[Illustration: FEBRUARY 21ST-25TH 1916.--THE CENTRAL ATTACK.]
[Illustration: MARCH-APRIL 1916.--THE ATTACK ON THE FLANKS.]
[Illustration: MAY-SEPTEMBER 1916.--THE BATTLE OF ATTRITION.]
_The central attack (February 21st-25th) endangered the position of
Verdun but the arrival of the first French reinforcements saved the
place._
_The enemy widened his attacking front, but his effort to outflank
the position was a failure._
_The defence was reorganised, road and rail taking their part in the
battle. The enemy's attempts at attrition on the spot were a failure._
_On July 1st the allied offensive was launched on the Somme._
[Illustration: OCTOBER 24TH 1916.--THE BATTLE OF DOUAUMONT-VAUX.]
[Illustration: DECEMBER 15TH 1916.--THE BATTLE OF
LOUVEMONT-BEZONVAUX.]
[Illustration: AUGUST 20TH 1917.--THE BATTLE OF HILL 304 AND
MORT-HOMME.]
_As soon as this new engagement allowed him, the French Commander
intended to turn the enemy's failure before Verdun into defeat._
_Three operations were prepared with the greatest skill and
most energetically carried out, by which the enemy were driven
out of the positions they had captured. These were the three
victories of October 24th 1916 (Douaumont-Vaux), December 15th
1916 (Louvemont-Bezonvaux) and finally August 20th, 1917
(Samogneux-Mort-Homme, Hill 304)._
[Illustration: THE CENTRAL ATTACK (FEBRUARY 21ST-26TH 1916).
_This attack was carried on from February 21st to 26th on the right
bank of the Meuse and narrowed its front as it advanced, finally
stopping on the sixth day at Poivre Hill and Douaumont._]