The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-13
ny HENRY ROOD.

evening-that is to say on
~ June 10, 1S15-a great army of
the French, commanded by
Naroicon himself. commenced and
completed a superb march. thereby
attaining n position which was to
count heavily in moral effect during
a ltttle that was to follow a few
day, later, when this army was des-
tined to- grapple in mortal combat with
III. romhined armies OF Europe on the
fed ~ Waterloo.
-Four days were to elapse from the
n..h, Of June 10 before the struggle
was go take place which would give
peace TO Europe for many years. This
midnight march then was the first Of
The lightning flashes so soon to be fol-
lowed by n storm which would shake
the civilized world.
Exactly three months previously the
Cun-ress Of the Powers at Vienna had
su',mnly and deliberately denounced
NAPOLEON as the enemy and disturber
Of Che worlds peace" and had pro-
claimed him to be an outlaw. Nom
indily. this was composed of
Austria. Great Britain, Prussia, Rus
s.a. spain. Portugal. Sweden and that
portion Of France which was not Ma
p~u'cuu'S. The coalition formally en-
tered into at Vienna decreed that
to crush Napoleon utterly and restore
the peace Of the world. Austria. Prussia
and Russia each should furnish an
army uf $50, 600 men, a total Of $40, 900,
and Great Britain should continue her
subsidies" BY March 25 all Of fighting
Europe. save only Naples. therefore,
was united in arms against France.
In certain aspects that situation is
closely paralleled to-day. excepting for
the fact that the checkerboard has
been turned half around, and on this
18Th Of June. 1918, Europe, or
a large part of it. is united against
Germany and her allies. Austria and
Turkey.
Politically, automatically. the real
reasons for the coalition against Ma
poleon. the underlying. fundamental
reasons. were as much beclouded as
are corresponding reasons for the
gigantic warfare now being conducted
on the Continent to-day. as for ten
months past Germany and Austria
tANf iA' lNaSpiis " thS IA SsSii Noii-
fict. while the Allies give wholly an
other set Of reasons. One hundred
years ago the congress at Vienna de-
clared that Napoleon was an outlaw
who must be crushed for the good
Of mankind: but there are many to-
day. and there may have been many
In 1915 at that congress. who saw
thrones and monarchies tottering all
over Europe should the nation Of
France succeed in having the kind
OF government its people desired; and
there can he little doubt that the ma
jority Of the French wanted just the
kind Of government Napoleon prom
ised to give, after his return from
Ella.
But it is the practical. the material
side Of contrast which appeals the
more strongly in this June day Of 1918
when such multitudes of men are en-
gagged in the struggle as the world
never before saw in combat. How
many there are to-day 1t is impossible
90 say with accuracy. But ii is known
hat lined up against Germany, Aus
TIA and Turkey is the twentieth CEN
'Iry alliance composed of Great
Britain, France, Russia, Belgium.
Italy, Serbia and Montenegro. and in
the Fast Japan.
The official statement OF France. is
sued as Of January 1. gave her armies
as attaining in number 3.75O.000 men,
Of whom two-thirds were in the field
and one-third held in reserve.
Shortly after the outbreak OF the
W1~ u wa lSSarfad that Rncaia had
modified $1,000 0 men, but their eff
cheney as a lighting machine was said
to Doe heavily handicapped by lack Of