IMPREGNABLE VERDUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2618, 13 November 1915, Page 6

IMPREGNABLE VERDUN

A VISIT AND IMPRESSIONS

WHY IT "FEELS" SAFE

Gorman armies under tho Prussian Crown Prince and Prince Ruprecht of Havana surround Verdun in a threequarter circle, and shells from the great licrman long-range guns have fallen into, thp city. But the French aro confident of holding this important fortress against the most terrific German bombardment, against tlio mightiest German "drive." Outside, there aro, of course, tho fivo or six rings of trenches filled with veterans and the girdling entanglements of American barbed wire. But there aro also tho secret underground defences and retreats, which a United Press correspondent /was permitted to see, and which ho describes in a. letter printed in the New York "Sun." He says:

Wo wont down winding stairs— down, down until I was dizzy—into tho bowels of the earth under the forts; wo ventured into the deepest of tlio dungeons, whore miles and miles of corridors are filled with miles and miles of foodstuffs, ammunition,' and the like in broad, tall rows;" we saw tho general staff at work in sorno of these corridors now rigged np as offices; we saw the whole plant, and, lastly, we were admitted to the underground retreat of the general.

"You may say," he said, "that we are prepared to defend this city until the last round of ammunition'is gone and tho last man dead."

The subterranean chambers of tlie citadel of Verdun can accommodato at least 50,C00 pooplo witli tho supplies necessary to their, comparative comfort. In Juno tho Germans shelled Verdun with 380 millimeter long-range guns-, twenty-six shells falling on t-iio town. Not much damage was dono, but profiting by tho experience of Dunkirk, which was several times bombarded from a position twenty miles away, the authorities at once set about making Verdun "safe."

This was done by using the corridors and chambers under tho citadel as a. place to lodge the troops of the l garrison, and, if need be, the civil population as well. These underground spaces date back for tho most part about thirty years, 'and are from 100 to 200 feet below the surface. They aro cut almost entirely in rock, but have false walls and ceilings of brick, with space between the bricks and rock for ventilation, chimneys ascending to the surfaco at intervals, creating, a natural draft. :

Subway voyagers in New York would find these underground passages delightfully invigorating. One hnds innumerable beds or bunks in two tiers. There is a hospital with a spotless oper-ating-room. An independent waterworks system,' with two power-stations (in case one goes wrong), has a capacity sufficient for the needs of 50,000 people. _ There is an immense store of grain, in air-tigL't metal casks, and a large grist-mill to turn the grain into flour. A bakery has sufficient ovens to furnish all soldiers and civilians in the fortress with bread. Besides the grain there is flour—much being from America—in sealed metal boxes; there aro also canned meats in enormous quantities.

Also there are stores of lard, canned milk, and many other necessities, nono: of these things being drawn upon at present. They will ba used only in caso Verdun is invested.

Narrow-gauge railways run through tho corridors to haul food-supplies, ammunition, etc. Five clcctric light plants guarantee tho placo against darkness, and there are two more now being built as an extra precaution. Officers' quarters have been prepared in one of the subterranean passages, theso beino; simply small rooms built of thin-boarding to provide a modicum of privacy. On the door of one little room, the upright planks of which aro' .perhaps a foot higher than the others, aro the words, "Military Governor." ' The Germans, led by the Crown Prince at the north, and the Bavarians, considerably to tho south, commanded by Prince Ruprecht,.. at considerable distance form a three-quarter circle about Verdun. _ It ,is reported that the Crown Prince is particularly eager to take the citadel, silica it was hero he met his first great failure last September. But now that Verdun is safe frpra long-range shelling, and with her five or six rings, of;'trenches and American barbed wire about her outer girdles, it would appear a. very difficult job.