The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-05-04

selected Verdun as one of the rocks OF
history around which the storms OF
battle between France and Germany
shall rage repeatedly" says bulletin
issued by the National Geographic
Society, whose headquarters is in
Washington.
st was in this city, for the posses
sion OF which the greatest battle in
the annals of civilized man has been
waged for weeks, that the treaty vas
signed which divided the empire Of
Oharlemagne and established the
nucleus OF Germany rs nation separ'
ate from France" continues the buIle-
tin. "The Treaty Of Verdun was
executed in the Ninth century by the
three grandsons Of the great Emperor
BY It's provisions the Caroingan do
mains were partitioned, never again
to be united under one ruler. That
territory lying east OF the Rhine and
including Bavaria, Franconia, Thur
ingia, Saxony and the districts around
Spires, Worms and Mainl fell TO the
lot Of Louis, who very properly IS
known to history as Louis the German,
for he may be considered the real
founder of the German empire.
Lothian, the eldest son OF Louis the
Pious, Charlemagne successor, as
sumed the title Of Emperor aud Sc
cured the kingdom Of Italy, together
with Lorraine, Provence and Lyonnas.
To Charles the Bald, half-brother of
Louis and Lothian, were allotted
Aquitania, Neustria and that part OF
Spain which had been wrested from
the Moors. To Charles fell the dis
tinction Of founding the French
Dynasty.
SIN the Eleventh century Neriun,
having become German city, was the
scene of bitter struggle between the
burghers and the bishops OF that see,
the former finally winning important
concessions, After the city had risen
to the dignity of free imperial town,
it was captured by the French, in ljj2,
and a hundred years later was formal
ly given to France, in whose possession
it has remained, with the exception of
the two occasions when it was beseiged
and conquered by the Teutons,
During the war of 1872 Nerdun fell
before the Germans after a battle last
ing ouly few hours. When the CON
querors entered the town they were
Hospitality received, the city fathers
having sent group Of beautiful young
girls TO greet the strangers and to offer
them dragees, the coufection for which
the place was and still is famous. The
inhabitants paid dearly for this re.
markedly cordial reception Of the enc
mics OF France, for when tie reyolu-
tonsts regained the city, after the
battle of Valmy, history TELLS us, three
Of these young girls were put TO death
the scallold
ear different was the resistance
which Verd,n offered to the prussiaus
in the war of 1870. For three weeks
the Invaders rained a hail of lead and
iron upon the city nesting among the
vine. clad hills, the high grounds being
utilized by the Germans as points Of
vantage from which to operate their
artillery. The beleaguered town
finally surrendered, but France had
learned valuable lesson and almost
Immediately after peace was declared
the construction Of fortilicaLions began,
soon raising the city to a fortress OF
| the first class, with a thrty.mile ring
OF sixteen large forts and twenty
smaller works On the northern
heights the intervals between forts il
some places are not more than 20t
yards.
when hostilities began in August
, 1914 Nerdun was town Of about 20,
600 inhabitants, more than third 0
whom were soldiers
THE city lies in the valley Of tho
Mouse, 10 miles from Paris, 10y rail
and only iorty.two miles from the
strongly fortified German city OF Metz.
Before the war the chief articles o
manufacture were hardware, confec
tions, leather goods and liquors.
Among Verdun proudest posses
sions are four cannon occupying "A place
OF honor in the gardens of the Hote
de Vile. They were presented TO th
citizens by the Government Of Franc
in recognition OF the heroic resistance
Of 1870. 1t Is interesting to surmis
what the French republic will Civ
Verdun in token Of her unparallele
resistance in 1916.