The Washington times., 1917-03-10
VERDUN SAVED BY J.
AUTOMOBILE TRUCKS
ceaseIess Flow of Supplies Is
Due to Perfect 0rganiza-
ton of Cars.

Verdun, like Paris, was saved by
motor trucks. From that memorable
day at the battle OF the Marne in 1914,
when the army of Paris, 10000 strong,
was suddenly thrown on Won Kluck's
flank by means of several thousand
motors and turned the tide of battle,
to the defense of Verdun, which at
this writing is still holding out, is
but a short stretch in which motor
trucks have performed two miracles.
To understand how motor trucks
saved Verdun and why 1t was a mira
Gle, one must first of all understand
the position Of the French at the ia
nous old fortress and the strategy of
he Germans in attacking IL, says The
Scientific American" The German at
tack on Verdun was a political one.
Verdun is to the Germans what Alsace
is to the French, for It must be re-
membered that II was at Verdun that
I the German empire of Charlemagne
was divided. To capture Verdun
would be to break the spirit of the
French people, who considered II an
impregnable bulwark.
Not Miracle Of Single Day.
This miracle of motor transport was
not performed in a day. In fact, II
preparations had not been made
many months in advance 1t would not
have been possible. These prepara-
tions consisted of the building of an
entirely new road to the fortress and
the working out of an intricate sys-
tenn TO handle the thousands upon
thousands OF motor trucks of all kinds
and descriptions which were called
upon to bring forward everything
which the army of defense required.
1t was this most efficient organiza-
tion of the transport that made 1. pos
sible under the most difficult ,condi-
tions to keep the army REINFORCED and
to supply II regularly with ammuni-
tion and rations SO that the troops
we're able to arrest the most deter
mined assaults since the war began.
In addition, natives of the country
behind Verdun were stationed at the
various villages behind the line to di-
rect the truck drivers and maintain
the traffic without congestion. Be-
tween the villages along the line,
myriads of signs reading: ITO Yer
dun" were erected for the guidance
of the transport drivers.
Held I'm Readiness.
Way back in the interior of France,
thousands and thousands of motor
trucks were held in readiness for the
expected attack-some were to carry
beef and rations; others nothing but
ammunitions, and still other supplies
and guns, guns OF all sizes and de-
scriptions-whiIe all were to do their
share on their return trips in rushing
to the base hospitals those of the
wounded who had any chance.
With these preparations made the
decision to defend the fortress was
made. For more than nifty miles back
of Verdun the newly-built highway,
out of range OF the German guns at
all points, was filled with a long
procession of trucks, described BY
those who saw the work as q continu-
Gus stream or torrent more than q
line of vehicular traffic. The prepara-
tory organization was so perfect and
the condition of the trucks SO perfect
ly attended to that there was scarcely
a break in the snakelike procession
which moved forward with clocklIke
regularity. Advancing with their ca
pacity loads, the vehicles discharged
their burdens at predetermined points
behind the front, whence the material
was carried to the trenches by one or
two horse carts. The return. empty
or with wounded, was made like the
advance, with the same military pre-
cision. All day and all night these
great trucks ran, uninterrupted. They
proved the salvation, the miracle of
Verdun.