Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-18
Raised on the Field Where
Battle of the Nations"
Was Fought.
FREED GERMAN PEOPLES
FROM FRENCH DOMINATION
Allies Of q Century Ago Are Rep.
resented by Their Sovereigns
at Festival.


LEIPZIG, Germany. October 1s.-On the
field OF the battle of the nations, :"
where just one hundred years ago the
defeat of Napoleon by the allies vir-
tually resulted In the liberation Of Ger
many. there was dedicated today one of
the most imposing battle monuments In
the world. The ceremonies were notable
even In this year OF historic anniver-
saries In Germany.
Sweden. the nations that fought Nth
Prussia to break the power OF Napoleon
In Germanic Europe, sent their personal
representatives, and all the federated
princes and mayors Of the German en-
lpire were present Their host is King
Frederick August III OF Saxony, sixth in
line OF direct descent from that King
Frederick August who fought with Ma
poleon against the allies; whose troops
deserted to the allies on the decisive day.
and who himself, vainly appealing for
terms. was taken to Berlin and kept a
virtual prisoner for three years.
Europe's Largest Monument.
The structure dedicated today is by far
the largest and highest in Europe. It
stands just south Of Leipzig. near Probs-
theida. the village out of which the allies
drove Napoleon October LIZ, 1913. the de-
cisive day OF the battle of nations" The
fight had then ragged for six days between
the Austrians. Prussians, Russians and
Swedes on the one side. and the French,
aided by the Saxons and Wurttembergers,
on the other, when the deciding day
came. On the following day Napoleon
abandoned the contest, leaving behind
Of them dead. The allies, at loss OF
5l.UUO from a total strength of about
100000. had made Germany free from tor
eign domination to the banks of the
knine.
field was preached in the following year
by Ernest Moritz Arndt, and found sup
port from q number OF prominent Ger
mans and from a Russian diplomat. An
Organization was formed at Leipzig to
keep alive the memory Of the battle, but
a King in captivity furnished grounds for
abandoning the movement. The monu-
ment idea came up from time to time In
the succeeding years, and in 1858, on the
fftieth anniversary of the battle, the
movement Ii Revived.
Then came the wars Of 1864. 1865 and
man Patriots Association, formed in
Leipzig In 1894, 10 take the matter up
and carry it to successful conclusion.
Four years later the necessary money
had been raised, design by Prof.
Bruno Schmitz had been accepted. and
the first sod was turned for the work
October IL, 1898.
The monument stands on a hill about
n ha Low nj "a
rounding country. 1t Is approached by
q flight OF Ito steps hewn in granite
On the base of the monument, at the
head OF the stairs. is. an imposing re-
the work Of Christian Behrens. In the
center OF the relief is a heroic figure Of
st. Michael On each side of him
furfes with torches hover over battle
field strewn with dead. Above. in let
tiers six feet high, is the motto of the
anti-Napoleon warriors: "Gott Nit Uns"
God With Us).
The monument rises to height of
nearly 900 feet. It is Of reinforced con-
crete. faced with porphyry. On the
ground level Is crypt, surrounded by
eight gigantic stone masks. represent
ing Fate. In front Of each mask stand
two warriors, twice life size, holding
the death watch Above this crypt is
About the walls SIT four figures, two
male and two female, seven times life
size. They represent Courage, Sacrifice,
Exaltation and Belief. The figures are
the work Of Prof. Franz Metzner.
Not a Personal Note.
Around the outside OF the domed
cupola which surmounts the monu-
ment stand twelve gigantic warrior
figures. The interiors of three of them
are occupied by winding stairs and an
elevator, giving access to balcony
near the top of the monument.
One striking thing is noted in con-
nection with all the statues: not one
represents any prince or sovereign.
The uprising against Napoleon in 1913
was an uprising Of the people, not Of
their rulers. and the new monument
not a personal note about it