New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-26
At Verdun.

ClSclN what III was AT the ClOSt OF tilc oVN-
ond week Of the great German drive, which
began on February 81. BY that time it
had entirely ceased TO be a battle to pierce
the French line, because time had been
allowed the French to bring up reserves
and to prepare lines behind the threatened
points.
As to the other question. that Of the
possession of the town itself, this never
had any Importance. After the first great
thrust by the Germans was halted the
battle became one purely and simply for
moral values If tomorrow or next month
the French should draw their lines back
behind the Meuse from st. Mihiel TO Yer
dun. the general situation would remain
exactly what it was when the trench war
began-two lines of trenches would face
each other from Switzerland to the sea.
But if the Germans should take posses
sion of the ashes Of the town of Nerdun
the French and the German people, the
world in general, would recognize that the
battle for moral values had been won by
the Germans, and the victory on the field
WnlCn Was litOlSlltA cAplNs AAAA~AAs ~ NA'-'-N
lated in the press and the policies of the
belligerent nations into something consld-
cradle and material.
So far the Germans have made no
real progress since March in the taking
of Verdun. Dead Mans Hill and Hill
9O4. which have figured so much in the
dispatches. are several miles north of
the line on which the French must make
their last stand 10 hold the city. Pos
session of these hills is valuable to the
French because it permits them TO de-
liver a fanking fire upon the Germans
attacking across the river. But the
view in Paris has been from the outset
that these hills would be "sold to the
Germans for a cost in casualties.
It is essential TO remember in think
ing of Verdun that it is just sector
IN the battle front which goes from the
sea to the Jura, that no great advantage
can be obtained by either side unless
the line is pierced at some point, and
that there is no possibility now of pierre
ing the French line about Verdun be-
cause behind the present front the
French have prepared other stronger
lines
The Germans are attacking at Verdun
because. owing to the fact that the rail-
roads are cut by shell fire, it is the most
difficult part of the western front to mu-
milton. They believe that if they sue
coed in taking Verdun the French peo-
pie will be thoroughly disheartened and
ready to listen to peace talk. They be-
leve the German people will be heart
ened by victory which will quite nat
urally be magnifed to the utmost.
But it is well to bear in mind that if
the German attack at Nerdun ever be-
comes too threatening the French and
the British all along the western front
can begin either a general or a limited
offensive Of their own, and that there
will be an immediate demand made
upon Germany to find reserves to meet
this. The same is true for the Russians,
row that the weather conditions permit
operations.
We have all been looking at Nerdun so
intentiy for many months that it has come
TO have an exaggerated value for US and
its fate seems to have an Importance which
is altogether ilusory. 1t is well TO recall
that it was the French who elected to stand
On their present lines and not TO draw
back three or four miles more TO a posi-
ton that they could hold with far less
difficulty.
II is well 70 bear in mind, too, that the
French high command reasons that the
defence of the present lines is inficting
tremendous losses on the Germans losses
disproportionate TO the French and dis
proportionate to any military advantage
that is now to be gained.
Actually the situation at Verdun is
what it was in the middle of March, save
that on the west bank of the river the Ger
mans have progressed about half mile
nearer the main French position, which is
several miles back of Dead Mans Hill.
There has been no important change, no
change at all on the east bank Of the
Meuse, except as the French have taken and
lost Douaumont. and the only result has
been that a very large number Of French
and German troops, certainly more Ger
man than French, have been put out of the
line by death, capture or disability
The Germans believe French numbers
arc failing and French endurance ap-
preaching a term. In this they are ut
terly wrong. as the words Of Poincare and
Viviani Indicate They believe that
France. under this terrific attack. will lose
heart. and of this there is not the small
est evidence. They must continue the
attack because their failure up TO the
present moment has depressed their own
people. heartened the French and had a