The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-30
FIGHTING ELEPHANTS.
How the Ancients Employed these Pom
derous Animals in Battle.

0eFOuS Animals BabGles
Alexander was one of the first of the
famous kings of history to tell of fight
ing against an elephant host. His in
vading army had reached the river
Hydapes, and as the warriors look
ed across they beheld the opposing
army of King Porus, who had not only
chariots and an enormous army, but
"the huge creatures called elephants u
These great animals, which stood en-
the farther river-bank shrieking and
trumpeting, filed the soldiers of Alex
der with terror and dismay.
The two armies watched each other
for several days; then Alexander sue
ceeded 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 SO to
frighten the horses of the foe that
the entire army would be put to flight.
Between the elephants were foot-sol-
diers, and at the end 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 as
the famous "Jumbo."
When King Alexander, who was a
very brave and valiant man, saw the
orderly foe, he said: cat last I have
met with a danger worthy of the great
ness of my soul" Evidently he had
due respect for the elephant soldiers
that opposed him.
Alexander moved his forces to the
attack, and poured in a shower of ar
rows and spears. The elephants stood
like stone wall, trampling the foot
soldiers beneath their feet, seizing
them in their trunks and delivering
them to the soldiers upon their backs,
or tossing them high in the air. The
elephants were evidently the main
hope of King Porus, and perceiving
this, Alexander directed men, armed
with scythes and knives, to attack
them. These warriors chopped at the
elephants feet and tender trunks, un:
til in terror the great creatures turned
and began a stampede that was dis
astrous to the foot-soldiers of theil
side, for they trampled upon then
and in their flight moved them dowr
like grain. Alexander followed close
after the elephants upon his wounded
charger; and finally the battle was los
to Porus because of the, elephants
themselves. King Porus, being wound
ed during the hurried retreat, desired
to alight. The driver ordered his ele
phant to kneel, whereupon all the ele
plants, having been accustomed t.
obey in concert, did the same, and thu
soldiers of Alexander fell upon then
and gained a complete victory.
1t is said that elephants which sur
viTed this famous battle were reveret
for many years by the Indians ant
honored much as are the veterans o
our wars. In an ancient book, tn
life of Apollonius of Tyana," he i
said to have seen in town of India al
elephant which the people held in tn
greatest respect as having been owne'
by King Porus. 1t was perfumed wit
sweet essences and decked with gar
lands, while upon its tusks were ring
of gold, inscribed with these words
alexander, son of Jupiter, dedicat
Ajax to the Sum-" The elephant Ajax
according to Apollonius, was the oil
war elephant of Porus in his battl
with Alexander, and had survived an
lived in honorable idleness for thre
hundred and fifty years.
While Alexander defeated the elephan
corps of Porus, he saw they were goo
, fighters, and created the office of ele
pRantarch, or Chief of Elephants; an
afterward visiting monarchs found hiI
, surrounded by the largest elephant
magnificently harnessed. = CharIe
Frederick Holder, IN st. Nicholas.