Evening star., 1914-04-19

permtted to remain where soldiers could
be gathered where munitions of war
could be obtained.
The sentence was that on April ~. 1914,
Just 100 years ago. he should be oanlsheu
70 Elba. a little island in the MediteT-
ranean, where he would be permitted to
keep about him a few hundreds of his
Old Guard. where he would be permitted
10 retain the title OF emperor. and where,
If he chose. he could maintain and ad-
minister diminutive state
In last desperate attempt TO prevent
this supernan from establishing an en-
Dire all but universal in extent. IN Il
final effort for their own self-2reserva
lion. coalition Of the powers. composed
of Russia. England, Sweden. Prussia and
Austria had opposed him since 1sl3.
On August Is and % of that year he
won his last great victory at Dresden.
but in October came the battle of the
nations at Leipsic-and Napoleons for
tunes were buried in the SHOWS OF Rus
sia. with his grand army. He lost al
Leipsic. he lost at Laon in Marcn. lSi !.
and at Arcis-sur-Aube.
. ::
The armies of the allies had been po.--
ing over the frontiers of France. HAY
joerian peninsula, Wellington was sweep
ing through the south of France, from
the Netherlands had come troops oi
Russia and of Sweden. the great German
armies commanded by Blucher and
Schwarzenbe-g. in the east. We're upon
the Rhine. Now il was Napoleon ana
not the world OF Europe that was IN
desperate straIs-with this great differ
ence: If Napoleon realized his desperate
situation he did not SHOW IL.
The evening following his retreat from
Arcis Napoleon sent body OF picked
scouts TO reconnoiter in the vicinity OF
Nitry. Word came back from them that
it was garHsoned by PruSsians. where
Upon Napoleon swerved toward St Dizler.
which he occupied March -. after brief
but sharp engagement. Here he found
himself midway between the lines of
communication Of the enemy from Stras-
burg and from Basel. To which OF these
would Schwarzenberg be more likely to
return and defend? That was the cues
ton over which he pondered- Then he
reasoned the Austrian would make heroic
effort to retain the line in greatest dan
ger. and the army Of France was set
moving northward.
But the troops at Vitry instead OF
being Prussian garrison were il reality
a body of $3.50 Russian cavalry. Further
more. their especial duty was to follow
Napoleon. harassing him at every oppor-
tunity and deceiving him as to their
luenllty ana Strength, III Oh WHICH
they succeeded.
The Russian detachment left Vitry and
we're rapidly moving toward st. Dizier
when Napoleon fell upon them with fury.
believing them to be the advance guard
OF a powerful column sent against him.
He put the cavalry TO fight with little
difficulty. killing 80, and capturing four
times that number. And then, from his
prisoners. the emperor heard appalling
news news which he could not accept
nc of ho ma No
mixing. And this was that owing to
disobedience and bad judgment on Mar
mont's part Blucher had succeeded in
opening communication with Schwarzen-
berg. and that both of them even then
were marching toward Paris with all the
rapidity possible.
SO serious was this report, so impossi-
be did it seem. that Napoleon could not
credit it-and yet IL by some possibility
il were true the consequences would be
vast, possibly overwhelming. One thing
only could be done. The question must
be settled and settled at the earliest
moment
Orders were sent flying from officer to
officer that the army return Immediately
to Vitry. where reliable informa ton
might be obtained as to this all important
matter. 1t was one thing to abandon
Paris in theory, but quite another to lose
the capital city and thereby France
itself decapitated- Before Vitry was ac-
tually reached a halt was ordered. SO
that a counsel of war could be called.
And hardly had 1t assembled when dis
patches captured from the enemy COM
merced TO arrive repeating the reports
which had caused such a sudden change
OF base.
Other dispatches quickly followed, and
definite in ormation was obtained from
Inhabitants OF the vicinity which fell on
Napoleon like a bolt of lightning from a
blue sky. Doubt was dispeiled. the enemy
even now was marching to Paris and
was three days ahead.
The news was so shocking that the
emperor sprang upon his horse and
dashed back to st. Dizier. He must meet
this crisis instantly. intelligently. master
1uliy. Plans must be perfected without
a moment of unnecessary delay. He must
he alone, closeted with his maps, where
that marvellous mental engine which
had so often served him well once more
would set il motion a course either OF
victory or honorable escape.
Silent. perhaps partly stunned by the
crushing news, and paliid as he seldom
mad appeared, the emperor locked him
self up at st. Dizier with his military
maps and his thoughts. His marshals
were growing careless. il not, indeed
Indifferent in some cases-who could
tell what this might lead them to?
M2rmont and Iortier forced back on
Paris. defeated. perhaps disrlayed. po-
litical parties becoming more and more
restive. the great suffering population
not knowing what was to come and
fearing the worst. without hope of de-
Iverdnce excepting by some divine Tia /
the loss of the capital growing more
imminent with every hour that those
mighty columns commanded by BlucheI
and SchwarzenberS continued their re
morseless march at top speed, stopping
neither for food nor sleep. Calmly, il
is said. and with courage unshaken
after the first few moments Napoleon
swept the various conditions with a
mind as clear as it was penetrating
relief against all else was the grea,
fact that at last the people in the north
and the east Of France were aroused in
support.
one thing. and one thing only would
give these allies a possible CHARGE OF
success. and that was co... zee ex.
haustion Of the entire popuia ton to the
right of their lines. to the left Of then
and In the rear. Napoleon must have
easy il would be to cut Off the retreat
with one third his force. and to sweeI
down upon the enemy with the Other
tWo-thirds.
Yet success was not sure. Could ht
count upon his chief office-s-upon al
Of them. upon every man in nigh com
mand? On this all important question
he pondered. Then, his mind made UP
he called council Of war. and care