The Washington times., 1917-01-30
VERDUN, KEY OF EUROPE

just as it was exerted a week or so
earlier in southern Alsace. The time
may soon be at hand for the resump-
ton of active campaigning. Indeed
the entente on their side have COM
menced in what may be the first of a
series of blows simultaneously dealt
on several separate fronts.
During the month of February
operations on all fronts in the pres
ent war are normally practicable. In
rocky highland region such as the
greater part of the line in eastern
France, from the Argonne to the
Swiss frontier, offensive warfare may
be conducted more or less continu-
ously from February throughout the
time when mud and high water make
lower territory impossible. In the
severer Russian winter the ground
and waters become deeply frozen by
February, while the increasing power
of the sun hardens the snow cover.
The month is favorable on that ac-
count to operations of limited dura-
ton in Russia. February, 1915, wit
messed one of Hindenburg's often
sives against Warsaw, that from the
north. The Russians carried on their
siege of Przemysl in February and
took the place in March. In Febru-
airy. 1916, the Grand Duke Nicholas
captured Erzerum, in the Caucasus.
In February, 1916. were conducted
the British operations in Mesopo-
tamia for the relief of Kut. Turks
attacked the Suez canal in February,
1915. 1t would not be surprising,
therefore, if the month that usher
ed in the Crown Princes Verdun
offensive year ago should be mark
ed by military enterprise both about
Verdun and on many other fronts.
Two facts stand out in a situation
as intricate perhaps as any up to
date in the present war. First, Feb
ruary is one of the few months per-
hitting simultaneous offensive action
on almost all fronts. Next, Verdun,
by all the standards of the wars
history and of Europe's geography,
is likely to remain the point of su-
preme Importance in the entire war.
During the latter part of January
minor activities on the western, Rus
sian, Macedonian, and Italian fronts
have Increased remarkably. These
activities have seldom been pressed
to the point of gaining ground, more
seldom still to that of capturing i'm
portant positions. Their purpose has
rather been to prepare for coming
blows of greater intensity. With
either an offensive or a defensive
program, the commander of a strip
of front must try the strength of
those opposing him. The present
constant stir of minor hostilities on
the western front in particular offers
a contrast to the quiet of the same
period a year ago. At that time,
owing to the less prepared state Of
the British face, no entente attack
in France was contemplated, while
the Germans, inferior in number and
not expected to attack, preferred to
prepare their Verdun offensive with
out preliminaries, as a surprise.
1t seems likely that the central
empires have for the time being
abandoned their Roumanian often
sive. Troops drawn back from Rou-
mania might conceivably be sent to
the Russian mid-front or further
north. Signs have multiplied in the
past few months that all is not well
in a military way with Russia. She
failed to support Roumania, and,
what was worse, failed to reveal
even a plan for protecting the Rou-
manians against the concentrated
forces of the Teutons. Political dis
sension in Russia, coupled with scar
city of food and transportation and
with the absence of the earlier ener-
getic military direction, suggests
that Russia's fighting power is suf-
fering a severe breakdown. That
breakdown may be remedied later,
particularly in case of a success of
the western allies. But in the mean
time February is at hand. Teuton
troops are perhaps being drawn from
the Roumanian front and Russia's
state is vulnerable. Hindenburg
rules, and he in turn is ruled by the
principle to press with all the leu
tons force against the eastern front.
February fortunately permits
simultaneous offensives on many
fronts; Verdun, when all is said,
must dominate the entire strategic
plan of the war on either side. The
French have made a generalissiIno of
their most able Verdun commander.
They know that Verdun rules the
war. This Verdun expert is prepared
to fight it out on the Verdun posi-
tons with the whole available power
of France behind him. The with
drawal of the French forces from
almost the whole of the Somme
region leaves the Somme operation