VERDUN MEMORIAL MONUMENT

On the high ridge of Douaumont, in about the .centre of the former American sector, looking out over the great valleys and the plains of the Woevre about Verdun, there is slowly rising, stone by stone, a great ossuary and monument to the memory of those men who built with their bodies a rampart which justified the slogan: "They shall not pass!" In form as well as in use this monument and its noble contents will offer themselves, for all time, as an imperishable memorial to those who fell.

The defence of Forts de Vaux and Douamont will, for all time, challenge the admiration of every nation. The fact that the only other large forces of the Allies in the sector of Verdun (from St. Mihiel to the Argonne) were American troops will give to all Americans a special interest in the privilege accorded to them of sharing in this memorial by providing for the erection of the central tower of this great monument of the War. From that tower will fly only the flags of France and America.

In laying the corner stone of the monument in August, 1920, Marshal Petain, President of the French Committee, thus expressed the character and sentiment of the memorial: "Upon this hill already sacred, will arise this monument simple and sober as the soul of the soldier, vast and noble as the greatness of the sacrifice, durable—imperishable even—as the memory of the Heroes of Verdun.'i

Hundreds of coffins, filled with the remains of many thousands of unidentified dead, now await in temporary barrack-shacks the completion of their permanent sepulchre.

The present necessity for the completion of the Ossuary is therefore pressing. Although the work as a whole cannot be completed before the visit of the American Legion to France in September next, the French Committee in charge hope that the central tower will have been finished by that time.

There has already been given or pledged in the United States about $55,000 toward the $125,000 suggested as the American contribution of the central tower. An American Committee was formed in the United States and as part of its plan committees have been organized to appeal to the graduates of American universities and colleges to give something, however large, however small, to this national and international shrine. Although, of the sum mentioned, about $70,000 only remains to be raised for the tower, it is known that further sums are needed for the whole work and its maintenance, and would be deeply appreciated by the French and the undersigned desire to bring to the consideration of all Dartmouth men the opportunity to contribute to this worthy object.

Contributions should be sent to the Bank of New York & Trust Company, Treasurer, 76 Williams Street, New York City.

Chair-man, Dartmouth Committee