The American victory, which was due to skilful planning and
good gunnery as well as to hard fighting, led to the retreat of the enemy, east of Verdun and down the Moselle from Pont-b,-Mousson, upon a new fortified line covering the outskirts of Metz. The advanced works of that great fortress are within range of the American heavy guns. General Maurice said in Tuesday's Daily Chronicle that the Germans were strengthening the outer forts of Metz in the spring of 1914, and that these, unlike the cupola forts of Liege and Namur, were provided with mobile siege guns and could not be put out of action by a few direct hits. He added, however, that such permanent defences were no more invulnerable than the elaborate field fortifications of the Hindenburg line to a well-directed artillery attack. Meanwhile the French have regained possession of the Paris-Nancy Railway south of Verdun, they are able to threaten the enemy's line of communication from Metz through Confians, and they are no great distance from the Briey ironfield, which is of vital importance to the Germans.
