, have
captured over $1,000 prisoners. over
400 cannon and over 600 machine
guns.
| II was while still conducting this
vigorous offensive on the Somme,
which the Germans had boosted
France would never be able to launch
rs a result of her losses at verdun,
that France on Oct. - Launched even
second offensive. this time choosing
the Germans own ground at verdun,
where all of Germany's great infantry
and artillery strength had been con.
centrated for eight months.
This offensive France launched all
alone. without the slightest help from
any of her allies. and carried II to
such successful conclusion that the
Germans withdrew from the Fort OF
vaux without even nEhting.
While this great operation at Yer.
dun revealed to tho entire world the
present military strength OF France
after over two years OF unprscedented