Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-09
THE BATTLE or THE NILE.
Its Effect and Its Influence Were
Far-Reaching.
Century.

~tAfNai
OF thirteen French ships OF the line
all but two were taken or destroyed.
The fleet was annihilated. Victory"
said Nelson justly, lis certainly not a
name strong enough for such a scene as
i have passed" In completeness OF Inn
mediate results upon the field. no feet
action has ever equaled the battle of the
Nile. Upon the fortunes Of the partic-
ular enterprise which elected lt-Bona-
parties oriental exp~edltion--the effect
was absolutely decisive. 1t became i'm
possible. and "a by experience dem
onstrated 10 he impossible, to afford to
the expeditionary force the renewal OF
men and supplies upon which depended
not only the prosecution OF the under
taking, but even the maintenance OF the
position already achieved
The influence Of the battle OF the Nile
was more far reaching still; the conti-
nent Of Europe became convulsed from
end TO end as soon as the news was re-
ceiyed. Elated by B~Onaparte's career
In Italy, and by the submission Of Au-
stria TO terms of peace the French gov
eminent had entered upon a course OF
arrogant aggression toward other coun-
tries-of which the u~nprovoked Egyp-
tan expedition was only n example
that had aroused the wrath of ali na-
tons. Even the United States was
forced from it's attitude OF benevolent
neutrality, which had depended upon
the tradition Of the war Of independence
and the adoption by France OF repub-
lican institutions.
The general resentment in Europe
was, however. curbed by experience OF
the might OF the French revolutionary
movement n Of the French armies
when welded by a man like B~onaparte,
and there was wantIng the demonstra-
ton OF some power capable of imposing
an absolute check upon their future
progress. The battle of the Nile gave
such q demonstration. As Nelson said,
IL was more han a victory. ii was a
catastrophe The French fleet was an
nihil1ted. the Mediterranean passed
inro the absolute possession Of Great
Britain, the flower OF the French army
and the invincible Bonaparte were cut
OF hop@lessly from France. Turkey,
previously overawed by the fleet, de-
claTed war in a month. Austria, Russia
and Naples mad already drawn together
In coalition. They were emboldened. as
the permanence OF the conditions due to
the battle became evident, 10 pursue
their military enterprises upon a scale
which brought the republic to tho brink
or ruin, from which IL was saved only
by the unexpected and fortuitous re-
turn OF Bonaparte. and his accession to
EuHiNiile poNRI, a. year AiLeT. BEFORE
the year 1898 expired a combined Rus
Sian and Turkish fleet entered the Med
~iterTanean from the Black sea, and un-
dCrtopk TO wrest the IOnian islands
from France In India the movements
against TIE British domination which
had been fomented by French negotia-
tons. n which Bonaplrte expected to
foster, fan Sill born when the disaster
became known there. Nelson. aware Of
the Importance OF the news TO British.
interests. had AT once despatched a spe-
cal messenger overland TO Bombay.
The general satisfaction. no; TO say
exultatiOn, was shown by the honors
and rewards showered from all sides
upon the victor. The sultan and the
czar, he kings Of Sardinia and Of the
TWO Sicilies, sent messages of congratu-
latlon and rich presents. the cZar ac-
companying his with an autograph let
ter. on the part Of his own country. the
two houses Of parliament voted their
thanks n a pension Of T., 1000 a year.
The East India company by a gift OF
10000 acknowledged the security
galned Tor the Indian possessions. OH
or individual corporations took appro-
pirate notice Of the great event; in
stances so far pal as the cities OF
Londcn and Palermo and the island Of
Zante showing how wide spread was
the sense Of relief.
In titular rank Nelson was raised to
the lowest grade Of the peeragc as
Baron Nelson OF the Nile. Indignant
comm5n mt was made IN some quarters
upon The i~nadequacy Of this advance
ment to the b~rilliancy and importance
Of the service done. The ministry justi-
fed its action . the technical
ground. that though no superior was
within 1000 miles of ADoukir. Nelson,
was nevertheless q subordinate flag Of
hcer, not a commander I'm chief.
Not least gratifying to him. with his
sensitive appreciation of friendship and
susceptibility to hattery. must have
been the numerous letters of congratu-
lation he received from friends in and
out OF the service. and especially from
men whose emlnence and professional
standing made their praise a sound cri-
terion for the calm after Judgment OF
mankind. Besides nan other officers
OF character and reputation the three
great Admirals. Lords Howe. Hood AMI
St Vincent. the leaders Of the navy in
rank n distinguished service, wrote
to him n the strong ST ems Il admira.
ton. The latter two did not hesitate TO
style the hattie the greatest achieve
ment that history could produce. while
Howe's language. more measured, was
SO only because, like himself, II was
more precise in characteriZing the spe-
cial merits OF the action. and was there
fore acknowledged by Nelson with par
ticular expressions Of pleasure.