Mar. 2.
Ax official communique issued in Paris on February 28 intimate ed that the development of the German attack on the French lines to the north of Verdun into a very important battle had been foreseen; and a review of recent events at once discloses the fact that the Germans had prepared to attack at an earlier date in the event of the Allies allowing themselves to be diverted from their main purpose by the enemy's blows in the Balkans and the Near East. When the French crossed the Vardar and French and British reserve troops had begun to pour into Salonika; when the Turks were driven from Erzeroum by the Russians, thus putting an end to dreams of an expedition to Egypt; when Kermanshah fell to the Russians and German intrigues in Persia had finally failed; and while the allied front was being strengthened daily, the enemy had nothing to choose between making a dynamic bid for victory or waiting until the Allies decided to crush him. He aight have made his attack at several or any one of other points, at, no doubt, jun was chosen as this fortress is the key to eastern France. Since General Castlenau held back the invaders at the Grande Couronne, and thus enabled Generalissimo Joffre to turn upon the enemy and save Paris, the German pial has never ceased to think of this eastern route to the capital of our Ally. In July last, it will be recalled, the German Crown Prince attempted to secure the Chilons road and railway, but although he got a foot in the eastern door, Verdun was still held as strongly as six months' previously, while the French! were in @ distinctly better position than they had been in November, 1914, when the Germans reached the outer forts of the citadel. Moreover, the German Crown Prince has been held securely. Possibly, the plans of the attack were formulated on the theory that, if Verdun could be reached once, it could he reached and taken after every possible preparation had been made. And what better time ould be found to take it than fter the severe reverses in the East?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.