The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-06-25

q forloEn hope, undertaken after grave de-
hberation, aS part Of q general plan Of TO
GiSttng 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.
IKE preparations to overrun Greece In TO
yenge 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, 4sl B. G., Xerxes set out from
theeastern limits Of Asia with host esti
mated at from 100000 to 2,6OO.o 900 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 70 custom. but were allowed to see the
vastness Of the Persian armament and TO
turn TO tell their people about It, in the be
lief that the puny states Of the little penin-
sula would be overawed BY the intelligence,
and would submit without a blow to the
summons Of the invading monarch
The land force comprised the soldiers Of
foFty-aix different nations, each contingent
having its own mode Of costume and arma.
menk But few Of them were armed and
equipped a. well as the GreekA Many ma
tons 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 70 the last
degree barbarouS Forinstance. nomadic
tribe Of horsemen, 5000 strong. carried
ropes, which they used after the fashion Of
~ Ina.A %
and then drag him from the Geld to be dis
weapon used BY these wild riders Of the
desert. Another nation, Ethiopians, 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
Red jayelins and bows with stone tipped
aFTowA
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 10 his rule were compelled to con
tribute gunistenes for the whole force,
which, with non-combatants, q computed
q from 100000 to 100000 soulA Any
lack Of war enthusiasm on the part Of the
people was cruelty punished. On one 90
cAsion q father Of fve sons pleaded that
the eldest might be spared while the other
four Joined the invading army. Xerxes
caused the son Whose exemption had boen
alkOd to be put to death and his body seV.
Ofed into two parts and displayed along the
rOuto Of march Of the soldiers a. an ex.
ample Of the memorable laws Of subsection
that would b enforced.
In order to enter Greece BY the paths
most favorable for bis gigantic enterprise
Xerxes bFidged the Helespont with .
structure Of boats mile long. and dug Q
Ship canal for his 6eet across the isthmus
to avoid the stormy cape OF Mount Athoa
In Maeedon and Thessaly be found willing
allies. and in the course Of his magnificent
and awe inspiring progress southwark the
smaller tTibeS yielded their territory and
offered their allegiance. What else was
there % do when the Persians could pack
. province with solid cohorts. covering
every foot Of the territory, and then have
an army remaining over TO pursue and
punish the fleeing inhabitants4
ThO 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 symbol Of sub
tection
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