VERDUN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 February 1931, Page 5

VERDUN

TERRIBLE FRENCH LOSSES BODIES STILL UNBURIED STATEMENT BY AUTHORITIES (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Copyright) LONDON, 21st February. “Tim Times” Paris correspondent states that the terrific slaughter at Verdun, estimated at 400,000 is recalled by the revelation that the bodies _of 12,500 French soldiers are still lying unburied in an enormous shed at Douaumont, packed in sevens in rough wooden boxes not even nailed down, and sometimes without lids. Nine thousand eight hundred have lain unburied for six years. SI. Deeribes, Minister of Pensions and Minister-in-charge of War Graves, investigated the matter and explains that the new ossuary is not yet ready, and the bodies must be “provisionally accommodated.” He deplores that they have been so long unburied and says lhat the problem was complicated by constant additions due to the accidental discovery of bodies at the rate of 500 a month. He adds that there is no question of searching the Verdun battle area for dead as the remainder, estimated at tens and even hundreds of thousands, must be left in the soil, as digging up would be such a vast expense that it would be impossible. It is recalled that the ossuary at Douaumont opened in 1927 has been long crammed to capacity with 8000 bodies.