Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

The Secretary Of State was INFORMED
April 9. through the Spanish minister
Senior Don Ramon
American Pima, that the Span
,.... ish government pro-
posed to convoko.
from the 14th to the Goth Of October.
in the historic city Of Saragossa, an
international congress to celebrate
the centennial of the siege OF that
city in the war for Spanish in
dependence. The Spanish government
expressed the desire that the united
States would participate in the con-
gress, esteeming it token of the cor
dial and friendly relations existing De-
tween the two governments If the
United States would send delegates
from the army. navy and seen
tific institutions. Thereupon the United
States designated as delegates from the
navy Rear Admiral Caspar F. Goodrich:
from the army. Mai. Gen. Leonard
Wood: from Yale University. Prof
Henry Rosman Lang, Ph.D.: from Har-
ward University. Prof. Archibald Coo
lidge, Ph.D.; as secretary. Mr.. Theodore
Davis Boa1 of Pennsylvania.
The selection of the delegates is most
wise and fitting. Nor is Their, dispar-
agement in referring specially to the
of Rear Admiral Goodrich. who be-
sides has had wide and extended ex-
perience in his profession. To cite only
a single incident. of which the writer
is personally cognizant. Admiral Good
rich. then lieutenant commander. Z: $.
N. in 1882, at Alexandria, Egypt. i'm
mediately after the bombardment and
burning Of the city. led a detachment OF
United States sailors and marines to
| re-establish the United States con-
cn1ofo This dof haCidaS
Alexandria from complete destruction
and saved hundreds Of lives from mas
sacre by the timely Intervention. The
story merits mention whenever the
| name of Rear Admiral Goodrich is writ
| ten. because it Is tribute as well to the
| gallantry and devotion of the sailors
and marines of the United States Navy.
The devoted patriotism of the inhabitants
of Saragossa In the siege by the armies of
| Bonaparte in 10000 is one of the grand
est spectacles In the annals OF nations
and which ranks with the ancient sieges
of Saguntum by Hannibal 21S B. c., and
| that Of Numantia in 1873 B. c.
Baron Rogniat, lieutenant general of
| engineers Of the French army writing of
the siege of Saragossa in
Hogn1at's 1914 says: II propose thus
r.4:. a triple object-to furnish
materials for history. to
celebrate the glory of my companions in
arms and to make known the first move
ment toward liberty Of that brave nation
| which. betrayed by those who governed
1t. deprived Of its armies and despoiled of
| It's fortified places. has nevertheless by it's
constancy and energy guaranteed itself
| against the yoke Of the stranger"
There Is story by Perez Galdos I'm
Saragossa," in which the author says:
providence holds in store for this peo-
pie great advancings and abasements,
great terrors and surprises, apparent
deaths and mighty restrictions.
Saragossa is a natural position in the
center OF the plain of Aragon, where roads
meet, one to Castillo by the valley of
Jalon. one to the Pyrenees by the Gale
COS to the Basque provinces and one to
the Mediterranean by the Ebro-a posi-
ton of the first importance
The city Is built entirely Of brick and
maintains its ancient appearance with
us tortuous streets. 1t was originally
stroyed in As B. c. Restored by Augustus
in q B. c.. 1t became one of the principal
cities of the Tarraconaise Seized in turn
by the Vandals. Souabes, Visigoths, and
Arabs, 400-1017. it became the capital of
the kingdom Of Saragustha. The Chris
tians recaptured it in Ills. After the re-
union of the crowns of Aragon and Cas-
tile. Saragossa's place was taken by
Madrid.
The French revolution had it's counter
stroke in Spain as elsewhere in Europe.
Spain had been arrayed against France
| until the peace of Bale and the treaty Of
Ildefonso in 1896. The treaty Of Fontaine-
| bleau in 1907 was the signal for the man
Hesitation Of frivolities which brought
about the Intervention of Bonaparte in
the affairs of Spain.
i
In 1903 the court of Spain was rent by
factions and the royal house was divided
against itself. There were
Spanish three parties in these dis
E.o+;o,. sensions-the first party,
King Carlos w; the Sec
ond party, that of his son. Prince Ferdi-
nand; the third, that of Don Manuel Co
doy, whose pretensions were supported by
the queen. The abdication at Bayonne of
Carlos Nv in favor of Joseph Bonaparte
with the consent of nnety-one nobles
reused the peninsula to determined revolt
When Joseph Bonaparte was crowned
king at Madrid. July -, war was already
raging in every province. And now, in
the virtue and devoted patriotism of all
Spain united against the intrusion of the
stranger. began the long and fierce strug-
giles of Spaniards for independence as
nation, which is shortly to be feted and
glorified in the International congress at
SdTdSOSSd.
The garrison Of 10000, aided by citi-
zen soldiery of 100000. under the COM
mand of Joseph PalafoX, resisted heroical-
ly the attacks of the French army COM
manded in turn by Gems. Lefebvre-Des-
nouettes, Verdier, Money, Junot, Murat
and Lannes. PalafoX refused the terms
Of capitulation offered him by Verdier and
responded: Rather war to the knife
The French army, having retired, re-
turned December 10, 1908, commanded
by Money. The siege recommended; the
entire population, men, women and chill
dren, went to the ramparts. An epidemic
swept off $4,000 of the 100000 inhabitants.
This war is horror" wrote Lannos
to the emperor. Finally, February Il,
1869, Palafox capitulated and was sent
prisoner to Vincennes, where he remained
until 1914. The French lost 5000 men OF
her 1900. The garrison of 10000 was re-
duced to 1900.
The war for Spanish independence was
waged with fury After the battle of Wit
toria Napoleon ordered his brother to re-
nounce the throne of Spain and by the
treaty of Valencay December, 1879 he
gave the crown to Ferdinand VII, who
reigned until 1883.
Alfonso XIII, the son Of the late King
Alfonso XII and Maria Christina, daugh-
ter of the late Ferdinand.
Alfonso Archduke Of Austria, is
-, King OF Spain Rorn in