Throughout the entire summer Verdun, with the whole population of France roused to the supreme heights of heroism behind it, held like a rock.  Wave after wave of Germans in gray-green lines were sent against the twenty-five miles of earthworks, while the French guns took their toll of the crack German regiments.  German dead lay upon the field until exposed flesh became the same ghastly hue of their uniforms.  No Man’s Land around Verdun was a waste and a stench.

General Joffre’s plan was very simple.  It was to hold out.  As was afterwards revealed, much to the satisfaction of the French people, Sir Douglas Haig had placed himself completely at the service of the French Commander-in-Chief, and had suggested that he should use the British army to weaken the thrust at Verdun.  But General Joffre had refused the proffered help.  No man knew better than he what his country, with its exceedingly low birthrate, was suffering on the Meuse.  He had but to send a telegram to British Headquarters, and a million Britons, with thousands of heavy guns, would fling themselves upon the German lines and compel Falkenhayn to divide his shell output, his heavy artillery, and his millions of men between Verdun and the Somme.  But General Joffre, instead of sending the telegram in question, merely dispatched officers to British Headquarters to assure and calm the chafing Scotsman commanding the military forces of the British Empire.

Throughout that long summer the battle cry of Verdun, “Ne passeront pas!” ("They shall not pass!"), was an inspiration to the French army and to the world.  Then as autumn drifted its red foliage over the heights surrounding the bloody field, the French struck back.  General Nivelle, who had taken command at Verdun under Joffre, commenced a series of attacks and a persistent pressure against the German forces on both sides of the Meuse.  These thrusts culminated in a sudden sweeping attack which on October 24th, resulted in the recapture by Nivelle’s forces of Fort Douaumont and on November 2d, in the recapture of Fort Vaux.

Thus ended in glory the most inspiring battle in the long and honorable history of France.

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