The Washington times., 1903-06-28

taken him 20 the military college at
Rrienne. Ten or eleven years before he
entered Holland at the head of an army
he had obtained a humble commission
ia an artillery regiment When the
French revolution began, he became
the leader of the extreme revolutionary
party in BesancOn and was elected
Northumberland. He finally became a
general Of brigade. The common people
made generals in those days, and when
the commanders of noble birth were
cast aside this laborer's son was made
general of division.
In 1898 he became coumander-in-
chief Of the united armies of the Rhine
anG Moselle, and early in 1894 he sue
ceeded to the chieftaincy of the armv of
the north.
In three campaigns OF one year he
seieated the English. the Austrians. and
the Dutch. After driving the Austrians
beyond the Rhine, in October. he was
still eager for conquest Instead of go
Ing into winter quarters, as armies do
under ordinary circumstances. he push
ed forward, through the severcst
weather, on a winter campaign. He
crossed the Meuse on the ice. stormed
the island of Bommel, gaIIoped across
the frozen Waal. drove the English In
rOIt before him. entered Utrecht and
Amsterdam and had Holland at his
mercy.
Inc w9rld was amazed at his exploits
such feats OF arms were unprecedented
ohequaIed in history was the audacity
OF these French brigades OF hussar;
rough riders of a century ago who
with cheers
One OF the incidents of this remarkabl.
campaign was the capture OF a Iaroa
heet OF Dutch warships that were frozen
In the Zuyder Zee. The ice held tbp
great ships fast, but no fear OF dancer
from land force was dreamed Of by
the navy. History furnished no prece-
dent for a lapd charge on a water force.
and then, as now. naval men counted
much upon precedent. But Pichegru
sent his infantry, artillery and cavalry
forward in double quick time cross
Ing rivers and bays without fear Spy
ing the feet out on the Zuyder 20,
Piehegru ordered his men forward, horse
ana foot. over the wide plain of ice
ne cavalry numbered on, the hoofs Of
the horses sounding with metallic
rhythm upon the ice. The audacity IF
the thing daZed the naval officers, and
the feet surrendered
Pichegru was the great popular hero
OF the day in France. and might have
NapoieoniZed his career had he possess
cd the strength OF character suggested
by his feats Of arms. But al the height
o. his success the next year he sold out
his army for a price, and upon discovery
retired In disgrace. In 1909 he went TO
france. after serving abroad, to head
royalist uprising against Napoleon. was
arrested and imprisoned, and found one
morning strangled in his cell. Some per
sens asserted that Napoleon had Piche-
eru murdered; but. as his condemnation
and execution when brought to trial
were certain, there seems to be no prob
ability that Napoleon caused his death
Delort, in the picture, shows the
scene after the capture of the Dutch
chips. The French cavalry. IN long
lines, face the vessels, contemplating
their novel capture. They appear al
most dumfounded I'm watching these
ships that have fallen into their hands
by reason Of the extraordinary daring
OF their commander and their own
reckless bravery. The picture IS .
painting without a parallel for never
Cid artist essay a subject more startling
ond novel.