Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-26

ildence that Notwithstanding the ad-
llitteu great strength of the German
drive. Nerdun and its protecting fort
resses would be able to hold ont.
Ihese positions form what has been
regarded as one of the greatest strong
hoids of Europe 1t is the strongest
fortress OF France and is of particular
Importance from the fact that ii of
IerS dlrect communication with Paris,
Whlch IS 30 miles to the west.
Pillar of Outer Rim
Nerdun marks the northerIy noint
OF the great French defenses against
direct attacks from German TERRITORY.
the most southerly being Belfort. as
between these two points lies the
slfetch OF frontier on which Germany
touches France. France has other
fortified points further north. thounh
IN minor importance, as they were
along the line of contact with Belgium
and LuNenburg. The mos. important
probably of these latter was Mau-
peuSe which was taken by the Ger
mans WIN sacrifices to them estimated
at the llme, IN September 1914, as be-
tween $4,000 and 100000. Since that
date no important fortress has fallen
TO the Germans on the western front.
Al the same period desperate effort
was made 10 reduce Verdun and some
OF the incidents of the fighting which
theh occurred were of a memorable
character
During the siege of Fort Troyon.
near Nerdun, in September 1914 the
commander of the fort ceased to repIv
TO the bombardment. The Germans
u was SAID, believing that the fort ha d
peen evacuated and approached in
order TO destroy a redoubt. The com
mander of the fort then set fire to two
carloads of straw inside the structure
no.
ShelS mad started the fire and that
they could easily take the place. ad-
Nanced in close formation. The
French suddenly brought their ma
chlne guns to bear with deadly fire
ana the bodies of 1000 Germans were
Sald TO have been abandoned on the
slopes below Fort Troyon
Lloyd Fearful of Result
a dispatch from London of yester-
days date said that Major General
Sir Francis Lloyd, geenral officer,
commanding the London district. i'm
a speech at the opening of a military
building declared that the battle be-
lore Nerdun was of momentous inn
portance to Great Britain as well as
TO France.
DO YOU realize?" he asked. that
a hight is now going on for a passage
to Paris. The result will hang in the
paldHCe untll the IeutOnS are driven
back, as / have great confidence he
VIII be. But il our allies line is
pierced the way will be open to the
French capital and if that capital is
reached new complexion would be
put on the whole face of the war and
on our lives and being. A German
success on the French front would not
merely mean the loss of Paris but
would endanger London
Loss Not Admitted
The loss of Fort Douaumont, four
miles to the northeast of Verdun, how
ever, is not admitted in to-day's
French official statement, which de-
clares that despite the desperate Ger
man assaults the French have main
tanned their positions
While the German wing on the east
has been driven at Fort Douaumont
and its protecting trenches tine center
of the Crown Princes forces has
worked down the Meuse valley until
it is hammering at the ridge of La
Cote Du Poivre, just south of Louve-
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