Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-11

fore his career was half expired, he con-
ceded the dominion of the ocean to his
great enemy. Ever after the Egyptian
campaign, his endeavor looked more
and more to the creation of q Continen-
tai power which should countervail
British supremacy on the deep. The re-
suit to him of the battle of the Nile was
in every way disastrous. The effect of
it was calculated to inspire distrust in
France, encourage the Coalition, and to
reanimate the Mamelukes.
Complaints broke out in the French
army. Though victory came. depriva-
ton came also. The soldiers were
scorched ON the clustering plains, and
had little to eat but watermelons.
Nevertheless, Napoleon went steadily
on with his scheme.
On the 22nd of October, at . precon-
certcd signal, Cairo broke into insurrec-
ton. For a while the French occupancy
was Endangered; but the revolt was
suppressed, and terrible vengeance was
wreaked ON its authors. Meanwhile,
Napoleon conceived the project Of max
ing a campaign into Syria, and attack
ing the English strongholds of Jaffa and
St. Jean d'Acre. The situation was
this: France and Turkey were nominal
~ at peace. Napoleon had overthrown
the Sultan's rebellious beys in Egypt.
Therefore he was a friend of the Sui
tan; and he of him. But the thick brain
of the Porte at length cleared sufficient
" to see that Murad and Ibrahim Beys
were not half SO dangerous as the for
eign lion that now sat on his launches
at Cairo, licking his mouth for more.
The Sultan perceived that the French
must be expelled. Napoleon had seen
that this conclusion would be reached,
and that Turkish army might be ex-
pected to come against him out of Syria.
Therefore he would better preoccupy
Syria Moreover, the hated English had
got the coast of the Eastern Mediterra-
mean. The Turkish army might not be
expected during the winter; but the
English were there already. Hence the
Syrian expedition.
about twelve Thousand men to occupy
Egypt, and with like number set out,
on the 18th of February, 1899, in the di-
rection of Suez and Palestine. The
march was accompanied with great
hardships At the wells of Messoudiah
the French found water; and soon aft
erwards the green and fertile plains Of
Syria arose to view. El-Arish was taken
on the 18th of February. On the LIST Of
March, Napoleon slept at the convent
Of Ramleh. He passed within few
miles Of Jerusalem, and then made his
way to Jaffa. A siege was immediately
begun, and on the 9Th of March the
place was taken, with pillage and mas
sacre. About four thousand Of the pris-
oners were, after three days of delibera-
ton, set in lines ON the seashore and
shot. This was done under the terrible
necessity of the French to preserve
themselves in the enemy's country.
Next came the horror of the plague.
With the fall Of Jaffa, the march was
begun against ST. Jean d'Acre. The
Arabs now made common cause with
the Turks. Lannes. pursuing the wild
men into the passes Of Nablous, was
ambushed, and lost q considerable num-
Der of men. On the 18th of March the
French arrived at Acre, and found that
the Pasha Djezzar had cut of the head
Of Napoleon's envoy, and thrown his
body into the sea The English under
Sin Sidney Smith. and the Turks, held
the town.
Acre was besieged until the lth Of
May, when the French ammuuition BE-
gan to fail. General Ca6arelli, one Of
Napoleon's favorite officers. already one
legged from heroism, died from the am
putation of IN arm. On the 10th Of the
month the French made IN assault, and
gained the trenches During the Gxty