Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-06-05
DAVID A. GENEnAL.


In tho regular discussion o. the
mutits D! great military mon, ancient
aud modern, II 10 reireshing TO noto a
prominent FrenchmEn coming out
with the evidence that King David
sns an onlCgf whose military genius
on the field u battle was gllsi ~ that
Of Napoleon OF Frederick II ~, indeed,
itvas not superior, since they lived In
a a,rsto 10 era, while tto lsghulilish
monarch wa, without any such al
vantage Of discipline And example.
From the evidence adduooi II would
appear that King David IL entitled
10 rank ~ the head OF civIllz,d mill.
tAry science, ne Moses IL tho chief Of
ile jurisprudence; Il bcing also worthy
Of note that both OF those grea! leaders
attributed their superior knowledge to
the inspiration Of Jehovah.
s. This Fronchman who has thus ex-
pressed himself Is NJ. Dleulaioy, tho
the well known explorer In Persia,who
read, at late meeting Of the Academic
dcs Inscriptions o. Bellies. LeltTos, in
Paris, a very interesting account Of his
visit to the scene Of the encounter
between King David and tho pills.
tines In the valley OF Rephaim, whom
the IsTaeltish general smo,e the Philis.
istiucs from Geba TO G16sr, a. stated tn
. Samuel " The London Pubic
OPINION, summarizing the paper, says;
NJ. Dioulnioy described how, after tho
capture Of Jerusalem by David aud tho
establishment Of the lsuDilto monarchy
tho Hhlisliuos resolved 10 crush the
uAscont kingdom, and how, nf,Dr altCf.
nations ol success and failure, thuy oc-
cupioi tho valley OF Nophaim, situated
ut the foot Of tho Slopes which led from
tho west to Jerusalem. IL was thUu,
according TO NJ. Dloulaioy, that David,
constantly attacked by his ouemlcs, OK
oCutod one u Tho huOst military m A.
nuuvUrs recorded in history, NJ, Dlou-
lai0y, while indicating the various adj
vancCs made by military art, aud having
shown that before tho wars Of tho Modes
40 nation had any acquaintance with the
rules ~ higher tactics and strategy,
dwolt upon tho fact that David was the
hrst Of tho lsraollto leaders Co form
drilled and disciplined troops, and point.
| oil out what good uso tho King made of
thi. army la the valley OF Rophaim.
Tho plan ~ tho battle, clearly described
| In tho Bible, Comprised "a flank march, a
rapid change Of front, tho rapid cncon.
Tasslug OF tho lOft wing OF the phllis-
tines. aud an attack from behind Ola this
wing. This was q complicated and bold
turning movement, Very ditlcllt t1
| execute aud something quite out Of the
| common for thgAge Ia which 10 was car
Rod GU.
The explorer while at the thealer OF
operations, male uso II tho general
topography Of tho region ia order to
rrc1usIituIe the principal phases OF the
battle, and Ia his address buIJts the
academy pointed out that ,nil move.
nlrnt presented q striking anal ~ with
those executed by FroierlcS IL at the
battles Of N.ilwltz and R0.suauh, aud
by Napoleon a. Au,leri,z. In the
cnniuC; Of this operation King David
gave evidence Of tho highrs, oanaci.
U.s, taxing advantage Of an the iuc.
| Qualitea Of tue ground, iorming his
troops at,ash In the woodland charging
| lNpe'uoua YAM l' DitAIa.Hy insisted
ysry strongly upon tue similarity Of his
military gcnlus 20 that u Napoleon.
Anera it w3uli appear that In tue
control Of millIaat b5diu,, us VOL as In
the government d people in tImts OF
reuco, tho laav.t.sh nation gsyu.snts
Hu ILLUSTRATION which has not been
surpss'od even by the greatest men OF
modern Countries.