The sun., 1916-12-24

Not 90 for the French General
Stan. Tho high French commanders
knew that the German menace at
Verdun was still strong.
On July 81 the Crown Prince, ha-
ranguing his troops. said: Now that
the Allies have begun their great often.
sive on the Somme. the French figure
that we will have to release our grip
on verdun. They will find that they
are deceivins themselves"
Gen. Nivelle realized this during the
months in which he was fighting under
Gen. Petain at Verdun. He knew all
along that only by a strong general
offensive On the Verdun front itself
could the Germans be driven back. He
abandoned the method which had given
local victories to the French on both
sides Of the Mouse in favor OF a series
Of coordinated operations covering the
entire front on the eastern bank OF the
river.
Learning through his intelligence
officers that the Crown Prince had
twenty-one battalions In the first line.
seven in support and ten in reserve
on the Douaumont-Va ux front. Gen.
N1velle decided TO employ against this
force only three divisions. He sent
these divisions behind the lines for a
rest. The instructions he gave to his
subordinate commanders were detailed
to the m!nutest degree. a plan OF
Douaumont Fort was drawn so accu-
rately that when the troops finally en-
tered the fort each man o automati-
cally the position which had been as
signed to him in Nivelle's scheme.
"Twenty-seven months OF war"
wrote Gen. Nivelle on October II.
Eight months Of fighting at Verdun.
have affirmed and confirm every day
the superiority OF the French soldier
over the German soldier. Artillery OF
exceptional power will master the en-
envy artillery and pen the road for
the attack. The preparation in every
detail IL perfect. as perfect as possible"
In his Anal instructions to the divts-
ion commanders Gen. Nivelle laid down
the exact lines representing the first
and second detectives of the operation
to be carried out on October "a. He
ordered a rest Of a certain number OF
minutes between the arrival at the first
objective and the departure for the
second. this period to he occupied in
consolidating the ground won.
Instead OF arranging for signals to
repor, he progress of the troops, their
advance was regulated by the clock.
The instructions for the guidance OF
troops on their arrival at their primary
or secondary objective were such that
there was not the slightest delay in
consolidating the positions, lone OF the
uncertainty which often enables an
enemy to deliver a successful counter
attack at the very moment the attack
ers are celebrating their victory.
Promptly at 11:40 the three di.
visions formed In line and started for
their detectives: the Guyot de Salins
Division reinforced by the Eleventh In
fantry Regiment. from the Haudro-
mont quarry to Douaumont fort. which
it was instructed to occupy: the Pas
saga Division. from the southeast and
northeast angles Of Douaumont fort
to the Fontaines ravine: finally the
Lardemelle Division. reinforced by tho
Thirtieth Infantry. between Fumin
wood and Horgne Valley. in front Of
Vaux fort.
Gen. Guyot Dc salins in his order Of
the day said:
ITO the - Division, celebrated
already by its brilliant exploits on tho
User. at hill 304. at Vaux-C hapitre. at
Fleury. falls the high honor of recap
turing Douaumont fort. Zouaves.
Moroccans. sharpshooters. senegalese
will vie in valor to inscribe a fresh
victory on their glorious banners"
And Gen. Passage, stimulating his
troops by an appeal to their spirit OF
emulation. issued this order:
ION our left will be fighting the
i Division, already renowned;
composed OF Zouaves, Moroccans and
Algerians, 1t Is going to dispute the
honor Of capturing Douaumont fort.
Comrades. let us realize that they can
depend on us to assist them. to open
the gate. to share their glory"
Thick fog covered the valleys of tho
Mouse and the series OF heights as the
troops left their lines. The officers
marched compass In hand, without
haste. in order. over the muddy. shell
torn ground where care had to be
taken not to slip into a morass or a
hole. Aviators flying very low over the
advancing infantry were able to keep
the commanders informed of the prog
ress of the various organizations
Telephone service was kept up with
! the general headquarters OF the Yer
dun front. Thus Gen. Mangin was able
to follow step by step the movements
Of the great attack, of which he was
in immediate charge. As the minutes
, passed no learned that the first oh
, ~jective had been reached. that the
French losses were insignificant, that
the Germans were surrendering, that
the position was being organized. that
all was ready for a further advance
!, that the troops were on again.
About $3.50 In the afternoon the
. wind swept aside the clouds. tho foi
lifted, and from the observation posts
! tho watchers could see In the clear
! air tho French troops climbing up the
. slopes to Douaumont, which the,
reached at 3 o'clock. Tho first OBJ
1ective was Won
Along the entire front messages o
victory were sent back. Haudroinont
the Dame and Couleuvrc ravines
Thiaumont, the village Of Douaumont
the Caiilette wood. the Fausse-Cot'
! ravine. Fumin wood. tho i,amloup bat
terry, all the positions No holly Tough
for throughout eight months. scenes o