Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-10-18
.UNvElL MONUMENT
TO NAP0LE0N'S
DEFEAT
GERMANY CELEBRATES The TOOTH
ANNIVERSARY or THE BATTLE
OF LEIpsIC, WHICH FREED THAT
COUNTRY FROM TyRANIcAl FOR.
EIGN DOMINION.
MAMMOTH MEMORIAL
IS DEDICATED TO DAY

Leipsic, Germany, Oct. 1S.--On the
field of the Battle of the Nations"
where just one hundred years ago the
defeat of Napoleon by the allies virtu
ally resulted in the liberation of Ger
many, there was dedicated today one
of the most imposing battle monu
ments in the world. The ceremonies
were notable even in this year of his
toric anniversaries in Germany.
The sovereign Of Austria, Russia
and Sweden, the nations that fought
with Prussia to break the power Of
Napoleon in Germanic Europe, sent
their personal representatives, and all
the federated princes and mayors OF
the German empire were present
Their host is King Frederick August
III. of SaXony. sixth in line of direct
descent from that King Frederick Alt-
gust |, who fought with Napoleon
against the allies: whose troops de-
serted to the allies on the decisive
day, and who himself, vainly appeal,
| ing for terms. was taken to Berlin
anu htp' VII tudl pl lSoltl loI lHlee
years.
| The structure dedicated is today
/ by far the largest and highest in
Europe. 1t stands just south of Leip-
sic, near Probtheida, the village out
of which the allies drove Napoleon on
October 49, 1873, the decisive day of
the Battle OF Nations" The fight
had been ragged for six days between
the Austrans, Prussians, Russians
and Swedes on the one side, and the
French, aided by the Saxons and
Wurtembergers on the other. when
the deciding day came. On the fol-
lowing day Napoleon abandoned the
contest leaving behind $4,000 of his
army Of 100000 men, 1900 Of them
dead. The allies, at loss of $1,000
from total strength of about 100000,
had made Germany free from foreign
domination to the banks of the Rhine.
The idea of monument on the bat
tlefeld was broached in the following
year by Ernst MoritZT Arndt and
found support from a number of
sian diplomat. An organization was
formed at Leipsic to keep alive the
memory of the battle, but king in
captivity furnished grounds for aban-
doning the movement. The monument
idea came up from time to time in
the succeeding years, and in 1863, on
the fiftieth anniversary of the battle,
the foundation stone of IA monument
was laid
Then came the wars of 1864. 1866
and 1901, and it remained for the
German Patriots Association, formed
in Leipsic in 1894, to take the matter
up and carry it to a successful con
clusion. Four years. later the nee
essary money had been raised a de-
sign by Professor Bruno Schmitz had
been accepted, and the first sod was
turned for the work on October Is,
1898.
The monument stands on hill
about 100 feet above the level Of the
country. 1t is approach,
ed by flight of no steps hewn in
granite. On the base of the monll-
ment at the head of the stairs is an
imposing relief, 1850 feet long and
60 feet wide, the work of Christian .
Behrens. In the center of the relief
is heroic figure of Saint Michael. On
each side of him Furies with torches
hover over a battlefield strewn with
4 in, LOT
is the motto of the anti-Napoleon war
riors: "Gott Nit l'ns' (God With l1s).
The monument rises to a height
of nearly 300 feet 1t is reinforced
faced with porphry. On the
ground level is crypt, surrounded by
eight gigantic stone masks, represent
ng fate. In front of each mask stands
wo warriors, twice life size, holding
he death watch. Above this crypt
s rotunda, enclosing the Hall of
Fame. Above the walls sit four fig
lres, two male and two femals, seven
ines life size, They represent Cour-
'ge. Sacrifice. EXaltation and belief.
The figures are the work of Professor
franz Metzner
Around the outside of the domed
'upola which surmounts the monu-
nent stand twelve gigantic warrior ,
ieures. The interior of three of them
re occupied by winding stairs and ,
n elevator. giving access to bal
ony near the top of the monument. ,
One striking thing is noted in con-
lection with all the statues: not one ,
epresents any prince or sovereign
he uprising against Napoleon in 1919
vas an uprising of the people, not of i
heir rulers, and the new monument =
monument of the people. There '
! not personal note about it, r
SENT +
TO SENATE RY VII SON :,