Evening star., 1916-11-05

capital into a great speculation and
they were compelled to put new money
IN to protect the old.
Heavy Losses on Both Sides.
In the end they lost the whole in
vestment. In men. verdun cost them
above 100000 killed. wounded and cap
tured. 1t cost the French 100000, of
whom 10000 at the most were cap
tured. In the first days the French
losses in artillery and prisoners were
very large: After the first days there
was an end of this wastage. The Ger
but they increased with each fresh at
tack. while the French diminished as
they restored their lines and moved
up their heavy artillery.
Measured by distance covered, the
allied advance at the Somme has al
ready exceeded that of the Germans
at Verdun. Together the allies have
taken twice as many prisoners and
twice as many cannon. They are still
gaining. German estimates of their
losses place them above the allied es-
innate of French losses at Verdun, but
British and French estimates put Ger
man losses in the Somme battle above
those OF the French at the Meuse. We
can only estimate the value of the
Somme when we know the casualty
lists, but, measured by ground cap
tured. 1t is greater gain than Ger
many made at Verdun.
Reverses at Other Points.
But the measure Of verdun is not
alone In the casualty list and the allied
offensive on the Somme Because Ger
many decided to go west Russia won
her great Galician victories, captured
100000 German and Austrian prisoners
and 10000 square miles of territory,
while Italy got Gorilla. Finally Ru-
mania came in and took of Russia's
hands the great German army then pre-
pairing for an attack upon Russia. Ger
many was compelled to use this army
against a new foe; she has used IL ef
fecttvely, but she might have used it
with equal effect against the old foes
If Verdun had not occurred.
And now we see the anal chapter At
Verdun. On October 81. exactly eight
months to the day after the first Ger
man drive. the French leave their
mans for their great bombardment, re-
take Douaumont fort and village.
Thiaumont farm and work. Damloup
battery: the famous forests of La Cai-
lette. Chenois, Fumin, the Quarries of
Haudromont, inclose Vaux on three
sides and, save for Vaux. retake all
the ground inside the old entrenched
camp Of Verdun which Germany has
many is now back of the position she
held February rs, save at Vaux, and
the fate OF Vaux Is sealed.
This venture cost the French In total
casualties less than 1000 men: they
took more than 5000 German prison
ers. All told the fighting lasted three
hours. The advance from Douaumont
to Fleury, two short miles, had taken
the Germans exactly four months.
Secret of French Success.
What is the secret of the French sue
cess? Mainly it is to be found in the
fact that German artillery has been re-
moved from before Verdun to meet the
allies thrust in the battle Of the
Somme. Thither troops also have gone.
All the advantages the Germans pos
October: the one advantage they al
ways had. their uncomfortable spirit,
they never lost, and the Germans never
acquired.
On April 6. three days before the last
general attack of the Germans. l saw
a French division fling through YER
dun on it's way to the firing line. I
saw the men as they moved through
watched the lines flow by, marching to
the sound of the guns. And having
seen the men. ! came away convinced
that Verdun would not fall and the
kaiser's army would not pass. And 1t
is the faces of these men that rise be-
tablished. when Verdun has become as
memorable a French victory over the
Prussians as Valmy and not less sig
nifcant for mankind.