Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-12-29
How the Ancients Employed Ele-
plants IN Battle.

PhantS IN Battle.
Alexander was one of the first of the
famous kings of history to tell of fighting
against an elephant host His invading
army had reached the river Hydaspes, and
as the warriors looked across they beheld
the opposing army of King Porus, who had
not only chariots and an enormous army,
but "the huge creatures called elephants"
These great animals, which stood on the
farther river-bank shrieking and trumpet
ing, filled the soldiers of Alexander with
terror and dismay.
The two armies watched each other for
several days; then Alexander succeeded in
crossing the river, and the two forces drew
up in line of battle. The Indian king
placed his elephants in the front rank, one
hundred feet apart, thinking in this way
to so brighten the horses of the foe that the
entire army would be put to flight. Be
tween the elephants were foot-soldiers, and
at the ends of the line were large elephants
bearing strong towers filled with armed
men. King Porus himself was borne upon
an elephant of unusual height, probably as
large IS the famous Jumbo.
When King Alexander, who was very
brave and valiant man, saw the orderly
foe, he said: CAT last have met with a
danger worthy of the greatness of my
soul" Evidently he had due respect for
the elephant soldiers that opposed him.
Alexander moved his forces to the at
tack, and poured in shower of arrows
and spears. The elephants stood like a
stone wall, trampling the foot soldiers be-
their trunks and delivering them to the
soldiers upon their backs, or tossing them
high in air. The elephants were evidently
the main hope of King Porus, and, per-
ceiving this, Alexander directed men,
armed with scythes and knives, to attack
them. These warriors chopped at the ele-
plants feet and tender trunks, until
in terror the great creatures turned and
began stampede that was disastrous to
the foot-soldiers of their own side, for
they trampled upon them and in their
fight moved them Gown like grain. Alex
ander followed close after the elephants
upon his wounded charger; and finally the
battle was lost to Porus because of the ele-
plants themselves. King Perus, being
wounded during the hurried retreat, de-
elephant to kneel, whereupon all the ele-
plants, having been accustomed to obey
in concert, did the same, and the soldiers
of Alexander fell upon them and gained q
complete victory.
It is said that elephants which survived
this famous battle were revered for years
by the Indians and hono1ed much as are
the veterans of our wars. In an an
Gent book, the Life of Apollonius
of Tyana," he is said to have seen
in town of India an elephant which the
people held in the greatest respect as hav-
ing been owned by King Porus. It was
perfumed with sweet essences and decked
with garlands, while upon its tusks were
rings of gold, inscribed with these words:
Alexander, son of Jupiter, dedicates Ajax
to the SUM-" The elephant Ajax, accord
ing to Apollonius, was the old war ele-
plant of Porus in his battle with Alexan-
der, and had survived and lived in honor
able idleness for three hundred and fifty
years.
While Alexander defeated the elephant
corps of Porus, he saw they were good
fighters, and created the Office of elephant
arch, or Chief of Elephants; and afterward
visiting monarchs found him surrounded
by the largest elephants magnifcently har-
messed.