The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-04-18

slstIeSS personality was a menace to their
usurped authority, they permitted him to
carry away the strength and flower of the
nation 1t is fact that he cut loose from
France, from Europe and placed his army
in position, as he afterward said. where
it must die do things as great as the
ancients." With him went so 600 soldiers
and for leaders of divisions and brigades
kleber, Davoust and Reynier Caffarelli,
Murat and Lannes, /Marmont Rerthier
and Junot, every promising warrior on the
list who possessed youth and daring
piece of good fortune inaugurated the
campaign. The English fleet in the Medi-
terranean, which, under Nelson, was to
bring disaster upon the expedition at q
later stage, was blown away from the At
rican coast by hurricane and for the time
being dispersed. Then the French set sail
from the rendezvous at Toulon. The sun
arose In splendor, and the incident was one
of many when it seemed to burst forth as
an omen of victory for this brilliant and
imaginative soldier. Again and again
during his career the day of great achieve
ments was ushered in by a Napoleon
SUM- The squadrons were imposing, and
the spectacle at Toulon had in it that ele-
ment OF the picturesque and dramatic
which Napoleon managed so effectively to
inspire his followers. The battleships
stretched out in single line three miles
and the convoy of transports formed a
vast semicircle, six leagues around the
bow. Napoleon and the son Of Josephine
embarked the Orient, the mammoth
ship of the fleet, which mounted 100 guns
The signal for hosting sail was moved by
the future empress from balcony over
looking the roadstead of the harbor
The first conquest was a bloodless one
that of Malta, an island well nigh impreg
nable if we'll defended. It's central posi-
ton, fine harbor and great natural strength
render it indispensable to European CON
querors in Egypt for a base of supplies.
Napoleon had paved the way for it's fall
before quitting France. The knights of
Malta were at that date degenerate sons of
heroes and for a price in gold bargained to
open the gates after show of. resistance
that would satisfy the populace. Il cap
tured Malta while at Mantua,' said Ma
poIeon. The harbOr accommodated the en-
tire armament and allowed the Orient to
float at the quay. A new colony was es-
rablished on the island, batteries repaired |
and garrisoned, Turkish prisoners set Free |
knights enrolled for service in the French |
army and within week the place became
as French as Paris itself. While at Malta
word came that Nelson's feet had unit |
ed again and was searching for the French. |
It was still secret in the expedition what |
the ultimate destination would be, and |
when the English entered the harbor to |
und It empty they dIdn' { know which way |
to sail. Meantime Napoleon was in front |
of Alexandria, tn first point for conquest,
and Nelson had left there only two days |
before for the HellespOnt Without losing |
"A moments time troops were put ashore |
on the desert beach three leagues from the
ancient city. The coast did not admit Of
landing horses and cannon, but as the
utmost haste was necessary Napoleon |
risked the issue with men alone. Acting |
on the rule that every hour of time gives
n chance for misfortune he led forward the
first 3, GOO soldiers in person, to the walls
Of Alexandria, stirring them TO the high
est enthusiasm by his energetic bearing.
Seeing that Caffarelli, who wore a wood
en- leg as q memento of Creuznach, was
on shore, he told him to wait until horse
was landed for his use. NO, no, = said
the hero, Il go with my men if 1 go on
crutches, . and took his place at the head
of column to make the painful march. At
daylight the three small divisions of KlG-
Der, Caffarelli and Desaix stood under the
walls halted and seeking to make parley.
Overtures from the French were answered
by q volley from the cannon on the ancient
battlements, and Napoleon instantly or
dered a charge. Kleber led the foremost
and center column, In spite of the shower
of stones and cannon balls hurled down at
them, the soldiers and officers promiscu-