The troops--men and officers--have in all circumstances done their duty....

You will come, no doubt ...

before we are completely exhausted.

_Vive la France!_" But death and thirst--thirst, above all--are victors.

On the 6th, a few hours before the inevitable end, Marshal Joffre flashed his message to the heights--in the first place, a message of thanks to troops and Commander for their "magnificent defence," in the next, making Commandant Raynal a Commander of the Legion of Honour.
On the 7th a last heroic effort was made to relieve the fort.