The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-26

DoImumont. At the same moment
Fort Souville flashed word that Dou-
aumont had been captured. Ii was
With their somme offensive perms-
nently established, the French launched
this supplementary offensive ut Verdun
on october %. eight months to the day
after beginning OF the crown princes
great effort Within six hours they had
recaptured all the important positions
east of the Meuse. excepting Vaux.
which II had cost the Germans six
months and terrible toll In human lives
to conquer.
the Germans were weakest through the
transfer of troops and cannon to the
Somme and because of the unrelenting
work of destruction wrought by French
guns. French av!ators had established
the fact that many German batteries ON
the Verdun front consisted of a single
gun, and others OF only two or three.
All From Verdun.
Since the Inauguration of the allies
Somme offensive. the only German re-
endorsements sent to that battlefield
were drawn from Verdun. This last
source of supply has now been cut on.
in the opinion of French officers.
The French Verdun offensive Is backed
with more organization and preparation
tina npreced the Somfne offensive. Both
offens.ves, proceeding simultaneously.
are calculated TO crumple the entire
German front
Approaching verdun Sunday, on the
second day of the artillery preparation
we reached Souilly. A moment later a
bugler sounded the alarm. Two German
acceptance flying at invisible attitudes
lines.
The streets were filled with girls
dressed In white and white-ribboned
boys gong to thir first communion
They scurried into cellars until French
planes appeared and drove the German,
back over their own lines.
Roar Increased.
En- route from Souilly to Verdun. the
roar Of French artillery preparation In
, creased steadily. The aerial activity as
sunted proportions I had not witnessed
! before. even on the Somme front. Ger
( sky, throughout the dax fecksd will
! white shrapnel. and the puffs from
| black. high explosive shells, executing
! a 'veritable barrage against the airmei
for the double purpose OF driving then
| back and obscuring their observation.
| On Sunday evening. the Germans
! fearing an immediate attack, launched
a terrific barrage, using 900 guns. o.
I Monday the French resumed their prep
1 aration.
At the height OF the bombardmen
a 400-millimeter caliber shell strucl
| in the center of Douaumont. The ex
I plosion was visible on the entir
front, and hames burst forth from
three sides of the fort.
| Monday night. French officers re
! ported, more than 100 Germans an,
/ three officers deserted and surrend
| cred to the French rSher than fac
the impending attack. They are SAT
to have given up valuable informa
ton.
Resumed Bombardment.
On Tuesday the French resumed tn
bombardment more violently than ever
Half an hour before the attack was be
gun we visited Verdun and were show
the operations of the machinery OF tn
vast subterranean city, with It's wate
and electric plants. bakeries. and evei
printing presses operating In their usua
methodical manner The garrison thea
ter even had a performance schedule,
for that evening. though all the soldier
| knew and were elated at the prospec
that they were about to begin a grea
Offensive, after eight months of de
fensive fighting.
! a French general. speaking in Eng
fish. drank a toast to America, whicl
he declared to be the greatest sickle
for the rights Of humanity He proud
| showed a laureaf wreath sent to tn
heroic defenders of Verdun by tw
Americans. the Baroness Muro and Mr.,
i Diefenthaler. both Of New Canaan
Conn.