Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-30

the German people. depressed AS they
wore by prolonged privations. looked
10 'he French front and decided upon
! inc adventure of Verdun
GERMANS CHOOSE vERDUN
FOR THEIR GREAT EFFORT,
me German plan seems originally
10 nave been to concentrate artillery
munitions and men in such force over
united length of front that the on
rush would be Irresistible. They chose
Nerdun because the position of the an
cicnt fortress was such that the de-
renders had their backs TO the River
Mcuse on two sides, and because sue
cess 'hcre would give the greatest pos
Sible prestige with neutral powers
ana the maximum comfort to their own
people. 1t was also possible they
knew what subsequent political events
In France disclosed-that the dcfcnscs
OF Nerdun were not, in view Of the
netn 'acics OF this war. AS strong as
other parts of the front. 1t is the
belief Of military experts that the
Germans hoped to break through the
front there and destroy the French
armies. 1t was imperative that sue
cess he rapid. according TO this view
and when, after three days. the adj
vance WAS checked in the region of
Douaumont tho project had failed.
General Pctain. as an official citation
later revealed. had time to "rc-cstab-
fish delicate situation" There was
no longer hope of breaking through the
French front.
Every yard of ground gained by tho
Germans before Ncrdun since February
- has been at an extremely heavy
sanSuinary cost. The continuing of 50
expensive and fruitless AN operation
has puzzled the critics 1t has been
advanced that the Germans persisted
with the object of cXhaustinC the
French forces and preventing an often
sive by tho allies elsewhere If that
end was in view, the successes OF tho
allies In tho battle of the Somnc SHOW
1t was not attained.
The battle Of Eerdun, il ordered with
tho intention of Interfering with tho
offensive plans Of tho allies. in nowisc
diminished the chances of carryiue
them out. whatever the fate OF the dis
cardcd fortress. it having now no moro
significance apart from the prestige Of
the name than any other point along
the front. Local success there has long
been discounted, and. in military opiu-
ion can have no vital effect, while the
attempting of wastaGc process by the
central powers at this stage of the war
is held To ho illusory and certainly
enormously costly. The central ON
prcs have no longer reserves in such
numbers that they can afford To launch
+.
hope of inficting more damage than
I they suffer.
HEROIC DEFENSE NOTABLE
DEVELOPMENT or WAX
The heroic defense OF Verdum. on tho
other hand, has been for the allies one
of tho notable developments t.; the
war. 1t held German reserves there Ia
rCh numbers as TO put an end - n
elIttinC of troops from front to front.
Tod ty,n TO-,
ACGuians, suffering from the loss Of
prisoners, with perhaps many in
casualties, to the armies under General
E:nssiloG. 1T Obliged the Germans TO
prolong during five months vast
daily expenditure of projcctilcs that
was expected to continue only few
Gays. and has drawn upon their
reserves Of munitions that in :ne or.'.e
OF the Sornme they were able 10 rculN
To- the French and British gums in .hc
rrUI ortion OF only ore shot for three.
The successfu. cefense OF V,rdun and