It must never be forgotten that a capital issue of the
war is the fate of France. Had Germany won the bat-
tle of the Marne, and had England held aloof from the
conflict, France, which had survived the calamities of
1870-71, would have lost the nourishing atmosphere
of freedom that has enabled her so wonderfully to en-
rich human civilization.

The miracle of France in this war is that, with
almost fatal handicaps, she has surpassed all other na-
tions in economic and military organization and effi-
ciency. And this is due only in part to the universal
devotion of her people: it is mainly because in the ul-
timate assessment of ordeal by war France has shown
herself superior in force and genius.

The most thrilling page in her history is open to the
eyes of all the world. It is the battle-field of Verdun.
In this one battle of Verdun, in six months the loss of
France exceeded the losses of the Union armies in our
whole Civil War. The battle of Verdun, involving as
much fighting as all our Civil War, had hundreds of
Thermopyl's, hundreds of Gettysburgs, but each in-
finitely more terrible than the world had ever seen be-
fore. Most battles last one or two days. This battle
has lasted more than a year and is not yet ended. In
certain exposed places death was almost inevitable,
but the French youth, regiment after regiment, went
forward to hold them till death. No surrender, no
retreat. It was their mad bravery and divine cour-
age that held Verdun. It was the greatest test a na-
tion ever endured, and the youth of France never
faltered there, but has gone on day after day, week
after week, month after month, facing death, muti-
lation, and torture in their most terrible form. For

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