The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-01

we still have 60 against 40.' But he did not calcualte that Butcher, too, was com ing upon him. Nor did he Know that his order to Grouchy would not be de- livered until o'clock, too late to be of any use, even had the absent marshal not been hotly engaged at that hour with division of Prussans left behind at Wavre.
 The First Blow
 Returning to his duel with Wellington, Napoleon now launched his bolt at the British center. It was 80 when, under a protecting sheet of flames from 80 guns, 20000 French raced across the field, the standing rye falling before them as before a reaping machine. detachment turned aside 70 storm La Have Sainte and attempt the capture of that stronghold, while the great body of advancing troops started up the slip pery side of Mt. St. Jean. Some Dutch and Belgians broke and fled across the Wavre road and upon the British lines. But as the French mounted the muddy slope, in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, they had become confused mass. when suddenly the British sprang up from their ambuscade behind the roadside hedges and fired at 40 paces.r Then came a sav- age hand-to-hand encounter which ended in the rout of the French column.
 At the same time another attacking column met it's surprise farther along where the road suddenly sank below the surface of the field. There the cul- rassiers leading the right of tie column, unexpectedly found themselves at the brink of the strange decivity. The un- daunted horsemen took the leap down into the road, but as they were spurring their horses up the opposite bank. they saw only 30 feet before them body of British Life Guards descending at a fu- rious pace. The French wheeled and fled along the treacherous ravine to the Brus- sels road, where they escaped from the trap. But as they raced to safety, the lances of their pursuers, in the language of Lord Somerset, hammered on the cuirasses like coppersmiths at work.' Everywhere up and down the field the blue line of France was rolled back. and Ponsonby's brigade made return charge up the side of La Belle Alliance. There the traces of 40 cannon were cut before the audacious Britons could be beaten lack by the French lancers one of whom thrust fatal spear into the breast of the gallant Ponsonby.
 The Emperor's first blow had utterly failed After three hours and half of fighting the contending armies were i'll their original positions. The rye field, its golden yellow crimson-dyed. had be- come a graveyard But the red line of Britain and the blood-drenched walls of Hougoumont and La Have Sainte had all withstood the onset.
 Magnificent, But Not War
 Napoleon, nervously pinching his snuff. was fully aroused now to the periis that were fast closing in upon him. He knew that the Prussians already were forming behind the screen of the Wood of Paris and another message from Grouchy had dashed his hope that the marshal was at their heels,
 Retreat might have been prudent. But whither? Face Paris, with its coldiy un- sy ympathetic Corps Legislatif? Face France. with Its disaffected and rebel licus population? rfl
 Mo- Napoleon's only refuge was victory. He must hasten to break the British cen- ter before the Prussians came. Under q ss cannonade that shook, the earth and. cracked the skies, 5000 horsemen plunged down La Belle Alliance, ioped across the