The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
WHY NAPOLEON WON.
ecret of His Wonderful Success In
the Battle of Austeriitz.
San Francisco Chronicle.

The story Of how the great Napoleon
armies Of the allied nations of the old
world at Austerlitz. there arrayed against
the Frenchmen, is a pretty story-in fact,
Is not a story at ALL but a matter Of his
tory. Those who have read history, or the
life of Napoleon will remember that his
motto was punctual and implicit obedience
to orders. With Napoleon 5 o'clock meant
minute after 5. One incident will be found
in Napoieon's career where he punished a
favorite general. after having publicly
reprimanded him for appearing at a certain
bridge some ten minutes later than he had
been ordered TO appear there by his SUI
perior officer. The general offered as an
poleon impetuousiy interfered with a re-
mark, mot too rigorous for me to be here
The French troops had implicit conf
dence in their leader. The night before the
great battle of Austerlits the men sang
were within earshot of the enemy and must
be silent. but some time later. just be-
though it is said that Napoleon did not
~sleep-that great general passed among his
warriors outstretched on the ground Sud
denly one enthusiastic soldier fastened his
little pallet Of straw on his bay0net, fired
it and tossed it in the air. Others followed
surrouding. Carrying to the enemy the Tews
that the Frenchmen were near. SUCH &C
ton was decidedly injudicious, it is true,
but it showed the wonderful faith and con-
fdence the soldiers had in their general,
whom they fairly worshiped and at whose
command they would face without finchinS
what at least appeared TO be certain death.
The battle began at an early hour in the
morning. Napoleon saw before him more
than 200, GOO of the very flower of the army
of Russia, Austria, Germany, England and
other nations, while he had scarcely 1900
SCARED, worried and not too well fed or
clothed soldiers with which 10 face the
seemingly overwhelming, better cared for
allied army of 10000 tried men, and yet
Napoleon won. and all the nations marveled
thereat, though ii is now a matter or his
son that his plans were successfully. car
ried out because OF the implicit commence
of his soldiers and their prompt obedience
to each order issued.
Some Of NapCleOn'S generals differed with
the greatest of all generals orders, but
they did not stop to question. and carried
out their instructions to the letter. Ma
poleon threw his entire army OF 1900 men
first on the right wing, then on the iftt.
enemy was hanked without knowing how
the trick had been accomplished. but, turn
as they might. the allies found confronting
them 5000 men in a compact mass, While
to save themselves the generals OF the al
lied army could not swing their 200, 1000 into
such position as TO face Napoieon's army at
the same time. That was the very Trick
Napoleon wanted to play While there
were 100000 men arrayed against him, ne
Der with a superior force behind him. True,
upon each maneuver he faced fresh men.
but never more men than he threw against
that particular part of the allied armies.
He won because there was organization,
and the men who did the lighting asked no
questions as to the wisdom of this or
that order, but simply knew that the ulti-
mate result TO be achieved was defeat OF
| and disciplined they accomplished the re-
cult aimed AT