after time as they were, must
soon abandon the attempt to break the French lines at Verdun; but each
repulse brought a new assault mightier than before. The Germans raced
across the open ground under a veritable hail of lead. They fell by
hundreds and thousands, but what few survived hurled themselves against
the barbed wire entanglements of the French or into the trenches, there
to die upon the points of the foes' bayonets, or to be shot down as they
tumbled over the breastworks.

The German general staff drew heavily from its forces on the east front
and added these new legions to the already large army occupied before
Verdun; but the result was always the same. So far they could progress
and no farther.

After almost five months of defensive tactics, General Petain began to
launch assaults of his own. At first the Germans put these down with
regularity, but at last the effort began to tell. The French made
headway. Much of the lost ground was recovered. The French moved forward
a bit day by day, occupied new positions and consolidated them. It was
terrible work, but the French persevered.

Around Hill No. 304 and Dead Man's Hill the fighting was especially
severe. There men died by the hundreds and by the thousands that one of
the opposing armies might advance a few yards. Gains even were counted by
feet--almost by inches. Gain of a few yards was accounted a day's work
well done.

Not once did the French troops falter under fire; nor did the Germans,
for that matter. Never was there greater bravery, loyalty and devotion.
Called upon for tasks that seemed well nigh impossible, the men did not
hesitate. They met death in such numbers as death was never met before.

Almost daily, after the French had taken a brace three and a half miles
from Verdun, it seemed that the Crown Prince must give up the effort. It
appeared incomprehensible that the useless sacrifice of men could
continue. But the attempt was not given up; rather, it was pressed with
greater vigor each succeeding day.

But, after five months, the fury of the German assaults gradually
lessened. They were not delivered with the same effectiveness as before.
The great guns continued to rage, scattering death over the field for
miles, but the massed attacks of infantry, and cavalry charges, became
more uncommon.

Then came a day when the Germans failed to attack at all. For more than
twenty-four hours there was a lull. Weeks passed with the Germans
launc