New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-26

yerdun will be in French hands.
This will terminate the chapter
which Verdun has made in the world
war; this will make good for all time
the glorious words of the French SOL
diers defending the Vauban fortress;
this will make the famous phrase
"They shall not pass" an accurate
nrophecy. as it was a noble resolve.
Verdun will then become in French
history what Saragossa was IN
SPANS battle against Napoleon.
It is too early to draw broad con-
illusions from the French success,
even if the ground gained is held.
There is no present prospect Of an
offensive toward Metz; there IS no
,arce hope of a crushing in of the
St. Mihiel salient, which must be the
first step. What the French victory
means is that in a few minutes the
French have retaken almost all the
ground of prime military Importance
which the Germans took IN their
months of effort at Verdun. Verdun
has practically been restored to the
condition of a bulwark against Ger
man invasion. A very little further
gain and Verdun will be as defensl-
BILE position as it was before the
Crown Prince began in February MS
terrific attack.
There is no mystery about the sue
cess. The Germans have unmistaK-
sblv underestimate the French re-
serves. or else they have been so put
to II for reserves themselves, both be-
cause of the Somme drive and their
own Rumanian campaign, that they
have resolved upon the sacrifice OF
ground before Verdun, which would
he of value only if they were still
resolved to resume their attack upon
the Lorraine town at later date.
We may see in this affair the clear
evidence of the decision of linden
burg to make sacrifices in the west
To contribute to successes in the East.
If this be the case no one should
r,;s+ake the fact that the profit is
with the Germans. 1t is a cheering
thing for the French to abolish a
peril and confirm a great national
achievement, but in the wider view
Of the war the Rumanian victories
are far more important to Germany
than the possession of those hard
won trenches on the heights OF the
Meuse, which, at most, only opened
the road to the occupation of the ash
heap which was once Verdun.
On the other hand, the French
triumph is one more indication OF the
fact that the French are, as yet, the
only troops that are to be compared
with the German in the present war
France. as the Kaiser said many
months ago, is still the chief enemy
of Germany, and both at the Somme
and before Verdun the successes
won by the French, the moment the
Germans thinned their lines to the
danger point, are indications OF how
splendid an instrument the french
army is now, after the terrible sac
rifces and losses of two years OF
constant fighting.
The relief of Verdun is not sue
cess that will counterbalance the
German conquests in Rumania, on
the military side, but on the moral
side il will be new confirmation to
/ the French of their growing convic-
ton that victory is assured, how
ever long the road. Verdun, like the
Marine, is wholly French triumph
neither in the earlier nor in the sub
seouent success did France receive
anv aid of Importance from an ally,
and these two triumphs are the
greatest contributions on the mill
tarv side TO the war against Ger
many.
Those who were in France during
the long and terrible agony Of Yer
dun will best appreciate what the
new success will mean to every
Frenchman from the Mouse to the
Pvrenees. The second Of the labors
Of Hercules has been performed; the
Aood of barbarism and destruction
has q second time been thrown back
from the heart of France; the human
dixie has once more held against the
Huns; there will not be a second out
break of rape, murder and arson by
German soldiers and officers in the
French villages and towns OF Lor'
raine. Half a million German cas-
ualties, quarter of million French
casualties-this is the measure of the
cost of Verdun, but at terrible
price France has saved Europe
again, saved herself, and at colos'
sal sacrifice the Germans have wor
nothing. The decision Of the Marine
has been confirmed at Verdun; the