Show m Verdun Withstands Six Months Months' Siege I Kaiser Cant Can't Crack Stronghold Ferocity of Fight Unbelievable PARIS PAnIS July 22 Six Six months ago tonight the German crown prince began his battering of ot Verdun Almost continuously since January 22 that assault has continued but Verdun is still under the French rench tricolor During the last few weeks the pressure on Verdun has lifted a trifle German batteries in front of ot V Vaux ux were hurling shells at atthe atthe atthe the French positions around Fleury tonight but there was no smashing infantry attack of ot masses of m men men no no n-no no desperate squeezing of ot the nut cracker such as the French troops have had to contend with wIh during past months South of Damloup violent violent vio vio- lent artillery ry fire tire was poured on the French positions but there was no attempt made to follow tollow up with the hurling forward of ot infantry The Interpretation here hereon on this abatement in the prodigal use of massed forces in storming attacks by the crown prince is that the German man reserves with which the kaisers kaiser's heir was formerly formerly for for- merly so Bountifully supplied have hae been hlen withdrawn to lend tend Strength to those thos portions of ot the German line now being battered t by the French and British in th the big push The V was wal heralded her her- aIded b o x x 0 precedent precedent- ed us c r 3 ls This f fj j Qs s By Bys s I ti li the e surface O n I- I Germans In Il e t jt g Dd is n In o appt the Hie s city Since that th t first J th they have gained fifty 1 ial al square miles mUes The Germans began their offensive at a point about seven even miles from the city In six months they y ha have hav advanced ed to about aboul three miles There the French ha e stood them ot oft off in a series of combats of ot almost unbelievable unbelievable unbelievable able ferocity The city itself is battered and and- torn But its But its defenders are comfortable com corn I underneath h the inferno Intern a that has raged above the earth I The most elaborate system of ot underground rooms tunnels and supply stations house ouse the garrIsons garriSons garrisons garri garrI- I sons comfortably And the defenders defenders defenders de de- de- de fenders are absolutely certain Verdun will not tall fall 11 i |