New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28

the Magyar divisions Of the army Of the Dual
Empire. and which might render them reluctant
TO WELD to any Austrian general that instant and
absolute obedience which is Indispensable TO
the success Of military operations IN time OF
war. but who, devoted in their loyalty TO Fran
els Joseph as their King. could be depended on
to execute at once his personal commands
F-mperor Francis Joseph is to-day the only
living sovereign who can boast OF having led
cavalry charge upon the enemy. II was only
n few months before his accession to the throne.
namely in May. 1913 when the fortunes Of the
dav AT the bloody battle Of Santa Lucia were
turned by a magnificent cavalry charge. IN
which the eighteeh-year-old archduke. as he
uas then rode at the head OF hts dragon regi-
nent through the squares Of Sandman infantry
and captured the guns which throughout the
morning had been pouring shot and shell into
the Austrian ranks Marvellous to relate no
ESCAPED without a scratch, more fortunate IN
this respect than the late King Humbert. who
AZ the battle of Custozza. IN 1866, which re-
suited so disastrously for the Italians. endeav-
ored in vain to stem the tide Of defeat. throw
ing himself repeatedly into the very thick OF
the contest. Bleeding from severe sabre cut,
ba was Ar length literally swept Off the battle
field by his fathers officers and his own friends.
who fully realized the irreparabIe injury that
ropu1ar heir 10 the throne being either killed
or captUred Francis Joseph was again In the
field this time not as archduke. but as En-
reror. in the war Of 1859 against the united
forces Of Italy and France. But IN the wars
of 1864 and 1866 he yielded reluctantly TO the
solicitations OF his ministers and remained at
Vienna. a fact which seriously affected the
fortunes Of the day in the latter Of the two
campaigns I'm question. the failure on the part
Of Field Marshal Won Benedek. the Austrian
caneraIlssimo In the field. to secure from the
divisional commanders that obedience which
would have been accorded TO the sovereign
having contributed I'm no small measure to the
victory Of Prussia.
Besides Francis Joseph. the only other rulers
now living who have been under fire are old
King George % saxony. who commanded a
division IN the war with France I'm 1SIO-'Tl:
King William Of Wurtemberg. who took part
IN the same campaign as cavalry subaltern.
the aged Grand Duke Of Baden. who was with
his father-in-law. old Emperor William. at Sc
dan and at the surrender Of Paris. King Charles
Of Rumania WHO contributed so sreatly TO the
defeat OF the Turks at Plevra in the war OF
1877. Prince Nicholas Of Montenegro, who re-
reated I'm the same conflict the successes which
he had achieved in a previous campaign against
the Porte in 1s6t and last. but not least. King
Peter Of Servia. who received the cross OF the
Lesion cf Honor FOR saIlantry under fire as a
French infantry subalteru in the war with
Germany in 1ST1-'1l
While in England no king has taken to the
field since King George IL won the battle u
Dettingen. most Of the sovereisns living TWEEN
ty-fve and thirty years ago had personal ex-
Tericnce Of the horrors Of war. The late King
Victor Emmanuel. for instance. had psrtici-
pated IN the campaigns Of 1913 against Austria,
IN 1890 against Russia IN the Crimea IN lS19
again against Austria. I'm lSG2 against Naples
and In 1906 against Austria again. Old En-
peror William Of Germany had received his
baptism OF ire In the war OF liberation against