CHAPTER XXXVII ON THE ALLIED RIGHT A T the moment when the attention of the world "^ ^ was directed toward French and British ef- forts to turn the German right flank the Berhn of- ficial statement suddenly announced the capture of the French works at Beaumont, with some thou- sands of prisoners. This was the first indication to the world of the German drive at the Allied right, which was henceforth to claim equal notice with the operations about the Somme. Beaumont is on the road from Pont-a-Mousson on the Moselle to Commercy on the Meuse and the road between the two towns passes over the Wocvre Plateau through the line of the Verdun-Toul barrier fort- resses. Here then was another attempt to break through the iron wall of the French eastern frontier. Such an operation might have a twofold purpose. In the first place successful action against these barrier forts, since it would isolate 'erdun and per- mit its reduction, as Maubeuge had already been reduced, would necessarily compel the French Gen- eral Staff to hurry reenforcements to the Meuse. Such reenforcements would diminish the mass of troops held in the West for participation in the ao7