Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-03
WHAT vEnDuN MEANS.

The struggle at verdun has been
on now for exactly seventy days, i'm
tense artillery fire raging all the time
and massed infantry attacks by the
Germans at frequent intervals Yet,
for losses estimated by the French at
more than 100000, the Germans have
won nothing Of value.
The war, 80 far. may be defined as
tactically a German victory, but stra-
logically German defeat. Or as 1t
was expressed some months ago by
Winston Spencer Churchill, the cpl
sodes favor Germany while the trend
is favorable to the allies.
But the battle OF Verdun now
seems TO be both tactical and a
strategic defeat for Germany. That
Il is a tactical defeat Is certain, but
II may reverse the trend and be shown
eventually to be a strategic victory.
Malplaquet, a frightful carnage.
was taetically a victory for Yelling
ton, but sirategically IL was q defeat
for the Iron Duke. Borodlno was
taclIcally Il victory for Napoleon. but
strafeRicnlly II was one OF the worst
defeats ever encountered BY the Cor
sican. The Wilderness was tacticaily
Lees victory. but strateglcally II WINS
Grants. one of the best military
critics of modern times has said TINT
while Mukden was tactical victory
for the Japanese. It would have been
a strategic victory for the Russians
had ii not been for the disturbances
IN the czaf's empire which prevented
reinforcement and compelled the
Slavs TO send Count White to the
Portsmouth peace conference.
yerdun. as position, Is not worth
one quarter Of the losses the Ger
nuns have expended In their efforts
70 take 1t And despite all of the
crown princes losses. the fortress re
mains In the hands OF the French
after Ypres. after their experience
with the British and French assault
AZ In chapelle, Loos and In tn
Champagne, 1t seemed foolhardy 70
Ian. IT III aaid by authorities that Il
five infantry assaults, the German
uhhed into the sweeping fire of tn
French artillery. machine guns an
rifles with fifteen men massed O
every yard OF front.
The obstinate persistence of tn
Germans in this wastcful bushes
suggests some motive OF deep strate
gieal Significance. While Il is tru,
probably that tho Germans are con
nlitted 10 the attack. there is no CON
pulsion requiring them 70 select Vel
dun for exclusive attention,
In concentrating attacks upon Wei
dun, for seventy days. the Germa
general staff doubtless is animate
Vs. the strategic benefits they Sc
even In failure. by closing on Vei
dun they have compelled their advel
Fary to concentrate there about a
his power Of resistance. and HAY
kept him from organizing that gei
cfai offensive from the North :,
20 the Alps along the ltalian-Au
trian front, IN the Balkans, ana fro
the Rumanlan frontier TO the fialtl
which has been the ultimate purpo
Of the Joffre Kitchener strategy.
they hive done nothing more, Il
Germans have succeeded in postpo
ing that assault which would ha'
ringed The central empires with in
General assault concerted ~
chronoua, by the Russians, BclgiaI
British, French and Italians In III
son. Is what the Germans fear, VII
iheS have SO far prevented, wi
Nerdun has likely DELAYED aga
what the German strategists hope
delay 20 long that peace IN the men
while ran be negotiated. II the k
erai assault Of the allies can be
livered ia perfect unison. there
scarcely a chance that q can be ]
sisted. Certainly the danger 20 I
central empires win be maximum
The hour Of such general assault.