Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-27
BY HENRY WOOD.

which demonstrated as never AT any
previous period of the war the equal
IN inexhaustible resources of her fl
nancial and economic energy, and the
absolutely mistaken determination
pf moth OF her army ad her civil pop
ulation TO continue the war to a sue
cessful close.
Two epic events were the launching
ON October "a Of the French offensive
nj Verdun, in which practically all
the ground and positions won by the
Grown Princes armies In six months
OF sanguinary fighting we're recon
ouered within six hours with a mini
mum OF losses for the French, and
secondly, the subscribing by the
French nation as a whole IN three
weeks, from October 5 10 October ~,
of an unprecedented war loan OF
nearly 1900 100000 dollars.
The third was the reorganization
OF Frances Cabinet along the lines OF
compactness and efficiency which Da-
vid Lloyd George introduced m Eng
land. Premier BRAND remained at
the head OF the ministry, and Jotre'
idol of France, and former general
issimo OF her forces, while still re-
tanning supreme command OF French
forces. become counsellor TO the war
council. General Nivelle, defender OF
Verdtin. and one of the popular ne
roes of the army. was made comman-
der OF French forces in the norm
and northeast
While the French victory al Yer
dun. taken entirely by itself, stands
out as an unparalleled achievement
In the military history Of the world
yot It's real significance in the pres
emit war. is only apparent when II Is
viewed in connection with all that had
preceded il.
When the Germans launched their
great offensive at Verdun on Febru-
arv II. no secret was made Of at least
two OF the object which the Germans
had in view. one Of these was to
nrevent the Allies from starting their
combines unique offensive, and inc
other was to deliver an absolute death
blow to France.
While the Germans failed 10 reach
Verdun. and while their great effort
tailed to prevent the launching Of the
Allied offensive, yet they openly
boasted that at least one Of their OBJ
iectives had been attained-namely
that they had caused France to bleed
utter exhaustion before Verdun. and
that henceforward she would be in
capable Of further military effort
Despite this boast, and despite the
losses which France undeniably sus-
tanned before Verdun. she launched
on July /, in connection with the
English the offensive on the Somme
which has never been checked for
single instant, and in which, in add.
ton to all OF the villages and ground
regained. all the losses in dead and
wounded inflicted on the enemy. the
French themselves, Independent OIL
what tho English have done, have
captured over $4,000 prisoners, ovei
900 cannon and over 600 machine
uIns
1t was while still conducting this
vigorous offensive on the Somme
which the Germans had boosted
France would never be able to launcl
as a result OF her losses at Verdun
that France on October "a. Launched
even a second offensive, this time
choosing the Germans own ground a
Verdun. where all of Germany's grea
infantry and artillery strength HAD
been concentrated for eight months.
This offensive France launched al
alone, without the slightest help from
any OF her Allies, and carried Il Il
such a successful conclusion that thu
Germans withdrew from the Fort o
Vaux, without even fighting
While this great operation at Yer
dun revealed to the entire world thu
present military strength Of France
after two years Of unprecedented
warfare. il revealed also TO the NOR
expert eyes of the military critics o
Europe. something equally important
and that is the present 'militar,
genius of France Almost withOu
exception competent military critic
and authorities I'm Europe are unani
nous in declaring the French omen
sive at Verdun one Of the most re
markable military operations in tn
worlds history.
The offensive, as planned, inciudel
the taking of over half dozen posi-
lions. such as Haudromont Quarries
Thiaumont and DouamOnt. every on
of which the Germans had been week
aud months in capturing, and ever
one of which would ordinarily be con
sidered an objective in itself for
great offensive movement. The in
Guiding Of all these detectives in
single movement, and the attainmen
Of them in six hours of fighting, /
conceded by European military critic
to have only been possible by the at
tainment of a degree Of coordination
between infantry. artillery and aeria
service. never before attained, and b
the development OF a degree of geniu
on the part Of the French commander
which shows France conclusivelyi a
The highest point of the militar
mower she has developed in the pres
ent war
or the morale OF the men who &C
complshed this great achievement
can speak personally A few day
after the reoccupation Of Vaux.
visited the troops in their front lin
trenches before the fort. They la
been there for days under a terrifi
bombardment suffering hardship
that IL seemed uncomfortable that hu
man beings could sustain, living a
existence that seemed to make tn
lot OF their comrades whose dea
bodies lay. wind and rain beaten i
the adjacent shell holes. one to b
desired and preferred thousan
times over. And yet, these men wer
cav: CAV with the consciousness Z
men who have done their duty, an
cav with the consciousness that the