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.
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