lessened. They were not delivered with the same effectiveness as before.
The great guns continued to rage, scattering death over the field for
miles, but the massed attacks of infantry, and cavalry charges, became
more uncommon.

Then came a day when the Germans failed to attack at all. For more than
twenty-four hours there was a lull. Weeks passed with the Germans
launching only occasional drives. The same held good for the French. It
appeared that each side was content to rest on its laurels, biding the
time when a grand assault could be delivered with some degree of
effectiveness.

The fighting was intermittent. It came spasmodically. Each side had
fought itself out and had paused for breath. What advantage there had
been, all things considered, rested with French arms. The losses on both
sides, in killed and wounded, had been enormous--almost beyond
comprehension. The number of prisoners taken by the French was large.
Many French troops also had been captured, but not so many as Germans.
Also, the French having been the defenders for the most part, they had
suffered less in killed and wounded than had the foe.

This, then, was the result of the battle of Verdun six months after it
had begun. There had been no decisive victory. Each side retained its
positions, but each was ready to strike whenever the opportune moment
presented itself.

Even while the fighting at Verdun was at its height there came the
whisper of a grand offensive to be launched by the Allies. The whisper
became louder as the days passed. There was more talk of Roumania and
Greece throwing their armies to the support of the Allies, thus forming a