The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-26
TODAY I'M HISTORY
The Battle OF Crecy
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2e, 1910.


1t was on August %. 1916. that Ed
ward Ill. with about 80. 900 men. gained
ms great victory over the French a,
Crecy The French army numbered 100
ooo ana was commanded by the French
oitlcer, Comte d'Alcncon. The flower OF
french chivalry. and the King Of Bo-
hemia, hghting for France, were slain
III 'he battle Here II was that the
Black Prince gained his spurs. and that
he adopted the triple feather crest OF
the railen Bohemian king, with the motto,
len Dien stlll worn by the British
frlnce or Wales This battle was one
% ihe earliest In which cannon were
used by the English.
Late In The year 1899 a formal decIara :
slon OF hostillties was made and the long
"ar-the Hundred Years war as IL has
neen called-of English kings for the
sHIVerSlGnty SOY OF France began. The strug-
years, p0'' IVA VI Nv
NO war had broken out in Europe
sahGe 5i,Ge, the fall of the Roman empire
which was SO memorable, whether we
.onslqer It's duration. Its object or Its
ia ie"S i't,ude ,ne and variety OF events There
,i,,,1 Is. ih1aeed, ample room for national ex-
uItdllph on the part of the British at
the names OF Crecy, Poters and Aim
cour, so great was tho disparity OF
EEudrofrs Eud, upon those famous days that the
rcnch have wrongfuly attributed their
aeieat TO mistaken tactics and too i'm
| petuouS valor.
"A a British historian, writing of the bat
tles mentioned, says. These Victories
ana ana the qualities that secured them, must
cnlety pc ascribed TO the freedom OF our
fiHmstltuti6n' inn ~ tS and to the superior condi
iahsiahd, not the feudal tenants won the
%DnIIIes % OF Crecy and Potlers, for these
were iuiIy matched in the ranks of
france; put the yeomen, who drew the
DOW Win strong and steady arms accus-
@ @aonleu 10 use II in their native fields
ana ana rendered fearless by personal com
petence and civil freedom. Yet the
glorious termination to which Edward
was enabled, at least for time. to
pfriHg the contest was rather the work
The victory Of Crccy gave him moth
ing OUT Calais But at PoItiers he OBJ
.rilie 5ainea me greatest of prizes by taking
the IoVe OF freedom tempted that prince
TO ransom himself by the utmost sacri-
ices: fces: but his captivity left France de-
monarchy itself"
Edward III had only occupied Crecy
on GncIsf 1ng Gay ga rbin Preyious to The battle on
vile to give him battle, In the short
time he was there Edward had chosen
eRG eLii, s'rGtg gthened his position with great
ground on the right bank of the Nave
the right wing was covered hy the river
where 1t was defended by series Of cur
Wadcort % nrd anG me barn GgIt Ste extended toward
l.
been opened by a flank attack, il was
oarricaded by piles Of wagons. the Eng
nsn front commanded "A slight ravine;
The baggage and horses. for all fought
on foot. were placed in the rear on the
ieit In a wood. and were impaired with
,hlckets and ielled trees. His position
thus resembled an entrenched can1D
In case Of retreat. Edward commanded
the ancient causeway, by which he could
nave crossed The Authic at Ponche Early
tEe sacrament. Following this he rode
through the lines cncoura ging the men.
ana at 10 a. m. all sat down I'm their
ranks 10 eat and drink. After this Ed
ward betook himself TO a mill near by
70 watch the battle. 1t began after the
heaFy shower which came on at 3 D. M
mad cleared away. and lasted until night
fall. 1t was decided by bad generaIship
and want OF discipline on the French side
and on the English side by the skill of the
bowmen and the steady valor OF the two
front ranks. BY nghtfall the French
were IN fun retreat Edward remained on