Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-24
BATTLE REWARDS.
Men of Humble Birth Given High
Places for Service.

History provides many precedent:
for the handsome rewards which. We
may be sure, will be accorded theil
generals by the Balkan states.
The triumph. the highest honor
known to the Romans. was not lightly
given. The victor must have attained
certain rank; the war. definitely con
cluded, must have effected the extern
sion of the state boundaries; at least
5000 of the enemy must have beer
slain. Granted these conditions. the
streets We're dressed with garlands ano
amid applauding crowds drove the
general, seated in a four-horse chart
ct ROBBED in purple and gold and
crowned with laurel, he held in his
right hand a laurel branch and in his
left an ivory scepter.
The records of modern warfare con
tain nothing more romantic than the
story of Napoleon's marshals. Men Of
the humblest birth, they Joined the
French army as privates. Yet, by Vlr-
tue Of genius which still dazZles the
world. they conquered Europe. Napo-
leon, whose success was largely their
creation, WAS prompt and lavish III his
rewards PrncedOms and dukedoms
were showercd upon these sons of
peasants Two OF their number, in
deed, became kings.
Murat. whose father kept an inn, as
cendcd the throne of Naples. Berna-
dotte was chosen TO be their sovereign
by the people of Norway and Sweden.
His descendant is today the husband
of Princess Margaret of Connaught.
The titles conferred upon the marshals
did not lapse with tie downfall Of
Napoleon Several are borne today by
their Successors. In some cases the
marshals, So far from suffering indig-
nifty, wcr" created peers Of France
long after their leader had gone TO
Saint Helena.
II was The abcst Of these illustrious
men whom Wellington was called ubun
To combat in The Peninsular war All
students of that war are familiar with
the names of Massena, Prince of EsS-
ling and Duke of Rivoli twho began
life as cabin hoy). and of Soult,
Duke of Dalmatia. His prevalence
against such men, the Vietors on 50
many folds, and finally against their
master. accounts for Wellingtons re-
ception of honors uncqualed in the
history of Britain and probably in that
of the world. These noncrs, contrlbu-
ted by many nations, were achieved
aften seven years warfare ii the age
of 4G.
Landing in Portugal in 12oS as the
Honorable Sir Arthur Wellesley, the
victory at Talavera in the following
year saw him raised To the peerage as
Paron Douro and Viseount Wellington.
Early in 1912 he was advanced Ia an
carldom and granted a pension Of
e2d00 year a few months later he
was promoted To marques and given
Goo, 600 Returning to England in 1914,
he WAS created Duke of Wellington
and given further grant of G4o9o 900.
Meanwhile. Spain and Portugal, the
scene of his exploits. had united TO do
him honor OF the former kingdom he
became Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo and Il
grandee of the first class, and was
presented with fine estate.
Portugal hailed him as Duke of Wit
toria Marques of Torres Nedras and
Count OF Vimiera. After Waterloo the
British parliament bought for the
duke the estate of Strathfieldsaye, at a
cost of { 260.06a The King of the
Netherlands. grateful for restoration
to his throne, created the victor Prince
of Waterloo and presented to him
large estates Other distinctions in
cluded the Order of the Garter and
the Golden Fleece and the rank of
field marshal in eight European ar
mics.
Marlborough is remembered as the
only other British general Ia attain
the rank of duke-won IN the war of
the Spanish Succession. Blenheim
palace. the estate of Woodstock, and a
pension of c 1000 a year Were also
tokens of she country's appreciation
A foreign title, that Of Prince of Min
delhcim, represented u further tribute
to his prowess.
Elevation to the peerage has long
been the form of rewarding the most
distinguished military service, and the
roll of the house of lords has been en-
riched by the addition of many Illus
trious names. In no quarter of the
world have these titles been won 50
frequently rs in India. One thinks of
Robert Give. to whom we owe very
largely our possession Of that great
dependency. For mis- victory at Plassy
Give received the somewhat made
quatc reward of an Irish barony. A
later generation felt. apparently. that
something more was due to his mem
DRY. for his son was advanced to the
Earldcm of Fowls.
At a later date Sir George Harris
won a peerage for his conquest OF NY
sore. The Sikh wars of the early 4os
of the last century, resulting in the
annexation of the Punjab, brought
viseounties to Sir Hugh Cough, the
British commander, and ia Sir Henry
Hardinge, the governor general, Har-
dinge. pCninsular hero and grandta-
Their of the present viceroN, showed It
fine spirit by accepting service under
Gonsh as second in command. Cough
received pension Of G2000 year. to
be continued to two successors IN the
title and Hardinge one Of E3ooo a
year ior like period.
The Mutiny brought peerage to sir
Colin Campbell, who effected It's sup
preston, and baronetcies to several Oh
our generals That conferred on the
gallant Havelock was awarded III pa
thetic circumstances, as he died ere
the knowledge reached him Lazy