The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-30
CENTENNIAL OF THE
 BATTLE OF POIsOTZK


 Just century ago today was fought the. battle of Polotzk, between the French and Russians.-one of series of engagements which marked the ad- vance of Napoleon in his disastrous invasion Of the land of the Great White Czar. For two days the bat tie was waged, the Russian corps un- der command Of Wittgenstein, and Oudinot's corps and a division of Ba- varians carrying the banner of the Man of Destiny. Tn the end the Rus sians retEeated further into the inter for, In The with the policy of Bar clay, the Czar's commander, for lur- ing the invaders to their doom.
 There was wisdom in this procedure. as the event proved, but the hot-heads of Russia--like the stay-at-homes in all wars-denanded action. The off, cers under Barclay also chafed at the delay. and it was for these reasons that Barclay detached Wittgenstein and gave him orders to make an of- fensive movement. Tormasov, on the other flank, was also sent against the Germans and Austrians under Schwar- xenherg and ReZpier. &Ehe latter were not very loyal to- their imperial mas ter. and made slight resistance, so that with scarcely an effort Tormasov cap tured an entire brigade of the Saxons under Reynier Audinot was forced back over the river Drissa, leaving A. 900 French troops behind. This attack of the enemy so weakened the ends of Napoleon's army that he found him. self in sore straits and had to use the reserves to strengthen the Hanks.
 Although Barclay had more than held his own against Napoleon's s forces, he continued to retreat. In subsequent clashes the French Elm peror found he had underestimated the valor of the Russians. The ad- vance into Russia was not so easy as he had anticipated, and although he finally reached Moscow, it was only to find the city in flames. his army without provisions or shelter against the terrible Russian winter. in a strange land where "the infantry of the snow and the calvary of the wild blast scattered his legions like winters withered leaves
 While INapoleon's army was largely composed of troops who fought and suffered against their willard the German and Austrian allies especially were so apathetic that they could not be depended on to carry out any or ders promptly or effectively-the Rus sians were fighting in defense of their fatherland. and displayed wild enthu- siasm and bravery. While his sole diers were hindering and retarding the advance of the foe on the from tiers, Emperor Alexander called his nobles in council in the imperial pal- ace in Moscow. At a banquet given Tn their, honor by the Emperor, cen- tury ago today, the nobles pledged to levy and equip at theor own expense one man in every ten in the country. Alexander, overcome by this loyalty, took sacred oaah on his sword that he would exfsHst the last resources of his crown rather than ssgive in" This spirit Napoleon had not counted on, and it was this that brought about his final defeat.
 Seventy thousand people were killed by an earthquake that devastated Ma ples on this date in 1926. Fifty-two years ago today Prince Albert Edward of Wales-afterwards King Edward vII-landed at Halifax to commence his tour of America. Today is tke anniversary of the death, in 171S, of William Penn, founder of Pennsyl- vania, and in 17s4, of Denis Diderot, the great French philosopher and free thinker.