Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-09
THE BATTLE OF THE NILE.
Its Effect n Its Influence Were
F~ar-Reaching.

OF thirteen French ships of the line
all but two were taken or destroyed.
The fleet was annlhilated. Victory"
laid Nelson justly, lis certainly not a
name strong enough for such a scene as
/ have passed" In completeness of inl-
mediate results upon the field. no feet
action has V equaled the battle of the
Nile. Upon the fortunes of the partic-
ular enterprise which elected it-Bona-
parties oriental expedltion-the effect
was absolutely decisive. 1t became inn
possible. and "a by experience dem
onstrated TO 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-
ceived. 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-
trles-of which the u~nprOVoked Egyp-
tan expedition was only one example
that had aroused the wrath of all ma
tons. Even the United states was
forced from its attitude of benevolent
neutrality, which a 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, CurbGd by experience of
the might of the French revolutionary
movement and of the French armies
when welded by a man like Bonaparte,
and there was wanting the demonstra-
tion of some power capable Of imposing
an absolute check upon their future
progress. The battle of the Nile gave
such a demonstration. As Nelson said.
II was more than a victory: IL was a
catastrophe. The French fleet was an
nihill;Cd, the Mediterranean passed
INTO the absolute possession of Great
britain, the flower Of the French army
and the invincible Bonapdrte were cut
off hopelessly from France. Turkey,
previously orerawed by tho fleet, de-
claIed war in a month. Austria, Russia
II Naples had already drawn together
in coalition. They were embroidered, as
the ~permanence of tho conditions due to
the tlt;ln became evident, to pursue
their military enterprises upOn a scale
which brought the republic to tho brink
OF ruin, from which ii was saved only
by IN" unexpected and fortuitous re-
turn of ~Bonaparte, and his accession to
supreme power, a year later. Before
the year 1898 expired a combined Rus
sian and Turkish fleet entered the Med
~iterrancan from the Black sea, and un-
dCrtCok TO WrpSt the lOnian islands
from France. In India the movements
against ne British domination which
had Been fomented by French negotia-
lions, and which Ronaparte expected to
foster, fen still born when the disaster
became now 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, not to say
cNultation, was shown 10y the honors
II rewards showered from all sides
upon the victor. The sultan and the
car. the kings Of Sardinia ana of the
two Sicil!es. sent messages of congratu-
latiOn and rich presents. the ear ic-
cOmpanying his with an autograph let
ter. IN the part Of his own country. the
" houses Of parliament voted their
thanks and a pension of - 900 a year.
The East India company 10y a gift of
10000 acknowledged the security
gained for the Indian possessions. oh
or individual corporations toOk appro-
pirate notice of the great event; in
stances SO far apart as the cities OF
London II Palermo and the island OF
Iante showing 10Y wide spread was
the sense of relief.
In titular rank Nelson was raised to
the lowest grade of the pevrago as
ldlOll nelson OF inh Mic. indignant
comment vas made in some quarters
upcn the inadequacy Of this advance
ment to the brilliancy and importance
Of the service done. The Ministry justi-
fled its action upon the technical
ground, that though no superior was
within 1000 miles of Aboukir. Nelson,
was nevertheless "A subordinate flag Of
ficer, not a commander in chief.
Not least gratifying to him. with his
sensitive appreciation of friendship and
susceptibility to tllttery, must have
been the numerous letters of congratu-
lation he received from friends in and
out Of the service, and especially from
men whose emin@nce and professional
standing made their praise a sound cri-
terlon for the calm after judgment Of
mankind. Besides many other officers
Of character and reputation the three
great Admirals, Lords Howe. Hood AMI
st. Vincent. the leaders of the navy in
rank and distinguished service. wrote
10 him n tn strong st ems 4 aimira.
ton. The latter two did not hesitate to
style h fattle the greatest achieve
ment hat history could produce, while
HoWc'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.