The Irish standard., 1907-09-21

Of Mayor Nannetti, thanked the peo-
pie of Fontenoy for the sympathetic
reception accorded to the Irish visitors.
The monument. he said. was a me-
mortal of an event which constituted
crisis in the history of England and
of Ireland. A procession was then
formed, and proceeded to the site Of
the monument, which is in the form
OF Celtic cross. The unveiling cere-
mony was performed by Mayor Nam
netti. Mr.. O'Brien delivered a patri-
otic address in Gaelic. and Mr.. Walsh
thanked the people for the manifesto
| ton of their sympathy with Ireland
The greatest enthusiasm marked the
proceedings throughout The ceremony
was followed by a fete in honor of the
Irish visitors, following sermon in
Irish preached by Father McInerney.
A formidable task lies before him
who strives to arrive at clear and
easily comprehensive view of the true
story of the battle of Fontenoy. He
has to wade through bewildering
| quantity Of details, sometimes contra
| dictory. from accounts coored by per-
sonal or national predictions, or by
political motives. None the less. the
true facts of the case can be estab-
lished beyond the possibility of doubt.
10 h. T,s~ D,:-
feat into victory and won the day,
is absolutely certain, though English
accounts of the battle make no men,
ton of Ireland or 1rishmen Indeed,
the unfortunate historical student
who relies solely on English sources
for his knowledge of the battle might
never learn that any Irish troops were
there at ALL
Who were the forces that fought at
Fontenoy, and who were its heroes
On the English side, the hero, UNI
doubtedly. was George lis son, the
Duke OF Cumberland, Butcher of Gull
loden,' dogged, brutal man, Of heavy
Teutonic cast, who certainly on this
occasion, gave an amazing display OF
obstinate. stupid daring, which nearly
won him the victory, and lost many
lives. On the other side, .we have
many war heroes-adroit courtiers. well
! knowing, as Michelet says, how to ap.
propriate to themselves the glory OF
a victory achieved by Irishmen There
were no subtle schemes in the minds
of the Irish fighters at Fontenoy;. only
a desire to avenge themselves on the
oppressors. of their country.
| War battered dogs are we,
Fighters of every cline;
Filters of trench and of grave,
Mockers benaocked by time.
War dogs. hungry and gray,
| Gnawing naked bone;
/ Fighters in every cline,
Y Every cause but our own"
The quarrel with England had
nothing to do with the great world.
CONFUSION which originated in the
war of the Austrian Succession. The
archduke of Austria died in 1740, leav-
ing no male issue, and his young
daughter Maria Theresa succeeded tc
the inheritance. At once spranr IN =
whole host Of claimants, eagerly ex.
pecting the dismemberment Of the
Austrian empire, and each seeking a
portion for himself. Prussia, Bavaria
Spain claimed different kingdoms O,
the Austrian empire, while England
and Holland ranged themselves on the
side of the Empress Maria Theresa
France took the part of Prussia ano
Bavaria, and so it came about that the
hereditary foemen of the two nations
met in the fields of Germany and OF
Belgium. So, too. did it come about that
the exiled 1rishmen Of the Irish Bri.
gade encountered the forces Of the ma.
ton that had caused their expatria.
ton.
Carlyle "hastens to be there" Car
lyle devotes a thrilling chapter of hi.
History of Frederick the Great" ia
the battle, but does not once mention
the fact that 1rishmen were engaged in
it. One sighting reference he makes
to "the Jacobite 1rishman, Count Lal-
ly," "some undiscovered place in Con-
nacht-where is immaterial." Yet that
same Lally was the real hero of the
fight. the real defeater Of the English
and all the Carlylean jests at his name
will not dim his glory. BY the way
Carlyle once wrote in a different strain
of the fiery. unconquerable. soul" OF
Lally before he discovered him to be
an Irishman.
An allied army, consisting Of Eng
lish. under the Duke of Cumberland:
Dutch, under the Prince of Waldeck