The Washington herald., 1913-02-01

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nevertheless, that many fierce battles
actually have taken place on Christmas
Day, when peace and good will are
supposed to rule the world.
On the night of December Is, 1T7s Gen.
Washington made his array against the
English at Trenton: his army crossed the
icy waters OF the Delaware: he attacked
Commander Rahile furiously next morn
ing, and defeated him with a loss to the
British OF many killed and more than
1000 prisoners
On Christmas Day. 1900. the French
army bore down on the Austrians at
Mincio and fought 30 fiercely that til
battle ragged two days. at the end of
which the Austrians retired. badly beat
en-, leaving hundreds of their own men.
as well as hundreds Of the French, dead
on the field.
On Christmas. 1873. Sir Hugh Cough
led the British army against the rebels
at Maharatpore, where his forces, 1900
strong. and with forty sums. were op-
posed by 5000 Manrattas with 100 guns.
Cough inflicted a terrible defeat on the
brave Hindoos, and some of his regi-
ments. especially the Third, Thirty-ninth,
Fortieth and Fiftieth, OF the line, COW
cred themselves with glory. Curiously
enough, on the very same day, another
battle was being fought by the English.
under Gen. Grey. at Punnjar. Grey,
with only 1900 men under his command.
found himself Unexpectedly facing a host
of Mahrattas, and was compelled to
hight or surrender. He fought. and won
a splendid victory against long odds.
On Christmas Day. 1906. the French had
severe engagement with the allies at
Poltusk, In Poland. which lasted well
INTO next day. when the tiercest OF the
hghting took place. The slaughter on
both sides was very great, but the re-
suit was indecisive.
It was Christmas when Sir William
Lockhart, after avenging the cruel mas
sacre of the British envoy, Sir Louis
Cavagnari. In 1873. entered CabuI in tri-
umph and the Afghans confessed them
selves unable to struggle any longer
against the British. VINO had taken such
a severe revenge for the cowardly MUIR
der Of the envoy and his STAFF
The famous battle OF Valley Forge
during the war of American independ-
ence was fought on Christmas Day. lis,
The English already had confiscated
most OF the good things in the neigh
boring city Of Philadelphia, and the
American army. tired and overworked,
and in bad plight. met their foes on this
memorable day, and sent them to the
right-about
The troublesome Sikhs caused Sir
Hugh Cough to fight a very stifr battle
on another Christmas. This was IN 1875.
when the brave general met the fighting
Sikhs twice in Christmas week, and ut
terly defeated them both times One
battle took place at Ferozeshah, and the
other at Moodkee. Coughs clever man
agement Of his men caused the Sikhs
10 suffer such dreadful havoc that not
only did he win both fights. but tho
brave Sikhs came to the conclusion that
The English. soldiers were unconauer-
able. ana resolved to join them. rather /
than to play the part of rebels any
longer. How nobly the Sikhs stood by
their colors after that Christmas Day |
is best proved by their loyalty during |
the great mutiny.
1t was on Christmas iSSS, that Gen. |
Sir F. Gre"nfell fought and routed the |
Dervish army in the Sudan, which |
brought about the final rule of England |
in that region until the Mahdi raised |
the revolt. which Lord Kitchener SUBJ !
dued ten years later
The last occasion when BritIsh army
was actually engaged in fighting on
Christmas Day was when Tommy At |
kins" took the field against his enemy |
on the Northwest frontier of India |
during tribal rebellion there in 1902 |
The British finished the business IN al
hurry.
Both Napoleons. while on the throne /
Of France. attached a most supersti- /
tiOus importance to the letter M" II
was MarbO-uf who first called attention |
to the genius Of young Bonaparte at the !
Military College. Marengo was Napo- :
Icons first great victory; Melas was the /
name of the general whom he super
seeded in the command of the French |
IT,
most valued generals. Ii was Moreau |
who betrayed him. Murat. King Of
Naples, was the first martyr TO his |
cause.
The naughty Austrian ArchduChess
Marie Louise, whose father, the En-
perOr. Napoleon forced into consenting to
a marriage with him. after humiliatinS
the proud Hspsburger. shared the Cul-
point of his success Moscow
was the scene OF his greatest disaster.
and II was Metternich who defeated him
In the field of diplomacy.
No fewer than six or his field marshals
and tewnty-siX Of his best generals had
names beginning with M" and Maret.
Duke of Bassano, was his most trusted
rontidant. His very first battle was that
Of MOulnOtte, and his last that of Mont
Saint Jean. subsequently and more uni
known as Waterloo.
Among his victories were those of Mil
lesimO. Mondori. Montmirail. MoRtereau.
and Montmarte. His first chamberlain
was NJ. de Montesqueu. His last resi-
dence in France was at Malmaison. He
himself TO Capt. Maitland,
II his British mHjestys ship Bellerophon,
and his attendants at St. Helena were
Montholon and Marchand.
The superstition attached to the same
letter Of Napoleon III may be accounted
for by the fact that his wife was a
Countess Montijo. that his most intimate
friend was the Due de Morny. and his
most dreaded enemy Maggini The most
glorious feats of the French army of the
Second Empire were the capture Of the
and the grim Mamelon during
he Crimean war. His best-known field
narshals were Mcmahon. Duke of Ma
;enta, and the Duke of Malakof
The great victory of Solferino in 1859
Jock place on the banks of the Mfncio |
ind the cities Ct Mantua and Milan play
ID an important role during the cam
Iaign. The Mexican war and the execu.
lon of the Emperor Macmillan caused |
his power to wane perceptibly: Malmes-
Jury was the name of his most intimate
ri, nd in English political life Sedan,
which witnessed his fall Is on the banks
4 the Mouse. The surrender Of Metz
his restoration to power i'm
possible, and Moltke was the name of
he man 10 whose genius he chiefly owed
lis defeat.
Mr. James Bryce, by retiring from his
position Of British Am
,aSsador to the United States in fayor