VERDUN.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 2971, 20 June 1916, Page 1

VERDUN.

EIGHT HUNDRED SHELLS DAILY

PUN PICTURE OF FAMOUS GIT*

The defence of Verdun, (writes Stanley Washburn from that place on April 10) is tlio story of tlio character and moral ot an heroic army which, though taken in its least expected quarter, could nob bo blasted out of its stubborn determination L «> Resist, even though the Germans have for weeks employed tlie products of their industries and thoir human resources almost without interruption, having always a system of transport and communications which has never faltered since the first attack. Willi all this expenditure the Germans have only been able to bend the delence, and this is at ;i cost of at least double what the capture of Verdun would havo been worth to them from a strategiv point of view. Through the courtesy of tlie l'rcnc.h Covcrnmont every facility was placed at my disposal Lo enable Jno to visit and observe tlie. situation as it exists to-day in Verdun. The city to-day impressed mo as I motored m over tho bridge about ID o'clock this morning as being one of the most depressing places to visit 1 havo yet encountered in the war zone. The Germans, having failed to realise their aspirations 'in breaking tho French line of defence outside tlio town, have tinned their attention toward the complete destruction, of the city itself. With Teutonic thoroughness, they aro pouring shells into Verdun at tho rate of from 400-to 800 daily, taking one quarter of the town alter another, already, as 1 am credibly informed, having iired 30.000 shells within the last 40 days. SCENE OF DESOLATION. The sunshine of a bright .spring morning shone on streets utterly deserted by any human being save an occasional soldier hurrying on an urgent message, the scene being relieved only by lonely dogs skulking through the alleys. Every window and door was barred, and Verdun was the picture of an abandoned city. What otherwise would 'have been absolute ■silence was broken by the terrific detonation of high explosive shells. These arrived about once every two minutes with the accuracy and sound <<1 young express trains, their landing being announced by a detonation like the explosion of a land mine, with clouds of dust and debris leaping in tlie, air like an eruption iroin a volcano. The calibres of these ambassadors of Teuton "frighti'iibiess" apli.iiently range from lo to 9S cm. (G to loin). Personally .1 observed four of tho latter explode, and. stated mildly, their arrival was extremely impressive. Five and six-storey buildings siinpl.V molt into piles of debris. while clouds of dust rising hundreds oi feet, probably encourage enemy observers to continue their higher military aims. Accompanied by tho Governor of tlie fortress, I motored to an observation point in the adjacent forts, whore an excellent view of tlie entire terrain is available. High-power telescopes made it possible to see tho Germans behind their lines. Save, for tho sbellings everywhere, and ospcciallv in the town itself, the day was relatively quiet. EXTENT OF GERMAN LOSSES. It seems ditlieult to get any accurate estimate of tlie German losses, but from all sources questioned and Dom observation of the conditions and terrain where lighting has taken place tiere, compared with analogous country on tho eastern front where 1 know lho losses, approximately tho Germans must certaimy havo lost from 17u,00U to 200,000 men. When one considers tho enormous numbers and.accuracy of the French io's, it is possible that oven more casualties may havo resulted. The" most extraordinary ieature of this entire defence has been tne capacity of the French to adapt themselves to the situation in the matter of transport. lam informed that the Germans had 12 lines of rail feeding this front. The French met this rail shortage by motor transport, which after the hrst lew days enabled them to light with a relatively small handicap against the Germans. After the visit of Colonel Repington to Verdun I do not wish to discuss the military factors, but from personal observation and superficial investigation during a single day, it seems improbable that the Germans will be able to secure decisive advantages here without losses which are increasingly incommensurate with their strategic gains. From prisoners 1 talked with i gather that the news ol the Verdun nature is beginning to percolate along the German front, resulting in great depression in the German lines. Before going to Verdun I spent two days in the Argoiine district, visiting two separate corps, inspecting tlie first line trench and observation points. Accompanied by the General Commanding, 1 examined the entire organisation of ono corps,. including j the transport, commissariat, and intelligence and all other departments, and havo never seen more etiicient or- | ganisation—not excepting the best of j the Japanese The morale of the French soldiers is perfectly extraorI dinary and it is an inspiration to be ! with them.