Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-02

enough for the innovations when
have been made in the art of warfare.
Hungarian Views
As contrasted with the Views OF the
high French authority | have quoted
/ the opinions Of an officer of the Hun
garlan general staff now on duty In
! Budapest concerning the Verdun op-
Grafton may be of interest. They were
! obtained there by "A journalist VINO
! Is acting as a secret agent ana TOOK
I some days to reach London and Par-
is by roundabout route. The oificer
said. "The attack on Verdun Is one
| of the most momentous undertakings
since the dash for Paris at the be-
ginning OF the war. Its failure would
! be more disastrous than was the re-
! treat from the Marne for the mill
! tary as well as the political aims in
/ view are rs important as was the orig
inal idea of the capture OF Paris. The
real obpect of the attack Is not Ner-
dun, but the breaking of the French
| llne at that point. The fortresses, II
captured. would only serve as strong
| holds behind the German army. a
| duty they at present fulfill for the
| French
The French linn turns toward the
west at Verdun and closes the line
of the Meuse. The river makes II
! impossible for the Germans to cross
in strength enough to attempt a break
through in the direction of Bar-le-
! Due. which lies on the banks Of the
Marne Rhine canal. With the
fall OF Verdun the Germans
would come in possession of
the whole Meusc line south
Of st. Mihiel. whore they hold foot
ing on the western bank. If the
Germans were able to cross the Meuse
not only would the Verdun-Toul line
Of Notifications. but also the Epinal-
Belfort fort system. be encircled. and
the French would be obliged to with
draw their whole line on the frontiers
of Alsace-Lorraine in order not to
lose their line of communication with
the main forces west of Verdun
The fall of Verdun would thus be
or enormous Importance to the Ger
mans, and would rival the Dunaj jec
success in the east as regard the
strategic and political significance,
besides securing the same kind of re-
suits. It's effects would be felt not
only by the line in the vicinity of
Ncrdun. but also by the verdun-
Eheims-Soissons line, which would
also have to be withdrawn, through
Chalons-surNlarne in southwest
erly direction. in order to rcarrangc
its communications with the right
wing. In this case the French line
would also be considerably extended
which. on their part, would mean the
throwing into line of their reserves
AS the result of the decrease OF their
reserves the long line would in no
place be defended strongly enough to
Withstand "A more formidable attack
'"The progress of the battle thus far
does not point to an early realization
of these expectations, as was the case
at the Dunajec, where three days
fighting brought satisfactory results
The Germans. however, are relying
on the cumulative effects OF small
gains as being likely in the long run
to lead them to their goal"
If the battle around Nerdun ends
as | think it will. the above will he
read with pleasure by partisans of the
allies as indicating by how much the
Germans missed their goal. II the
Germans succeed al Verdun. the
opinions of the Austrian officer may
give an indication of their ultimate
aim. Comment of this nature is rig
idly suppressed in the press of the