Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-31
HISTORIC ANALOGIES OF PRESENT
GERMAN INVASION Of RUSSIA


ciated the magnitude Of the effort.
24th CT June, 1912. with the largest
army he had ever commanded. The
season was already far advanced and
the emperor determined to compel the
car TO give battle Immediately. The
Russians In the presence of this ter
rorizing force determined to apply the
lessen learned from the Scythians and
Peter the Great, and their desperation
found confidence in the new ally of
winter SHOWS
The Russian commander. Barclay de
folly. always retiring before his en-
envy. gradually drew him into the
dreary and deserted steppes. The fur
Their Napoleon progressed, the .firmer
became the Muscoyites resolve for
vengeance. Every day added strength
to the Russian forces, whereas the
grand army was dwindling before the
constant skirmishing in which the ele-
ments aided Not until Moscow was
reached was serious opposition offer
ed. On the It'll of September the
bloody battle of the Borodino was
fought and on the 18th the French
took possession of Moscow-but at the
cost of 10000 men. Chambray esti-
mates that there were at that time
under arms 235,000 Russians. Scarce
ly had the French troops taken up
quarters in the old Russian capital
than flames burst forth and the whole
of the immense city was reduced to
ashes before NapoIeon's very eyes. 1t
Is difficult to measure the heroism and
extent Of this patriotic sacrifice. 1t
sayors OF that fatalistic heroism which
so often accomplishes nothing but is
Its own excuse. 1t succeeded, how
ever. in its object, for Napoleon found
in Moscow only ashes and desolation.
1t checked the hitherto irresistible
elan OF the grand army and initiated
the fatal campaign which resulted in
sending the broken remnants of the
French legicns crawling out of Russia.
From that time on Napoleon was con-
fronted with such desperate resistance
and daily found his army so depleted
by famine. cold and continuous fighting
that he determined to retire. After
lingering more than month awaiting
terms from the emperor Of the invaded
country, he decided to make his way
out to safety beyond the border. De-
Quincy declares the Russian anabasis
and katabasis of Napoleon more dis
astrcus than any previous military ex-
petitions in the area covered as well
as in the force employed. AS the
French army withdrew the Russian
hosts were able to give vent to their
pent-up indignation. 1t would be use
less to attempt an account of this re-
treat TIE details already are we'll
known to everyone. 1t is sufficient to
say that of that proud army of more
than half a million men, but $4,000
escaped the icy floods of the Beresina
and the logged pursuit OF the Russian
forces.
The burning Of Moscow, which pre-
cipitated this cataclysm, is the culmi-
mating example of the self-sacrificing
capacity of the MuscoVite 1t projects
into the 18th century, enlarged to
national scale, the patriotic immola.
ton of Curtius. But this spirit of he
roic devotion is by no means Russia s
only weapon.
There are other elements beside this
doggedness OF purpose that should be
considered in discussing the power of
resistance possessed by this incompre,
hensible people. Since the days OF
Napoleon, their number has more than
trebled. The population of Russia in
1911 was estimated at 57,000,000. In
1915, including Russia in Asia, the pop
ulaticn of the empire exceeds 100000.
900. The number of men available for
military duty has increased CORE
spondingly.
The national area covers more than
100000 square miles. Its physical
resources are almost unlimited. 1t is
to catalogue them, but it
may be said that Russia is economical
ly more self-contained than any other
nation in the world except the United
States.
These ale the people and this is the
country which baked so signally the
skill of Charles and the genius of Ma
poleon. In apparent defiance of his
tory the kaiser seems about to re
peat the mistakes of these great cap
tains
In reliance upon the traditional
of the Muscovite. the Allies |
need not be disturbed by the reported |
German drive no matter how far it
may be carried.
A story lis told of an Irish colonel
whose hollow square formation had |
been broken In battle. He was sum-
mcned before his general, who remark |
ed: Il understand your square was
broken Yes, SIR" he replied. ''the
enemy broke in but, begorra, he never
broke out again"
Pohort Mavar of Tronfon with his I