New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-05
Verdun Again.


So far they have taken nothing which ma
terially changes the situation about the
town. and they have lost a considerable
portion of the ground retaken in their
latest action. But it is not possible to
overestimate the value of the fact that 1t
is the French and not the Germans who
are on the offensive about Nerdun.
Hitherto, in the progress of the war, the
Germans have been able TO cover defeat
in one field by success in another. Take
the case of the Marine. At the moment
when the decisive battle of the war was
fought and lost the great victory of Tan
nenberg came and all German attention
was turned eastward; Paris was forgotten
in the great success over the Russians.
When the German people looked west
again the German army was beginning
new drive; it was setting out for Calais.
Again the objective was not attained.
Calais held; the British and French and
Belgian lines along the User and about
Ypres held The defeat Of the Germans
was bloody and complete, but at the mo-
ment the decision became absolute Ger
man armies were approaching Warsaw
and new victory was promised. 1t was
not obtained, but other victories were, and
the success at LODI came in due time.
One could multiply the examples Of this
sort of thing. The attack upon Russia
last summer failed to dispose of Russian
armies by capture or rout, but just at the
moment of failure came the drive through
the Balkans and the dream Of an invasion
of Egypt and the promise Of Berlin-By-
zantium-Bagdad empire seized German
minds and German imagination. After
ward came the drive at Verdun, 10 cover
the disappointment at Suez.
But Verdun ended in failure and was
followed, covered, not by some other Ger
man advance, but by an Allied attack, by
sweeping Russian victories and grave
Anglo French menaces. There was moth
ing to take the attention of the German
mind off the Verdun defeat but the Cali
clan disasters and the Somme dangers.
Hence to the very last moment the Ger
mans have kept up the illusion that the
Verdun operation was going forward; they
are still striving to keep it alive.
Offcially-and the official statement is
accepted as the law and the gospel IN Ger
many-there has been no German failure
in anything since the war began The
legend of an ever victorious Germany is
the main reliance of those who desire to
continue the war at Berlin. But to foster
this illusion it has been necessary to create
the impression that Russia was disposed
of. France exhausted, England incapable
of getting ready.
Verdun was advertised from one end Of
the world TO another as the final blow for
France. 1t was asserted boldly and be-
lieved widely that all French resources
as well as French courage were exhausted
along the Meuse, and if Verdun did not fall
Immediately it was soon to fall and leave
France without men or will to 60 forward.
When the claim that Verdun had fallen
was proven untrue, then there was sub
stituted the legend that at Verdup France
was being destroyed and an Allied often
sive made impossible.
But. with Verdun untaken, Russia
stepped out in Volhynia and Galcia and is
still going forward from victory to victory.
Hndenburg has been summoned to save
the day and Germany rejoices at his call
ing. but there can be no further vitality in
the illusion that Russia is done. Here is
lie. at last, that must be faced.
Then a great Allied offensive breaks out
in the West, and French troops win a con-
siderable area of German trenches and
take many guns and prisoners. AT the
same time British armies break out and
win local successes and worse than this,
make great demands on German resources
in reserves Just at the moment when Aus
tria is clamoring for aid. More German
lies 20 by the board here.
Finally France takes the offensive be-
fore Verdun and makes actual, If incon-
siderable, progress. Unless this is checked
the German legend of slow but sure ad-
vance on Verdun must be surrendered and
Verdun accepted as an absolute German
defeat. Such an admission would necessl-
tate the confession that the Whole OASIS Vi
German claims in the past year is rub
Dish.
Now. all of this will make little impress
sion in the Allied nations, because there the
truth has long been recognized. But the
effect in neutral nations will be consider
able and in Germany still more impressive
Their government has told the German
neonle a number of things all of which are
now proving TO be untrue, and the proof is
at last making itself apparent IN the Ter
man official statements. Indeed German
oficialdom was only the other day moved
20 ask vote of confidence from its public
most amazing and significant circum-
stance.
A third year Of the war is beginning