An intermittent bombardment was in progress from Fort Tavennes, Fort Soueville, Fort St. Michael and Fort Belleville, which were barking steadily and giving off jets of black smoke.  The German cannonade sounded like a distant roar.  The shelling of Verdun was continuing.

Three hundred shells a day had been hurled into Verdun itself during the battle, Stubbs was informed by the French officer, upon one day as many as 750 having been counted; but the average was 300.  As the two stood there a French aeroplane was attacked by a German gun, shrapnel bursting all around as the machine turned from the German positions and darted back to French cover.

The terrible course of the destruction was pointed out by the French officer.  The town itself had been abandoned by the civil population, and even few troops were to be found there.  Such shops and houses as had escaped the shells were closed and barricaded; and the shells continued to fall.

The streets were crumbling ruins, with only jagged walls remaining here and there.  The cathedral had two shell holes in the roof; the main altar was a mass of debris and the side altar was littered with broken carvings, statues and chandeliers.

One wing of the handsome military club was torn off and the whole establishment was a wreck.  The archbishop’s residence had its famous sculptured walls peppered with shell holes and the adjoining College of Marguerite had its delicate stone filigree reduced almost to powder.  The houses along the Meuse, flanking the principal bridge, were literally wrecked.

Sixteen great shells had struck the town hall; one corner of the building had been torn off and the clock tower smashed.  The mayor’s office was being used as an emergency butcher shop.

Stubbs’ guide now led him to one of the inner forts of the fortifications, which was still shelling the Germans.  From here Stubbs gained a view of the fighting ground of Fleury at close range.  Over the entrance of the fort was a notice to the garrison that the fort was to be levelled in extremity and never surrendered.

Fleury, lying to the right of Verdun, showed not a house standing.  The great German guns had carried all before them.  The whole village was a mass of ruins.  At the moment the village was in the hands of the French.  It had been occupied twice by the Germans, but only the day before had again been captured by the French.  Although Stubbs did not know it, the little village was to change hands a score of times more in the months that were to follow.

As Stubbs’ guide pointed out the various points destroyed by German shells, he gave the little man an account of the fighting in each spot.  He pointed out the advantages of earthen breastworks as against the solid walls of fortresses.  The effectiveness of the former was very plain.

Stubbs and his guide now returned to the citadel of Verdun, where Stubbs thanked General Petain for being allowed to make the tour of inspection.  Gathered about the commander were many members of his staff, who joined in the conversation.  Stubbs could not but be impressed by the confidence manifested by the officers that Verdun could be kept from the Germans, and this in the face of the reverses of the past few days.  The feeling was summarized in the closing word of General Petain, as he bade Stubbs farewell.