Evening journal., 1916-03-27

throne ana upon MS ucdtn the empire
was divided among his three sons,
Louis the German, Charles the Bold
and Lothair. This was done by the
Treaty OF Verdun in S43 Louis took
the right bank of the Rhine; this
became Germany Charles took the
valley of the Seine; this became
France. Lothair took the land be-
tween, and now for a thousand years
the people of Louis the German and
the people OF Charles the Bold have
fought for the kingdom Of Lothair."
1T was at Verdun. then. that
France and Germany first separated"
said Joe.
yes" said Uncle Harry. "and for
that reason it would be very interest
ing If the great battle fought at YER
dun should be the last great battle OF
the war and lead 70 a treaty Of peace.
In all these historic wars" con-
tinued Uncle Harry, "Verdun has
figured prominently. In the tenth
century il was held by the Germans
In the sixteenth century the French
retock r. In 1892 IL fell almost with
out resistance 10 the Prussians and
Austrians; the people OF the city well
coined the Prussians and young girls
strewed flowers in their path as they
marched into the town. Later the
Prussians were driven out and these
young girls were put to death on the
charge OF treason.
"Verdun next fell to the Germans
I'm 1870, but this time it put up a sub
born resistance. The Germans storm
ed ii three different times before Il
fell. After the war II was given back
10 the French and ever since then
has stood as bulwark OF protec-
tion against invaders from the east,
facing as II does the great German
fortress OF Metz, just across the
border"
fright now said Joe, "it is doing
lust that, isn't it-acting bulwarlS
against invaders from the east?'
Indeed il is" answered Uncle Har-
~. solemnly, "and so strong a bull
wark il has proved to be that the civ
ilized world has stood aghast at the
frightful sacrifices in men the Ger
mans have made in the efforts to cap
ture it, Tens Of thousands of men,
men like father and me. have been
8 commanded forward in close ranks,
only to be swept away by the terrific
fire OF the French military and ma
chine guns
"Have more men been killed at
Verdun than were killed when the Al
lies made their advance last Septem-
ber?"
"Yes,' replied Uncle Harry, "foI
this reason: before the generals oi
L.. N ff
charge. they saw 20 il that the Ger
many artillery had been silenced by
the French guns. The Germans ap'
parently have not taken this precau-
tion and sent their men forward in
the teeth of the storm of she'll and
bullets from the French guns"
"Why are the Germans so anxious
to take Nerdun?" asked Joe.
"That is a hard question 90 answer
or course il would be a great thine
for the Germans TO possess this
fortress. but the possession of the
fortress alone hardly seems 70 justify
the terrible cost in men and NUM-
tions. II doesn't open up the road
To Paris for between Nerdun ano
Paris are thousands of square miles
of fortified land already dug into
trenches. The French would retire e
these trenches and keep up the fight.
'No. The Germans motive in at
tacking verdun so savagely is appar.
parently not military; II is largely {
matter OF policy. The capture Of Yer
dun would do much to reassure th'
German people and perhaps to dis
courage the French. 1t would offse
the effect OF the fall OF Erzerum 4
the Russians in Asia Minor, encourag
Turkey which is reported as seekin
peace with the Allies and might in
duce Rumania TO join the war on tn
side OF Germany and Austria, or q
least prevent her from fighting wit
the Allies.
"Then again, the army that strike
always has the advantage. II keep
the opposing army on the defensiy
and prevents it from starting an.
thing Last night when you boys weI
plaving checkers. Joe got the nov
on Jimmy and all Jimmy could d
was e keep his men out OF Joe's wa,
Every time Joe moved. Jimmy had Z
move one OF his men out Of the wa
10 keep II from; being taken That
fhe way. n IS uifh this great war. Per
hans rhe Allies w0uid Ike 70 advancl
fLroueh BalG71u Or make z drive
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