The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-04-07
HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF GREAT
BATTLES IN EARLIER
TINES.
FIRST ASSAULT In 1892
Approached In the Same Manner ms
In Present Attack-Loss-
es Greater Now.

with curious fidelity to detail In the
struggle for Verdun and In some
of its sidelights. In 1892, as in
1914, the Prussians approached the
fortress by way OF Longway and in
1892, as well as in 1914, Longway
fell after two days bombardment.
The Duke of Brunswick avoided the
armies OF the Marquis de Lafayette
and de Luckner in 1892, and march
ed on verdun, as did the Crown
Prince in 1914. In 1902, as in 1916,
the King of Prussia was a spectator
OF the assault. Then, as in 1916,
the Prussians took the route by Or
mont and Haumont, and approached
the stronghold in exactly the same
sector as In 1916.
6uethe related the passage of the
troops through Samagneux August
80, 1892, to bivouac at Bras. just
south of the Cote du Poivre pepper
HID, the object of furious German
assaults in 1915. Etain, Elk, Man
heufes. as well as samogneux, were
the scene of operations and would,
as today, have figured in the OFF,
cial communique of the revolution
airy government had there been such
a thing.
France Unprepared.
In 1892, as in 1914, France was
unprepared for war. Legislators
had neglected to supply war mater
ial; verdun was armed with only
four pieces of heavy artillery and
had a garrison OF only $500 men;
then as today the cry was more
cannon-more ammunition" that
was the demand made to the revo-
lutionary leaders by Lieut.. Col. Gal
baud, commanding the fortresses.
His cry was unheard, and he solic-
tied and obtained of Lafayette the
privilege OF fighting in the ranks.
Nicolas Joseph Beaurepaire. who
succeeded him, went to his post like
a man approaching suicide.
assure the legislative corps" he
wrote, that when the enemy has
become master of Verdun, Beaure-
paire shall have ceased to live"
The legislative assembly, impress
ed by the fall of Longway. sent g.
900 rifles to verdun-too late. The
Prussian commander had occupied
the place Gin the name of Louis
XVI, and Beaurepaire shot him
self.
The Prussians held verdun in 1892
Just long enough for Kellermann and
Dumouriez to organize counter at
tack.
Verdun has 140 pieces of cannon
and was garrisoned by 5000 troops
in 1870. II was again in the month
of August that the Prussians pour
ed into the Argonne, 1872 years al
mosAday for day, after the surrend-
err of the place to the Duke of Bruins
wick and the suicide of Beaure-
paire.
Strong and Weak.
Tf9 fortress had elements OF both
streISth and weakness then I'm the
estimation of so good an authority
as Marshal Won Moltke himself.
'Thanks to its high walls and its
deep bitches filled with water" he
said, "Verdun was In state to re-
sist an assault absolutely. On the
other hand it was surrounded and
dominated on all sides by heights
and vineyards permitting the be-
siegers to approach very close to the
exterior works"
None of the forts of 1914-15-16
existed in 1870. The interior fort
ress had to rely upon its own
strength. That the heroism Of the
garrison was equal to that of the
men who recaptured Douaumont,
Won Moltke himself testifies in his
memoirs.
During the night of October 49,"
he wrote, "while the wind blew
hurricane, the advance guards on the
Hayvaux Hill wer surprised and the
guns of our battery spiked. The
2sth there was an even more import
ant sortie by the garrison. The
French climbed the Mount Saint
Michael, north of the fortress, de-
stroyed the parapets and shelters
from which we were able to with
draw our guns. Another detach-
ment attacked the Hayvaux Hill
again and put out of action the guns
posted there and which we could not
withdraw because OF the soaked
grounds"
Losses Grow.
Then as today the assailants re-
ouired re-enforcements to reduce the
valiant defenders OF Verdun, A
great difference between 1870 and
today is that while then the losses
~.o.a sixtv m saventy per day. they