Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-20

REASONS FOR ASSAULT
Political and Strategical Objects
Sought by Tcutons. But They Fail
TO Gain Either

Washington, March 2O.-"The at
tack on Verdun has failed. In all
probability the failure at Verdun
means that the Kaiser has reached
the zenith of his military power. Inc
French line is intact The French
army is as formidable as it was be-
fore the attacks was started"
This statement was used last night
by Il military expert Of nationa! re-
putation in summarizing the sltua-
ton on the western fine.
SIN order to get comprehensive
yicwpoint on the fighting at Vcrdun
il is necessary to review the general
situation from political and mill
tarv standpoint. There can be no
question whatever that the German
offensive at verdun was planned with
joint purpose. The causes were
mixed between poli.ics and military
strategy.
"Thc political element may be dis
posed of with the simple statement
that the German people needed the
report of a great victory to keep up
their backbone They have waited for
many months for the cheering news
that never came to them, and the
politicians at Berlin have been as ae-
tive in their criticism of the Govern
ment as those{ of any other capital.
"But the major consideration was
military. 1t has been evident to Ger
man stratcgists for many months that
If Germany is eve. 20 win this war,
| it must be won before the spring op'
ems. incidentally, the United States
is IA great factor in this conclusion
| Up TO the present time the great
trouble with the allies has been the
shortage of guns.
"Dcspite many wild reports, the
American munition factories have no,
vet begun the shipment of rifles t'
the allies. Up to the present time
less than 100000 American rifles hav!
reached Europe. They were of an oh
solcte type and have been used b!
the Russians only. A few large felt
pieces may be added to this number
with the opening of spring, grea
shipments will commence. 1t is prob
able that within three months al
average of thousands Of rifles VII
be shipped to the allies daily,
"There has been no shortage o
| guns IN Germany, but there has ocel
! tremendous shortage in the alilc
countries. Germany is beginning t
feel ;he results Of the casualties. lie
armies have reached their numerlca
limit. They are failing off The allic
armies have not yet reached the nu
merical limit. They can produce me
as rapidly as they can get guns
"All of this simply leads up to IN
general proposition that it is neees
sarv for Germany to make her tren
cndous drive before summer: hno"
inc all the facts in relation to tn
munition situation, the German sta
decided to make the drive before tn
allies had reached their creates
strength.
"Verdun was picked for two rel
sons. Nominally it was the strons
est point on the line actually 1t W.
: about the weakest, all thing cons''
cred. It was nominally the strongc
because it has been known II
: wears as the French Gibralta
Actually it's strength was reduc'
greatly by the introduction OF mon'
guns of great calibre.
: THE fall, of .Verdun would appe
to the German people as. notfihS q
could appeal to them: 1t would liz
wise be calculated to shatter the ner
q es of the French.
: : @It was the weakest point foni t
! !, line because it represented sale
:, which: from a: military standpoil
!: is always the easiest place to'take.
r Merely to take Verdun would me
ii nothing unless the offensive result
e in piercing the French line. :.
r.Eorder to pierce the line Aerdua mi
.t.bss: reduced So. that the aaalics iwo'
n=fnots be enabled to reinforce the lii
II ia the rear. The one German nc