The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-27

been fought over for many centuries by
the people of the west who today are
the French and the peoples Of the east
who today are the Germans"
Tell us all about It. Uncle Harry"
said Joe.
"verdun." said Uncle Harry, "is a
city thousands of years old 1t was
an important town at the time OF the
Roman conquest"
About 80 d. c." said Jimmy quietly.
Right you are" said Uncle Harry,
smiling. ut was destroyed by the
barbarlans in the early part OF the
Christian era but rebuilt shortly after
wards.
''In the early part OF the ninth CEN
fury. 1t was naturally part of the great
empire OF Charles the Great. Then
upon his death the empire was divided
among his three sons. Louis the Ger
man. Charles the Bold and Lothair.
This was done by the Treaty of VcF-
dun In Sl2. Louis took the right bank
of the Rhine; this became Germany.
Charles took the valley Of the Seine;
this became France. Lothair took the
mad between. and now for a thousand
years the people of Louis the German
and the people of Charles the Bold have
fought fr 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 II would be very interesting
II the great battle fought at Verdun
should be the last great battle of the
war and lead to treaty of peace.
I'm all these historic wars" con-
tinued Uncle Harry. "Verdun has fig
ured prominently. In the tenth century
1t was held by the Germans.
In the sixteenth century the French
retook It. In 1872 1t fell almost without
resistance to the Prussians and AUS
trians; the people OF the city welcomed
the Prussians. and Young girls strewcd
flowers In their path as they marched
Into the town. Later the Prussians
were driven out and these young girls
We're put to death on the charge Of
''verdun next fell to the Germans in
1870, but this time II put UP a stubborn
resistance. The Germans storncd Il
three different times before 1t fell.
After the war 1t was given back to
the French, and ever since then has
stood as bulwark of protection
against invaders from the east facing
as II does the great German fortress OF
Metz. Just across the border"
Right now" said Joe, at Is doing
Just that. isn't it-acting as a 'bulwark
against invaders from the east?"
Indeed II is, answered Uncle Harry.
solemnly, land so strong a bulwark IL
has proved to be that the civilized world
has stood aghast at the frightful sacri-
fees in men the Germans have made in
the efforts to capture 1t.
Tens of thousands OF men, men like
father and me, have been commanded
forward in close ranks only to be
swept away by the terrific fire of the
French military AMI machine gins"
Have more men been killed at Yer
dun than were killed when the allies
made their advance last September"
YES" replied Uncle Harry. FOR this
reason: before the generals OF tie allies
gave the command to charge, they saw
to It that the German artillery had been
silenced by the French, guns.
THE Germans apparently have no;
taken this precaution and sent Their
men forward in the teeth Of the storm
of shell and bullets from the French
guns"
"Why are the Germans so anxious tc
take Verdun?" asked Joe.
That is a hard question to answer
OF course. II would be great thing
for the Germans to possess this fortress
but the possession of the fortress alone
hardly seems to Justify the terrible cost
in men and munitions.
1T doesn't open up the road TO PRrl,
for between Verdun and Paris are thou