DEFENCE OF VERDUN.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20169, 23 February 1931, Page 11

DEFENCE OF VERDUN.

;»"/ - . THE COST TO FRANCE. THOUSANDS QJ? BODIES STILL UNBURIED. ' / (CKITJSH PItESS ASSOCIATION—BS ELECTRIC TELKGBAPH—COPXBIOBT.) (Keceived February 2883, 7.30 p.m.) I LONDON, February 21, The Paris correspondent of "The Times'' states: " The terrific slaughter-at Verdun, estimated at 400,000, is recalled by the revelation that the bodies of 12,500 French soldiers are still lying unburied in an enormous shed at Douaumont, pafcked'in sevens in rough wooden boxes, not even nailed down and some: times without lids. Nine thousand eight"' hundred have lain, unburied for' Six years., M. de Bibes, Minister for Pensions, and in charge of war graves, who has investigated the matter, explains that the now ossuary is not yet ready, and that, the bodies must be ? provisionally accommodated.' He deplores that they .have so long remained unburied, and says that the problem is complicated by constant additions being made, due ; to the accidental discovery of bodies at the rate of 500 per month. Hie adds: 'There can be no question of searching the Verdun battles area for dead, as the remainder, estimated at tens and even of hundreds of thousands, must be left in thb soil, as digging up such ft vast expanse is impossible.' It is recalled that the ossuary at Douanmont was opened in 1027, and has been long crammed to capacity, namely, ' 8000 bodies."—"The Times" Cables.