Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-13
Germany's Greatest Failure


w although il seems to us that the Ger
man onslaughts have lost their hope of sue
cess, anything may chance-the allies have
won their victory there. Though Nerdun
fall, the resistance its heroic defenders have
offered has accomplished its desired result.
On the whole western front the allied line
has held. the British have not been diverted
from their positions to aid the defenders of
the French citadel. while in Champagne and
Flanders, and perhaps also in Lorraine, Gen
eral Jofre S preparations for the great often
sive steadily are pursued
There was a moral purpose. as we have
pointed out frequently, in the German at
tacks OH Nerdun. Indeed. the moral pur-
pose was twofod for it was hoped by decisive
success on the Meuse to revive the dropping
spirits of the German civil population, while
at the same time TO destroy French morale.
III the strongest OF the French fortresses
could be reduced. ii was thought AT Berlin,
these desirable effects might we'll be pro-
duced. TWO months ago they would have
been unquestionably; il is doubtful if Ger
man victory would have this influence now
But the kaser's general staf had another
aim of perhaps larger Importance. II was
to crush Jofre's offensive before II could get
started. smashing blow at this key posi-
ton IN the French line. if pursued reient-
lessly might draw to Verduu the reserves
OF the whole French army. bring the Brit
sh battalions rushing down from the north.
disarrange the whole plan OF campaign.
compel retirement from wide section of the
front and make offensive operations on
large scale difficult. if not impossible This
is the German ambition that the defense of
Nerdun has ihwarted dccisiveiy and finally
For there has been final check to the
allied objective. One German military critic
speaks of 100000 men being employed in
the defense of Verdun bu, this is an obvious
Gtat
ternal and external, points the conclusion
That the defense Of the fortress has been
conducted with the minimum amount of
human material The number Of prisoners
taken by the Germans shows this clearly In
ten weeks OF furious fighting they have can
tured perhaps twice as many MS the French
took in six days in the Champagne In
modern warfare prisoners are the spoil of
the army on tho offensive; the defenders cap
ture relatively few The men compelled to
yield are those found in sha tered trenches
over which sweep the triumphant ranks of
the adversary. If The attack proves a failure
the attackers die or fee. Ii 100000 men
had been defending Verdun. the German can
lures. III all probability would have been at
least three times as numerous
Meantime Sir Douglas llaig gathers his
hosts. The British have taken over scores of
miles Of French trenches Australians and
New IealanderS and new Canadian contin-
gents are poured into the first line or into
the reserves. Stretching back to the channel
and the sea, supplies OF men and munitions
are collected Consumption is applied so
that victory shall not fail for the absence
OF single available man. Great steamships
from America bring tens OF thousands NJ
tons OF shrapnel and high explosive shells
Up III the sky The aeroplancs pursue their
work of mapping out the German defenses.
Ne" railroads nave peen constructed, so that
when the blow is struck re-enforcemcn,s
may be readily available, and there NAV he
no repetition OF the iasco at l.oos that
checked the French in CHAMPAGNE Over
thousands OF miles Russian soldiers come to
add their strength 10 the allied line There
are rlmors that Serbians also brougb, from
Corfu or Albania or Saloniki. are now in the
west
The great offensive is near The attacks
on Nerdun may have delayed it, bu, they
will not and cannot, prevent il Thn, is
The great German ia lure
10 argument can he made against
II l1r l.t