Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-29

sides. Weeks passed. months went by.
the daily fighting being no fercer,
neither was the intensity lessened one
whit. It was struggle of giants, COW
ering months. each giant, realizing the
Importance of success. straining every
muscle to forestall the foe. Not in the
history of all the world had there been
greater casualties per foot Of ground
gained. Not in the history Of the world
had there been so many men employed
in attacking and defending armies at
single point. The whole world was kept
in suspense. Although the French held
firmly on the immediate outskirts OF the
Verdun itself the Germans gained the
majority of French defenses- The Teu-
tons pushed SO far. but could not gain
another inch. 1t being realized. after cas-
ualties of staggering proportions. which
proved a real menace to themselves.
that verdun was an impossible nut to
crack. The fighting died down on this
front, when the British drive in the
regions of the Somme began to prove
serious, more than three months ago.
Gen. Neville, in command of the French
forces, was well content to see the Ger
mans move large forces in front of him
to other arenas. The Germans. una Bile to
gain their goal. possibly welcomed the
British effort to the northward that
there might be some perfectly valid ex-
cuse for hating the struggle at Yer
dun. Be that as it may. the struggle
died down to the most desultory and
been stated. were content with the lull.
but the French, though waiting, pre-
pared for the future. The Germans were
hanging onto the very edge OF the In
nermost defenses.
They struggled four months to gain a
few miles.
Then the French sprung a surprise.
They struck forward. Within six-and-
-half-hour period the Germans lost all
this dearly bought ground before Verdun.
*
Today they are resting in but one small
section of the region through which the
capture of Yer
T.u+or. Hold dun would most
logically be eff
But One Position. fected. This
ground. which cost tens and tens of
thousands Of lives and untold other cas-
ualties, today rests in the hands Of the
French, who attacked during tho week
from Damloup to a point four and a half
miles to the northwest. The French not
only regained the famous Thiaumont
work, both Douaumont fort and village, the
Damloup battery, but the Haudremont
quarry as well. Their push extended. as
stated, over a front OF four and a half
miles. while in the center Of the line they
rested two miles from the starting point.
On the right wing they were arrested by
the Germans, but which is subjected to
cross fire by the French. The French
gains on other sections Of this immediate
line were smaller. but the immediate
menace to Verdun has ceased to be. This
Is proved by the futility Of numerous
tremendous counter attacks directed by
the Germans against the French positions
in the past few days. |
Unless the Germans reassemble forces
of the proportions used in the earlier
fighting before Verdun there is little rea-
son to expect that the French will not
be able to hold their present positions
The present German forces here are not |
believed capable. from the standpoint Of |
numbers and artillery equipment, Of ma
terially altering the situation. in view Of |
the fact that Paris announces that Gen. |
Neville not only has great forces at hand |
but also greater quantity OF heavy
during the struggle. The result Of future |
German attacks on Verdun are obvious, |
If present conditions continue to prevail. |
The weather at other points along |
the western front has not been pro-
pitious for gem
CnnA;ct A1onp eral fighting
) the River Somme. the ear,y DAYS
of the conflict both north and south
Of the River Soname. but notwithstand-
ing this there have been sharp engage
ments at infrequent intervals, The
British have been engaged with the
Germans near the Stun redoubt and
are declared to have registered ma
terial gains from points Immediately
halcxu fha River Aucre to Courcellette Il
They also have registered small gains /
east Of Guedudecourt and Les Boeufs, |.
while In the immediate vicinity of :
Thievnl they succeeded In obtaining