Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-26
HISTORY IS REPEATED
IN ASSAULT ON vERDUN
With Fidelity to Detail. Former At.
tacks on Fortress Now Are
Being Reproduced.
PRIZE Or MANY AR,IiE.
Prussians, in 1902. Take Same
Route to Battle for Stronghold as
In f01G-Ihen, as in 1911, France
Was Unpreparcd for War.

! PARIS. March 25-History has re-
pcated itself with curious fidelity to
detail In the struggle for Nerdun and
in some of it's side lights In 1872, as
in 1914, the Prussians approached the
fortress by way of Longwy, and in the
same month of August. In 1899. as
we'll as In 1914, Longwy fell after two
days bombardinent. The Duke Of
Brunswick avoided the armies of the
Marquis dc Lafayette and dc Luckner
| In lT92, and marched on Ncrdun. as
did the Grown Prince i'm 1914. In 1872,
as In 1915. the King OF Prussia was
spectator of the assault. Then, as I'm
i1al6, the Prussians took the route by
Ormont and liaumont and approach ed
the stronghold in exactly the same
sector as in 1916.
Goethe related the passage Of the
troops through Samogneux August 30.
| l792, To bivouac at Bras, just south of
the Cote du roivrc Deeper uilD,, the
object Of furious German assaults in
1916 Etain, Elm, NIanhcullcs. as well
as SamogncuN, were the scene of opera
tions. and would. as to-day. have fig
ured In the official communiuuc of the
revolutionary government had there
! been such a thing.
Ii:GISLATORS NEGLECTED.
, TO FURNISH MUNITIONS
! In 1872. as In 1914. France was UMPIRE
pared for war. Legislators had neg
|
was armed with only four pieces Of
heavy artillery and had n garrison OF
only $500 men; then. rs to-day. the
cry was more cannon, more ammuni-
I ton: that was the demand made to
/ tho revolutionary leaders by Lieu
, tenant Colonel C;albaud, commanding
I the fortrcsseS. His cry was unhcard
and he solicited and obtained Of la
fayette the privilege of fighting in th.
ranks.
! Nicolas Joseph Beaurenaire. who sue
| cccded him. went 10 his post like Il
man approaching suicide. Assure tn.
leg islatirc corps" lie wrote. that
when the enemy has become master ~
Ncrdun Beaurcpaire shall have ceased
| 10 live
The legislative assembly. Impressed
by the fan OF loncwy. sent 1000 rifles
to Ncrduu--too late. The rrussiar com
,nandcr had occupied the place ''im tho
ranc Of Louis NNl.," aud Bcaurcpairc
shot himself
The Prussiaus held Ncr,lun in i,9.
| Just long enough for kcllermanu and
pnmouriez to organize n counterattacR
Nordun had 40 pieces Of cannon and
was Earrisoped by 5000 troops in 1870.
! II was again IN the month OF August
mat the Russians poured into tho Ar
Eonnc, u" years almost day for dav
after the surrender Of the place 10 the
Duke Of Brunswick and IN" suicide Of
Bcaurepaire
The fortress had elements Of both
strength and weakness then in tho cs-
I,lmht"n Of SO good All authority as
| Marsha Won Moitke himself Thanks
| 10 its high walls and it's deem bitches
TILED with water" he said. "Verdun
WAS In state To resist an assault AN
solutclN. ON the other hand i, was
surrounGrd and dominated on all sides
| by heights al the feet OF which were
| villages and vineyards permitting the
I
! the exterior works"
! None of rho forts OF lali-lJ-IG OK
! listed In 1870. The interior fortress had
! "a rely upon its own strength That
the hcroism Of tho garrison was equal
! To mat of the men who rcrapturod
pouaumont Won Moltkc himself testi.
ticS in his memoirs.
During the night of October 10"