The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-01
CHAFFEE KNEW
THE STORY WELL
American General on Belgium's Fa-
nous Battlefield.
NAPOLEON COULD NOT WIN
EARLIER ATTACK WOULD HAVE
BEEN EQUALLY FATAL.

Waterloo, Belgium, Aug. 31-Lieu-
tenant General Adna r. Chaffee ar
rived here this morning and spent the
DAY going from point to point studying
the famous battlefield.
The Belgium ministry of war had
wished 20 assign a distinguished es-
cort TO accompany the commander of
the United States army over the field,
but General Chaffee preferred to go as
a plain citizen. He was accompanied
by his aides, Captain Hutchinson, Cap
tain Nolan and Lieutenant Crimmins
and also by Mrs. and Miss Chaffee and
Congressman William Alden Smith of
Michigan and family. The party was
Joined on the field by Congressman
Burke of South Dakota; Moon of Penn
sylvania and Dickerman OF Pennsylva-
mia, who as Well as Congressman Smith
were members of the American group
at the er-Parliamentary congress at
Brussels
Arriving at the position where Well
lhgton took his stand after Quatre
GraS, General Chaffee led the party to
the top of the mound where the Bel
GUM lion marks the center of the con-
fhct and from which the vital points,
La Hayesainte, HOugoumont and La
Belle Alliance are plainly observable.
with the technical developments of the
battle, and graphically outlined the Of
IenslVe movements of Napoleon, the de-
IehslVe tactics of Wellington and the
maj defeat of the imperial forces. The
congressman pressed the general with
questions which brought out interest
ing comparisons between past and pres
ent military conditions.
Great Field for a Battle.
1T is a great field for a battle" said
the general, looking out over the vast
rolling plain. THE allied armies clear
~ had the advantage of positions. for
the center of Wellington's lines is high
and is screened by that sweeping ridge
while the position occupied by Napol-
cons forces is on that low ground
without cover"
When Congressman Smith asked
what was the main contributory cause
OF the disaster, General Chaffee re-
piled:
1T was the division Of forces. Al
ways before the battle of Waterloo Ma
poleon's SUCCESSES had been gained by
the massing of one solid and iFresis-
TIDE force. but Blucher'S approach from
the east for the first time compelled a
division of forces. That was the real
fatal turning point"
Congressman Burke asked the gen
eral concerning the claims made by
some military authorities that had the
battle opened earlier in the day the re-
suit would have been different. Gen
eral Chaffee dissented, saying:
no, il would merely have brought
about the same result and that much
Congressman Moon asked how the
fact that 1900 We're killed or wounded
IN nine-hours' fight compared with
the battles Of the American civil war
and the RussO-Japanese war,
That is about 80 per cent" an
sWered the general. which is a terrific
percentage. Japan's losses will not ex-
coed 20 per cent. At Gettysburg we
had loss of 10000 in three days.
French Position Inspected.
General Chaffee then visited La
Belle Alliance and carefully inspected [
the French artillery position He
looked over the old house where. on |
the night before the battle. Napoleon
drew his plan Of battle and Wellington |
ana Butcher successfully met. He also |
visited the battered farm house at La !
with its doorway still rid /,
dled with bullets, but the generals |
chlef interest was in HougoumOnt, where |
the deddliest fight occurred. Here he /
Inspected the crumbling defenses and
thrust his hands into the huge rents |
made by cannon balls.
General Chaffee with his STAFF and
family returned 10 Brussels. He viii |
leave for Paris tomorrow to attend the |
French mauauVare