New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-28


edmond in The Three Brontes.)
FlchinCen. Prince OF the Moskowa, l76s-
1915 BY A billiard Atteridge. With >
illustrations and maps. sVO.. PIP. Kill
S79. Brentano's.
Mr.. Atteridge has written good.
straightforward life OF Ney, unpreju-
diced and remarkably fair in its pres
entation Of the last episode IN his
career, which was treason In techni-
cal sense, but hardly can be called that
betrayal OF his fatherland which the
White Terror. clamoring for his HE,
made II out to he. Ney talked 100
much" only a few days before his re-
turn to his allegiance 10 Napoleon.
His blographer proves that he not
only assured Louis XVIII that he
would bring the Corsican TO Paris "in
n cage" but that he repeated the eH-
travagant statement on his way south
at the head OF his troops. II did not
ask that of him." the King Is reported
10 have said II is undeniable that
Louis gave him every chance to escape
for he knew well that the great and
popular fighter would be an embarrass-
ment TO him and his re-established gov
eminent. Ney relied upon one OF the
articles Of the Convention with the
allies, granting immunity 10 the SOL
diers who had deserted tho lilies for
the tri-color In 1915. His enemies
forced his condemnation and execution.
Michel Ney was born at Saarlouis. a
French fortress on the German from
tier, IN 1869. His father was a cooper.
but he had in him the blood Of fighting
men, not Of mounted knights and COM
manders OF armies. but of pikemen and
musketeers and non ACCOMPLISHMENT off,
GERS in royal regiments. The father.
before marrying and settling down, had
fought In the Seven Years War. and
been present at the battle Of Rossbach.
Young Ney was destined for the law
his parents evidently had ambitions for
him-but ere long, in 1ISS, he went to
Metz and enlisted as a private In the
First Regiment of French Hussars.
1t was three years before he was made
q corporal, but In 1892 he won the
grade OF sergeant-major. The follow
ing year he was made a lieutenant.
and toward its end aide-de-camp to
General Colaud, with the Army Of the
North, TO return to his regiment in
1904 with the rank Of captain. An
ardent republican. he WAS won over
by Napoleon at their first meeting.
Ney was, indeed, one of the few SOL
diers OF the northern armies Of the Re-
public who were allowed to show their
mettle in the imperial campaigns.
The wars Of the Republic and the En-
pire gave Ney full scope for his excep-
tional gifts as q soldier-as fighter, tao
tician and. ultimately, as strategist.
The career Of "the Bravest of the
Brave" Is too well known TO need de-
tailed treatment here. Great in VIC
tory, Ney was greater still In defeat
Ills greatest IullllAiS' dS uiStiiSl iioHi
his popular, fame was won In the re-
treat from Torres Vedras, in Spain.
and In the far greater retreat from
Moscow, In which he literally saved
all that could be saved Of that de-
moralized, starving, freezing mob OF
fleeing men. He was the last man to
recross the Niemen; his was the hand
that threw the abandoned muskets into
it's freezing waters. At Waterloo he
was no longer at his best. His personal
valor re NAMED with him. but he blum
dered again and again.
This biography of one Of the greatest
sons of the Revolution deals chiefly
with the public, the military side OF his
life Indeed. he had hardly time for
the enjoyment Of the honors showered
upon him, Of the princely and ducal
rank bestowed upon him by Napoleon.
In his treatment of battles and Ney's
share in their winning and losing the
author never forgets that he is writing
for the general reader, not the military
student He has drawn freely upon all
the existent authorities, including even
the still unfinished work of General
Bonnal. and gives proper credit to his
sources Of information.