We were at the turning point of the war; month after month, the ruin of the Central Empires became more certain, each hour that passed they became more enfeebled in human energy and in money! "Parbleu," said an officer, "their armies have been developing on the different fronts excessively, the strain on their troops has become very strong; and a military decision imposes itself upon them."
They wished to hasten the end of the war and the way to finish it is to attempt a great thrust, a decisive thrust, a desperate thrust—the propitious time is come, it is the moment to attack, there is not an instant to lose!
It was easily determined that a formidable battle was about to commence and that the shock would be heavy——
Here are some of the remarks that were passed back and forth at Eparges, the eve of the battle of Verdun. That night in the trenches there was a silence, a silence impressive. The night was calm and starry——
THE DAY OF February 21, 1916.
I left Eparges at six o'clock in the morning. As before the day dawned magnificently. In a happy mood, I start out with Dr. Nicolas to find some of my poilus on the menaced front.
An automobile was waiting on the Mesnil-sur-les-Côtes to take us to the north of Verdun.
On leaving at seven o'clock in the morning, the rumbling of cannon, heavy and uninterrupted, was heard: the battle of Verdun had commenced....
I did not intend to stop at Verdun, but on approaching the city, I saw the civil population fleeing en masse toward the country, after 380's fell at regular intervals on the martyred city for about an hour.