New-York tribune., 1905-02-05

thick foliage. "Unhappily for them of their
number failed to conceal himself sufficiently.
and people at set about searching tree
after tree, and bringing down their occupants
as if they were out squirrel shooting Had not
this scene been somewhat repugnant to ones
feelings it might have been amusing; at all
events. there the merit of novelty in this
method of gathering by means of powder and
ball the large fruit which dangled at the tops
of the fir trees" 1t is a characteristic COM
ment.
De la ColOnie pictures. sometimes with zest
sometimes with chagrin, events of the engage
ments of his troops with those of Milford MarI-
borough" and of Prince Eugene. The queer ad-
ventures of both armies in the marsh at the
battle of Families provide one of the most
stirring chapters of the book The groups of
officers and men. begged and helpless and res
cued by the enemy only to be made prisoners
were pitiable and comic at the same time. Here
his own men showed signs of the white feather
and we have the commander swearing terri
bly, as ever they did in Flanders and searching
in a simulated rage for the poltroons. He de-
votes only few sentences to Oudenarde evil
IDENTIFY feeling that so inglorious a defeat was
not easy to describe. He lays stress on the
mournful state of France at the opening of the
following campaign-that of 1909. The winter
frozen over; grain and fruit trees and vines were
utterly destroyed and fields had to be resown
That meant famine for the peasants and short
commons for the soldier and his horse. Milford
Marlborough again won fine victory-this time
at "a little place called Malplaquet" Again
wrath evidently overcame our commander at
the conduct of his friends. Some of our
best dressed troops" he says, scornfully did
not think proper to hold their ground; doubt
less not so much that they were afraid of being
killed the fear of the embarrassment they
might cause the State by the difficulty that
would be created later on in having to replace
them." In plain words. they ran away. much
to the contentment of Milford Marlborough
After Malplaquet famine in the French army
put a stop to further active operations. The
four days supply of bread necessary before the
troops could take the offensive was not to be
had The Intendant of Maubeuge, when threat
ened with hanging if he did not provide this
bread. promptly declared that he was ready for
the rope There was no more forage than bread;
the wretched horses perished at their picket
ropes.
These memoirs, full of human interest give
the reader a clearer realization of those far off
campaigns than can most elaborate military his
tories. The technical details the author does
not fail to offer take on life and movement when
mingled with the episodes of comedy and trag-
edy which are scattered through his pages. We
see him trembling in his shoes for the safety OF
the Elector, when, with his highness masked
the two men make a reconnaissance outside the
ramparts OF Memmingen, and a burgher takes
aim at the "Shrove Tuesday Mask" We see
him strewing the bank of the Danube with hat
wig, pistols, sword and richly embroidered uni
form, on the chance that the pursuing troopers
may stop to pick up the spoil while he swims for
dear life across the river. They do that very