The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-25

1 held tho farmhouse of La Have sainte the tactical key to Wellinston's whole position at the battle of Waterloo. un- tl their ammunition ran out. I But. say the nettled BrltIshers the Kaiser forgets the other Hanoyerians whose action. fortunately for the ! English. was indeed quite incompar- able The only Hanoyarian cavalry regiment present on the field of Wa. tcrloo when summoned by Yelling tons staff Co take up position dur ing the action in support Of the great ly exposed first line, flatly refused to advance. Ultimately they turned tail and rode precipitiously from the field in most admirable panic, never once drawing rein until they thundered in- to Brussels.
 This Hanoverian corps was after ward merged in the other British troops so that its name was complete ly obliterated An additional morti- lying fact is recalled: On the day af- ter the defeat at Ligny l2,00O Prus- sians deserted the colors and went back Co Liege
 Bu; this has nothing to do with the real issue raised by the Kaiser's speech. Would the English army have been destroyed without the help of the Prussiaus?
 It is generally admitted that the appearance of the corps of General Bulow. emerging from the woods at Salnte Lambert was the turning point in the battle Napoleon sorely needed men to win Waterloo; the English had the advantage of posi- tion. 1T he had had for the final blow at Wellington's center which had been cruelty weakened by constant charges. the i6.OOO fresh men whom he was forced Co send to meet the troops of Bulow and Pirch l., he might credibly have carried the day, even without the S2OOO under Grouchy that the Prussians had drawn away to Wavre. Had the Prusslans been ab- sent. it is argued. Napoleon wuoId have outnumbered Wellington by at least 3S.OOO.
 It is claimed that six times during the battle. messengers were sent out by Wellington to look for Butchers troops, and that the duke showed the most extreme anxiety. pulling his watch at intervals. and saying, Would Co God Butcher would come.'
 This is the picture drawn by the American historian. William Sloane: "lt was six and to his CWelIington's) ! repeated messages there had been no response. He was face to face with defeat
 lt was only when zeIten came up on the left with four batteries to take the place of those which had become useless that Wellington was able to advance. How serious the pass was is Illustrated oy the words of General Mufning. the Prussian attache on the staff of Wellington. He rode out to l zeiung's men shouting to them to ad- vance or the battle would be lost"
 On the whole, the English debaters contend, there is precious little cred it to be allotted to the Prussian al- lies In the first place. they were not an unexpected and determining factor, arriving in the nick of time to save a stupid English commander ! from annihiliation It was only when l Wellington was thoroughly assured of 1 Butchers assistance that he even con sidered giving battle at Waterloo. He could easily have retired to strong CT position near Brussels, causing the delay that Napoleon feared so much. He would have thus been able 10 re- pair his losses at Quatre Bras more satisfactorily and he would have been nearer his reserves.
 In short. it was Wellington who saved Butcher from destruction not the reverse. the opposition claims. For when Wellington saw that Blu cher had not kept the promise given on the 17th. that he would be ready for the first attack made by Napol- con- he might well have withdrawn Co a more favorable position In that case complete annihiliation would have confronted Butcher Free of British opposition. Napoleon would have had 10000 men and 25O guns with which Co attack. to say nothing Of the S2.O00 men under Grouchy, who held the rear of the Prussians. Butcher would have been cut down between two devastating fires.
 The German argument holds that Wellington could have arrived with enough endorsements at Ligny had he acted promptly and faithfully, to make good his promise of support given to Butcher. and could very eas. lily have averted the disaster which cost the Prussians 1S,OOO men.
 In the face of this. it is urged, that the Prussians would have been fully justified in leaving Wellington uppro- tected at Waterloo. and that their arrival at all was a most magnani- nous act.
 Wellington defends himself for all the delays of which the German com. plain. by calling attention to the fact that Blucher sent the "fattest man in his army" to ride with express messages. his speed being about thir-