With Joffre at Verdun A Story of the Western Front   By: Frederick S. Brereton (1872-)

[Frontispiece: "THE SERGEANT OF HENRI'S PLATOON, ONE ARM DANGLING HELPLESS BY HIS SIDE, STRETCHED OUT A BRAWNY HAND AND GRIPPED OUR HERO'S" (missing from book)]

With Joffre at Verdun

A Story of the Western Front

BY

LT. COL. F. S. BRERETON

Author of "With French at the Front" "Under French's Command" "With Our Russian Allies" &c.

Illustrated by Arch. Webb

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED

LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY

1916

BY LT. COLONEL BRERETON

With the Allies to the Rhine: A Story of the Finish of the War. With Allenby in Palestine: A Story of the latest Crusade. Under Foch's Command: A Tale of the Americans in France. The Armoured Car Scouts: The Campaign in the Caucasus. On the Road to Bagdad: A Story of the British Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia. From the Nile to the Tigris: Campaigning from Western Egypt to Mesopotamia. Under Haig in Flanders: A Story of Vimy, Messines, and Ypres. With Joffre at Verdun: A Story of the Western Front. On the Field of Waterloo. With Wellington in Spain: A Story of the Peninsula. Kidnapped by Moors: A Story of Morocco. The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal. The Great Aeroplane: A Thrilling Tale of Adventure. A Hero of Sedan: A Tale of the Franco Prussian War. Roger the Bold: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico. At Grips with the Turk: A Story of the Dardanelles Campaign. The Great Airship. A Sturdy Young Canadian. A Boy of the Dominion: A Tale of Canadian Immigration. Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia. With Roberts to Candahar: Third Afghan War. A Hero of Lucknow: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny. Under French's Command: A Story of the Western Front from Neuve Chapelle to Loos. With French at the Front: A Story of the Great European War down to the Battle of the Aisne. John Bargreave's Gold: A Search for Sunken Treasure. Tom Stapleton, the Boy Scout. A Soldier of Japan: A Tale of the Russo Japanese War. A Knight of St. John: A Tale of the Siege of Malta. Foes of the Red Cockade: The French Revolution. One of the Fighting Scouts: Guerrilla War in South Africa. The Dragon of Pekin: A Story of the Boxer Revolt. A Gallant Grenadier: A Story of the Crimean War.

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, LTD., 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C.

Contents

CHAP.

I. THE CAMP AT RUHLEBEN II. HENRI AND JULES AND STUART III. THE ROAD TO FREEDOM IV. THE HEART OF GERMANY V. ELUDING THE PURSUERS VI. CHANGING THEIR DIRECTION VII. A FRIEND IN NEED VIII. THE VERDUN SALIENT IX. A TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT X. THE THIN LINE OF HEROES XI. FALLING BACK XII. A RECONNOITRING PARTY XIII. DOUAUMONT FORTRESS XIV. FRENCHMEN AND BRANDENBURGERS XV. RATS IN A TRAP XVI. A FIGHT TO A FINISH XVII. CHARGE OF THE GALLANT BRETONS XVIII. A SINISTER GERMAN XIX. HEROIC "POILUS"

Illustrations

"THE SERGEANT OF HENRI'S PLATOON, ONE ARM DANGLING HELPLESS BY HIS SIDE, STRETCHED OUT A BRAWNY HAND AND GRIPPED OUR HERO'S" (missing from book) Frontispiece

"A BIG BURLY MAN, A NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE STAFF AT RUHLEBEN, BARRED HENRI'S PROGRESS" (missing from book)

"A TERRIFIC CONCUSSION SENT HIS BOWL FLYING AND THE YOUNG SOLDIER HIMSELF ROLLING FROM THE BANK"

"THEY SAW A GERMAN SOLDIER ACTUALLY DRINKING FROM THE STREAM WITHIN A FEW YARDS OF THEM

"THAT BEARDED VETERAN, LEANING OVER THE SWAYING WALL, MADE HAVOC AMONG THE GERMANS WITH HIS BAYONET"

"THE GRENADE LANDED WITHIN A FOOT OF THE FIRE ABOUT WHICH THE MEN HAD BEEN SEATED"

MAP OF VERDUN SALIENT DURING OPERATIONS ON 21ST FEBRUARY, 1916

MAP OF VERDUN SALIENT AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS FIGHTING

WITH JOFFRE AT VERDUN

CHAPTER I

The Camp at Ruhleben