The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-25

G forlorn hope, undertaken after grave de-
liberation, as part of general plan of re-
sisting to the death enormous odds brought
against the Grecian nations by the power
| full monarch of the east, Xerxes.
For seven years the Persians made war
like preparations to overrun Greece in re-
venge for their defeat by the Athenians at
Marathon, and because the conquest of
Greece would carry with it all Europe and
give Persia dominion from the rising to
the setting sun. The whole empire of the
east was levied upon for troops, animals,
provisions, ships and general supplies
In autumn, 4S1 3. c., Xerxes set cut from
the eastern limits of Asia with host esti-
mated at from ZOO, 600 to 100000 fighting
men, including the crews of over 1000 war
ships The Greek spies who were caught
in his camps were not put to death accord
ing to custom, but were allowed to see the
vastness of the Persian armament and re-
turn to tell their people about it, in the be-
lief that the puny states of the little PENN
sula would be overawed by the intelligence,
and would submit without bldsv to the
summons of the invading monarch
The land force comprised the soldiers of
forty-six different nations, each contingent
having it's own mode of costume and arma-
ment. But few of them were armed and
equipped as well Is the Greeks. Many ma
lions carried swords or scythes only, and
others had simply slaves fire hardened at
the point. Among the irregular troops
there were many fierce bands whose meth
DDS and whose armament were to the last
degree barbarous. For instance. nomadic
tribe of horsemen, 5000 strong, carried
HI pi bou cod Oft ha foe 6
the American hsso, to insnare foeman
and then drag him from the field to be dis
patched at leisure with dagger, the only
weapon used by these wild riders of the
desert. Another nation, Philippians, from
the head of the Nile, had their bodies
painted half red and half white, wore the
skins of wild beasts of the jungle, and car
ried javeiins and bows with stone tipped
arrows.
In order to feed his vast army Xerxes
ordered immense quantities Of stores to be
gathered at points on the line of march
through eastern Asia, and the provinces
subject to his rule were compelled to con-
tribute subsistence for the whole force,
which, with non-combatants, is computed
at from 100000 to 100000 souls ANY
lack of war enthusiasm on the part of the
people was cruelty punished. On one oc-
casion father of five sons pleaded that
the eldest might be spared while the other
four Joined the invading army Xerxes
caused the son whose exemption had been
asked to be put to death and his body sew
cred into two parts and displayed along the
route of march of the soldiers as an ex-
ample of the inexorable laws of subsection
that would be enforced.
In order to enter Greece by the paths
most favorable for his gigantic enterprise
Xerxes bridged the Hellespont with a
structure of boats mile long, and dug a
ship canal for his feet across the isthmus
to avoid the stormy cape off Mount Athos
In Macedon and Thessaly he found willing
allies, and in the course of his magnificent
and awe inspiring progress southwark the
smaller tribes yielded their territory and
offered their allegiance. What else was
there 20 do when the Persians could pack
a province with solid cohorts, covering
every foot of the territory, and then have
an army remaining over to pursue and
punish the fleeing inhabitants?
The men of Athens and of Sparta were
ruling spirits among those southern Greeks
who proposed to bid Xerxes come and take
the earth and water which he demanded
should be sent to him as q symbol of sub
lection.
The mountain chain bisecting the Gre
clan peninsula from northwest to south
east, and approaching the sea on the east
at the head of the channel of Negropont,