The layman might think that after the comparatively easy way in which the Germans disposed of most of the Belgian and" French forts at the beginning of the war emphasis would be placed on other forms of defence, "Lo Matin?" reveal, however, that the Fren {thorities have decided to reconstruct the two Verdun forts, Vaux and Douaumont, for it has' been discovered thit despite the terrific bombardment. to which they were [subjected the main features of these particular two are in a sound con: dition. "There is no doubt, that Potain's famous defiance "They shall not pass" was buttressed these forts, for while the Bolgiun forts fell easy prey the Verdun forts withstood tremendous. strain. Douaumont, which was in a. very exposed petition, was deluged with fall kinds of shells and received over 20,000 hits and yet stood the strai magnificently. As one expert pointed out, while the Belgian sieges Fronght conerete into discredit. the quality of the work at Verdun Where a thickness of three metres was used revealed its remarkable resisting qualities under a, bombardment the intensity of which had never before been. experienced. The work of the modern fortification engineer must be calculated on the Standard established at Verdun.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.