WHAT WILL VERDUN MEAN TO GERMANY?

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 May 1916, Page 3

WHAT WILL VERDUN MEAN TO GERMANY?

THAT the defeat of the Germans in their efforts to break through the French lines at Verdun will have very farreaching effects is pointed out by Dr.' Fitchett in a very graphic review for the fighting of the month, in the May issue of " Life " magazine. It is the moral rather than the material effect that will be most costly to Germany, thinks Dr. Fitchett. " That long, victorious wrestle with the. German masses I in front of Verdun," he says, " will act like a strong wine in the very blood of the French ; and the French armies are never so formidable as when they have the wine of victory in their blood. But," he adds, "it is the effect on the Neutral gtates of the German failure before Verdun which is most significant.1' Pointing to the action of Portugal and Brazil, and to the mutterings of Roumania, Dr. Fitchett writes : " When mice begin to nibble at the hide of a lion, it is sufficient proof that —in the opinion of the mice, at all events —the great beast is 'in extremis.'" In a semihumorous article Dr Fitchett also deals with the visit to London of Mr Hughes, whom he describes as " the most interesting, the most loudly vocal, and the best-reported man in the three Kingdoms." The regular departments of " Life" are packed with accurate, authoritative, and concentrated information on a thousand and one topics, most of them, of course, bearing on the allabsorbing question of the War. " Life " should be bought by every thinking man or woman who desires to keep abreast of the times. It is sold locally for 7d ; or if unobtainable, 3/6 sent to T. Shaw Fitchett, 376 Swanston Street, Melbourne will bring it by post for 6 months,