Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-03-25
The European Slaughter.

The European Slaughter.
In the desperation Of their cause,
there is little wonder that the Ger
mans are putting forth their fullest
strength in the attack upon Verdun. If
the opinions Of all modern war ex-
perts is to be given credence, Verdun
represents all that careful engineer
ing could make strong in the fortifi-
cation arts Of war. It may be that
there are even stronger points within
the borders Of Germany, but these
have not yet been tested, and may
never be.
But with all of the knowledge held
by Germany regarding the real
strength of Verdun, the wonder is
that she should have picked out this
particular spot on which to direct the
largest and most spectacular of all
Of her attacks in the present war.
Knowing the difficulties at Verdun, it
would appear that the idea was to
create moral lesson before the
world, thus proving not only the in
vincible force behind the German
method Of striking, but also in her
abilities in defense, for she has had
to prove both Of these things in her
up to now impossible drives against
the Verdun stronghold. Attack has
been no more part Of the German
action at Verdun than her plan Of de-
Tense in covering up. Making some
small, and perhaps important gains,
at the same time the real losses have
more than counteracted what she
could claim as an advance. In other
words, the game was not worth the
candle, to paraphrase an old saying.
With all of her gains, the Verdun at
tack has cost tremendously and the
advantage has really had weaken
ing effect.
Why Germany did not concentrate
at some point of greater weakness
than at Verdun is inexplicable. There
are many other points along that
great battle front that would have
given her arms at least chance for
greater advance, even if she did not
finally reach Paris, the coveted goal
If sacrifice had to come, why was
it not conferred in direction where
there was q semblance of a show?
Perhaps the long siege at Verdun
may yet bear fruit. But granting
that to be possible, gaining Verdun,
what advantage is held? There are
still many more hazardous heights to
beat down before the sight of Paris
comes. And before that day arrives,
Germany may have fallen to her
knees in sheer exhaustion. No pos
sible gain can possibly compensate
for the terrific losses she has placed
upon herself.
Having proven herself incapable of
fighting successfully as many enemies
as have gathered around her, Ger
many were better off in suing for an
honorable peace, than in continuing
this long, terrible struggle which will
leave her suppliant before the worll.
Nobody but her enemies wants to see
Germany Inundated any further.
In the war as waged so far, she has
had all the advantage on land. She
has swept everything before her in
all Of her drives except in France,
and even there she has not yet lost
her first big drive for position
through Belgium. She outfought
Russia after the latter country had
taken 9 great advantage in Hungaria.
She drove the Servians out of their
own country, but she was halted by
France and the English, and has re-
manned halted. On the sea, she is
still powerless, even her submarines
being impotent for the most part.
And still she refuses to learn her
lesson. There is no stubborness like
that of man who is whipped and
does not know it. Germany is still
able to stand and deliver tremendous
blows, but where does all this power