Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-04
VERDUN STILL FIRMLY
IN GRASP OF FRENCH
Famous Stronghold Never Will Fall
Into the Hands Of
Germans.
DEFEAT FOR GROWN PRINCE
Costs Him His Popularity, and Is
Graveyard for Falkenhayn-Half-
Million Men Thrown by Germany
Into This Useless Holocaust.
ny c. F. BERTELLL


we'll outside the German grasp.
Half u million men sacrificed by Ger
many In this attempt have gone Into
the useless holocaust. Having had an
opportunity to-day Of thoroughly in
specting the whole Meuse battle field
from an exceptionally fine vantage
point. | am convinced that Verdun will
never fall into tho enemy's hand.
at the same time. thcro Is plenty Of
evidence that this greatest battle IN tho
worlds history is by no means over.
These blood -drenchei ravines in which
the two greatest Continental nations
have poured out their very lifeblood
have proved Falkenhayn's graveyard
and cost the crown prince his popular
ity.
PLAN or IINDENDUUG
Is MILITARY RIDDLE
The military riddle at the moment
is whether nirdenburg can. will
wish to persist in this titanic struggle.
! The fact is tina; the initiative has now
passed into French hands and with
Jofire's commensurate on the Somme
the French are able to smash the Ger
man reserves with two deadly pis-
tons Il couple OF hundred miles apart.
times simultaneously.
When ! explained to prominent
military chief Germany's latest conten-
ton that they do not wish to take
Vcrdun quickly because they wis! to
hold the French on carefully chosen
battle field he laughed heartily.
Even at the moment OF the highest
ressurc," said he Germany has
never had any real superiority, 1t
is not forts and military works TINT
constitute the real defenses OF the
Meuse stronghold. but the logged de-
termination OF the whole OF France to
deny the Kaiser this empty emblem OF
victory.
Since the day that word came from
headquarters that Eerdun must be held
3; anv cost, the whole army has con-
sidered it an honor to join in It's de-
fcnse and practically every battalion
OF the French army has in turn con-
triNuted TO the stupendous sum OF hero
ism which enabled France TO stave off
the invaders"
The speaker pointed to the words
carved over the entrance OF GER
tain for, beneath which we were
standing. Die under the ruins of the
fort rather than surrender"
.TACTICALLY. THE GERMANS
HAVEN'T ANY ADVANTAGE
That sentence he continued, "crys-
:a!!zes the whole situation. Tacticaliy
the Germans haven't any advantage
here. for every attack they have launch.
Cd mas come under the direct fire Of
Fort Souvlle. which stands on a
height equal TO that Of Fort Douau-
mont.
The Teutons have even failed TO
damage single one of the Meuse
bridges. although they have poured
into the city OF Vcrdun $1,000 shells Of
all oaliber during the last six months,
with maximum of $50 daily. and a
minimum or 200. AS a matter OF fact,
the French have been able 10 build
another bridge with their help one
Of their fifteen-irch shells threw. down
a big wall near the river and uprooted
i"o enormous trees which fell right
across III" Mouse, and on that tounda-
zion ". constructed a new passage in
q couple OF days.
AT present, the French have the
upper hand and arc exercising 4 slow.
pressure which is forcing the Ge--
mans TO retreat"
Granted every facility for testing
the soundness of this claim. am satis-
fled that. not only have the French
brought the ultimate Verdun defenses
TO the acme of perfection, but their
heroic army on the Meuse battle field
Is now in "A position to deliver mum.
her OF swift and smashing blows uh.ct
may result in the crown princes force.
being hurled from the plateau which
he; .alcd six months ago
Niynl'a hnIl, ~.
Fieury in firm grip and Is stronel,
!ntrenchcd on Froi de Terre hill ant
still bites hard Into the Thlaunon
field work. OF which the Germans to
day hold only section. Very shor,
~ the French may be expected Ia SELF
the whole OF Th!aGnont. this time I,
). hold 81 definitely They viii thcreb
stta!&hien their lines, forbidd!ug thel
= opponent all approaches TO Souvill
fort and getting into "a position 10
the eventual rccapture Of Douauuon
= and Nau1 forts
. THERE Will. M BATTLE
ON EVERY YARD OF GUoUSl
f, On the other hand. should tie Ger
man starr decide TO concentrate stiI
4 greater force md renew their desper
. ate offensive. there Will be a battle o
WI ShiI vi SIOuNO. Inc FrenC
are determined TO hold them back. ant
d, with the defense works that have bee
constructed over and beneath the ter
II rain. they are able 10 compel the &c,
mans 10 f!gh, many more months DO
lore they can reach the town and aut
. NIT them 10 n sacrifice Of lives con
nared with which that Of the first 81
q months attacks would be small
e Even should they win their way u
j! TO the ritadcl's walls they would hav
u 10 pun down masonry and stone an
blast Roman wall and smash under
- ground WORK Nfty feet deep. facing .
u. Enhrokcu rain OF machine gung an
other death dealing weapons. Tp I
~ new the Germans have so little threa,
cned the actual citadel Of Vcrdun thu
US guns have not fred Il single gu,
- sh"t since The offensive began
~ But II is very unlikely tina, ,hcs
= a"ienses VIII l.. put TO the tics
u whether or not H!nGcnburg decides
J. MIRO" Falkcrhayn's Vcrdun plan con
a l4f.. - TN