The Washington times., 1916-04-11
vHRDUN AND GETTYSBURG

a Texan, gave all assurance Of his
firm loyalty to the. reconstructed
Union; but he admitted that every
time he heard a band play "Dixie"
he instinctively pulled himself down
a'little in his seat and indulged the
"wish that Pickett had"
II he had, the story Of the civil
war might have been very different;
and then again it might not have
been essentially so. Pickett might
have taken Cemetery Hill, and yet
never have occupied Philadelphia or
seriously menaced New York.
Around Verdun, the Gettysburg Of
the present war is seemingly at the
stage Of the determinative charge.
Like Gettysburg, the way has been
prepared for the last grand test Of
the bayonet. Artillery has thundered
at the trenches Of the French line
for many days; various detached
movements have been directed by the
Germans toward opening the way for
the final drive; and now it is pretty
apparent that if the determinative
onset is not actually in progress, it
is about to begin.
Verdun has ceased to be an i'm
portant factor in the contest. When
men in millions struggle for posses
sion Of a citadel, the human factor
is vastly more significant than the
fortified position. This war has
taught that lesson. Joffre and
French could not save the French
fortress; but, falling back to the
Marne, they were able to defeat the
onslaught of the Prussian arms.
Fifty days, now, the battle for
Verdun has been in progress. 1t is
described as the greatest battle in
the worlds history, and probably it
is entitled to that distinction; but
the present war has so many times
discounted all the earlier struggles
of iron and blood that it is becom-
ing impossible to realize and COM
pare elements and quantities.
AS the last resort, it is generally
believed, the Prussian guard will be
hurled into the assault, with the
purpose to crush in the line OF
French defenses and break up the
army of Joffre. That the French
have held out so long; that even
now they are reported hurting back
the most tremendous assaults, main.
tanned hour after hour, day after
day; that the Germans have sus.
tanned almost unbelievable losses
that troops Of the last German line
of landsturm and of the French 1910
class of boy reserves have been used
extensively in this struggle, sug.
gests how supremely important it ID
to both sides.
II Verdun is not taken, the Ger.
man offensive will have failed in its
greatest effort. 1t will hardly be
possible for the Prussian military
machine to gather itself for another
sacrifice Of the same character anC
magnitude. The German nation will
not keep its nerves in hand forever
in the face of such frightful sacri
fees as are now being offered up il
the Verdun hell. There will be more
talk of peace, and more insisten'
talk, in Germany. There will bt
more insistence on satisfactory terms
to the allies.
Mr.. Asquith talked last night o.
the entente view of the situation
He ought to understand what hi
war Office knows about the real sit
uation at Verdun. He was nevel
more calmly confident, more coldl,
unresponsive to impossible propos
ais such as the German chancellor
had put forward. Seemingly, Londol
and Paris are sure, either that Yer
dun will not fall or else that, falling
it will not inAict irreparable disaster
on them.