The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-21

% russia and Japan are minutely
discussed and commented upon By ex-
peFts' ana when the personalities Of the
rulers ana generals OF the contending
forces and the justice OF their respec-
i've causes are daily submitted Tor
public judgment ana opinion, a short
account Of how Charles XII, the young
King Of Sweden, at the head Of a heroic
little army Of 5000 loyal subjects lit
Tie over 200 years ago. defeated Peter
tle Great OF Russia and his army OF
eV,uVV VII, no doubt prove Of general
interest
History in this case. as in many 9th
ers, proves that victory does rot al
ways attend the army numerically the
strongest, but that success more Oftea
depends on resOurcefulness, decision,
quick action and the fact OF knowing
how and when to follow up advantages
gained. The following incident furthe"
shows that Charles XII, whom the
great Voltaire called "the most extra
ordinary man. perhaps, that ever ap-
peaTeu in tie world" was not only q
most generous and nOblehearted foe,
but also most strenuous exponent OF
what has been styled in these latter
days ''snirt-sieeEe diplomacy" He
placed but little faith in the nice ami
intricate peace propositions of his own
diplomatic representatives and those Of
his enemies, and insisted on conducting
peace negotiations himself at the place
where ne had gained the victory, The
following historical incident also shows
the double-dealirgs Of the Muscovite
ambassadors attached 10 Charles
court, who hal sworn to preserve 'in-
Yiolable peace"
The founder of the Russian empire,
Peter the Great, ives ambitious OF be
ing a C0nquerOr, and he wanted a pore
on the east SIDE of the Baltic, 10 faCili-
tate the execution of his numerous
schemes He wanted the province of
lngria. TO the northeast of LiVOnia. The
SWedes were in possession of it. and
from them he resolved 10 take it by
force, and he therefore made a league
with Jhe king of Poland to wrest from
SounS Charles XII all the territories
bounded b. the Gulf OF Finland, the
Baltic sea, Poland and MuscOvy. Vol
talre described the Swedes as well
made, strong and active, and capable Of
enduring the greatest fatigue, want and
hunger. Born with a military genius
and high spirit, they are more brave
than Industrious having long neglected,
and even at present but little cultivat-
ing, the arts OF commerce"
Ready For Wars
Realizing the danger which beset his
country, Charles. who formerly had
been fond of gayety and dress, resigned
his magnifcence and INDUCED no longer
IN sports and recreations, bat hence
forth never clad otherwise than as a
common soldier. He hardly ever assist
cd at the council of state. but at this
critical moment his councillors hap
peEed to hold a elaboration in his pres
ence concerning the dangerous stu
alton of affairs. Some Of the members
proposed TO avert the storm b. negO-
tidtiOns, when al of a sudden Charles
arose, with an air OF gravity and assur-
auce. like man of superior COnSo-
queuce who has chosen his side.
Gentlemen" said ne, Il am resolved
never To begin an unjust war. nor ever
TO iini5Z just one but by the destruc-
tion Of my enemies. Ny resolution IS
fixed. I Will attack The first that snail
declare against me, and. after having
conquered him. I hope i shall be able tn
strike terror into the rest The ola
councillors were astonished at this dec
laTatiOn Of their king, but they dared
not reply. They received his orders for
the war with admiration.
Charles at once took the offensive,
dispatched a feet to Copenhagen, the
Danish capital, and defeated the army
and navy of the king of Denmark, who
was in league with Peter the Great
against Charles. in a war which lasted
less than six weeks. Charles was then
IS years old. Exactly at this time the
king OF Poland invested Riga, the cap
itai of Livonia; and the car was ad-
vancing or the east at the head of near
j. 100000 men. Riga was defended by
the old Count DalbeTg, a Swedish gen
craL who. at the age of 50. Joined all
the fire of youth TO the experience Of
sixty campaigns. He bafied ali the ef-
forts Of the enemy. and the king OF
Poland, after despairing Of being able
10 take the town, laid hold OF an hon
orabie preteXt for raising the siege,
which he did. The only thing that
Charles had now to 90 toward the fin
iShiug of his first campaign was to-
march against his rival in glory, Peter
Alexiovisch He was the more ex-
asperated against him. as there We're
stin at Stockholm three MUscoVite am
bassadors, who had lately sworn to the
renewal of an inviolable peace. Pos
sessed of the most incOTruptible iutes-
rity, he could not conceive how a legis-
IaJOr like the car should make q jest
OF what ought 10 be held sacred.
The emperor of Muscovy had just
published q manifesto. in which he a..
legged as the reason Of the war the lit
tie respect that had been shown him
when he went inc0guito TO Riga and the
eNtravagant prices. his ambassadors
had been obliged TO pay for provisions
Such were the mighty injuries for
which he ravaged Ingria with S0,e09
men. At the head Of this great army
ne appeared before NaTva on Oct. 1,
and Charles XII at once advanced to
it, relief. The MuscOvites had 1859 can
ron, but were hardly able 90 make a
breach. while the artillery of Narva
moved down at every discharge whole
ranks or the enemy in their trenches
NarVa was almost without fortidca-
tons, Baron Horn, who commanded
EneTe. had not 1000 regular troops; and
Yet Peters immense army could not re-
dUce it IN six weeks. on Nov. j. the
car learned that The king of Sweden
had crossed the sea with POO transports,
and was advancing 10 the relief of Mar
Va.
The Sxedes were not above 10000
strong. Not content with $4,000 men.
the car resolved TO oppose to Charles
another army still, and L. check his
progress at every step. he had al
ready given orders for the march of
% 600 men. who We're advancing from
P1escOv with great expedition, ana re-
solved 10 shut up Charles XII between
two armies A detachment of 30.000
men from the camp before Narva was
POSTED az a leagues distance from the
city directly in the king of SWedens
Rad. 10000 Streiltz were placed fur
ther of. upon the same road, and 5000
others composed an advance guard.
Before reaching the camp, which was
fortified with a rampant and double
Jesse. Charles must necessarily force
his way through all these troops. The
king OF Sweden had landed at Pernau.
sr t1a erfsIf of pinra with about rs 600