IMPREGNABLE VERDUN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 65, 16 March 1916, Page 5

IMPREGNABLE VERDUN.

REMOTE CHANCES OF FALLING. A MAZE OF BARBED WIRE. March 13. Continuing his description of the de« fences of Verdun, Mr. Frederick VilUers, the veteran British war correspondent, who has juet arrived here, docs not hesitate to say that the chances of the Germans breaking the Allied line are very remote indeed. The defensive works are marvellously designed. "There is a ring of forts;" he says, "but - these are not expected-to-play-a very important part in the defensive' operations. So, if one reads, 'Fort fallen/ it should carry very little significance. "The hills at Verdun, are apparently bare, b,ut. as one approaches them, line upon line of what at first glance cee-Ji to be the supports of vines can be seen. The whole country" for miles looks for all the world like an immense vineyard. .The only difference is that.the supports are made of the very strongest barbed wire. "At the highest ■ parts machine-guiis are hidden, and, ebould the {Jcrmane succeed in destroying the -entanglements by using up immense' quantities of high explosive shells, they would find it a difficult matter to get past those machine-guns.' It'has been found- that one. machine-gun is capable -of--holding up a battalion."