The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-21
NUMBERS AGAINST
FRENCH AT YERDUN
Germans Thus Won an Early
Success, Says Scmi-Offi-
cial statement.
DISADVANTAGE OVERCOME

memorandum given out to-day dealing
with the battle Of verdun gives 'reia-
tive numerical superiority from which
an assaiiant always profits at the begin
ming Of an action as the chief reason
for the German successes in the earlier
Of the attack on Verdun.
When the offensive against the strong
hold began. Il Is explained. the French
could not have afforded throwing huge
forces against them because the attack
might later have developed to have
been merely a feint and tho Germans
might have hurled their own weight
against the French lines at other points.
The memorandum continues:
The greatest difficulty OF the Gen.
eral STAN In such emergencies is TO
master its nerves to a reasonable APP
Of the shock that probably
ID coming and the counter blow 1t is
necessary TO deliver.
Tho French stan vas not surprised
at verdun. What It could not know
was whether this was to be the prin-
cipal attack-whether ten corps were
not ready to strike elsewhere while
seven corps assailed the eastern
stronghold.
Provided for ReenfOrcementa.
The reinforcing OF the troops on
the right bank OF the Meuse before
Verdun with new contingents number
Ing 100000 and the bringing up OF all
needed supplies and ammunition had
provided for In every detail early
in February. and 1t worked out to per-
fiction ~ the battle developed but at
the moment the German guns massed In
unprecedented numbers opened fire on
the morning Of February 81 the French
lines there were held only by the cover
Ing troops stationed there for months.
1T was the same divisions that stood
the frst shock that defended the ground
foot by foot. retard!ng the advance Of
the Germans and ploughing wide fur
rows In their ranks before zach posi-
ton. and finally. by order. holding the
line OF Douaumont-Bra until REINFORCE
ments came w.
The issue of the battle was then Ger
tain to the defenders. The rush for
Nerdun was not only anticipated by the
General Stan. but on analysis appears
clearly logical. In spite of critics who
characterize II as paradoxical. The OPP
portunity to impose battle on an adver-
sary with a river at his back and with
"A single line Of railway communication
exposed to artillery fire was sufficient
to tempt the Germans. whose prepara-
tons were long deliberatei upon and
methodically carried out.
A the beginning of the action the
French left rested on Brabant. Conser-
voye. Haumont and the Caures. form
ing the first position. with Samogn.u
and Hill No. 800 constituting the second
line. In the centre the French held the
vile Woods. Herbebois and Ornes on
me hrsi line. with Beaumont. wavrille.
the Posses. the Chaumc and the eau
rieres.
The right comprised Maucourt. Mogc-
Vile. the Braux Pond. The woods of
Hautes Charrieres aud Fromenzey. with
the second position Of BeZonNcauX
Grand Cinema and Dieppe. Behind these
positions was the line Of forts marked
by the villages of Bras. Douaumont.
Hardaumont. VauN. Laufee and Elk.
A the end OF the first day the Ger
mans had saline a footing only In our
first line trenches at heavy cost, Blu,
the artillery preparations continued. ard
II became evident that the German
tactics were 10 crush the defensive lines
before launching an infantry attack.
Al the end OF the second daI the
sSsiN tIpopS "elt Is1l!IlG tllll,et tn
tirely in the open. All their shelters
had been crushed, the comununica, =.
trenches destroyed and ~" supporting.
works torn up. our artillery, firing AZ a
maximum distance uf zoo wards into
compact masses Of the enemy. spread
death through tic ranks and broke the
impetu OF the attach.
French Lines Hold.
In the night the French troops
evacuated Braba and in the morning
SamogneuX Vas subjected to such a
oombardmen that our projected counter
attacks Wer" Impossible. Further cast
our lines held good under a bDmbatd-
ment OF IL inch and IL inch shells. The
Germans were repulscd at Wa,r!lle al
o O'Clock. Another attack upon Hcrbc-
bois at II 80 O'Clock was resisted until
4:30 o'clock. when. Wavrille having
been taken, our troops were obliged 10
retire. The barrier lire OF our artillery
held tho Germans there.
'Samogneux was in n critical posi-
ton. Our Genera in command IN, Pen
per Hin and Talou lin IN q state OF
defesce, The Germans trying to al
vance from amogncuN.. were several
times checked by our artillery fire aud
left many dead on the field. Two of our
battalions recaptured "A part of the
Wavrille wood, but the Germans turned
Beaumont from the west and the Fosscs
wood from the east. From that time
the situation became grave.
imposing forces Of the adversary adj
vanced between Louvemont and I'M 347.
Ornes was attacked from three sides
simultaneously. but the garrison retired
In good order under cover OF darkness
on ~BezonVeau. In one more night the
A.,A H..