The Washington herald., 1915-09-12
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moved across the Niemen river. The
Russians adopted a desperate means Of
defense which could only be possible
government of utter despotism. Emperor
Alexander had given orders that his
army, 100000 strong. should retire be-
fore the invaders. that they should blow
up behind them every bridge. destroy the
cities and villages, remove all the neces-
saries Of life and leave behind them but
q desert waste.
AS Napoleon stood on the hank Of Q
deep and rain-swollen stream, encourag-
ing his men to greater exertions against
the fleeing Russians. a squad of Polish
light horsemen. to show their devotion to
the emperor. plunged into the raging tor
rent and were swept to death. 1t is not
likely that German discipline and efa-
cheney permitted the enactment Of simk
lar scenes by the German soldiers.
On June % Napoleon entered wilma
He was 1,400 miles from his metropolis,
in an uncultivated country Of barren
wastes. Before the middle Of July 10, 900
horses had died Of fatigue and $4,000
patients encountered the hospitals. The
car established himself at Drissa, $50
miles further into the interior, but when
Napoleon approached the place. retired
to Witepsk. 100 miles further inland. 4
series of sharp engagements ensued. and
although the Russians had been strono.
ly reinforced. they retreated during IL
night.
Napoleon was in great perplexity. He
was in the midst of a sterile and dismal
country Of apparently bouAdless extent.
deserted by its inhabitants and desti-
tute of supplies. HIS horses were dying
for want Of forage and his troops Per.
ishing Of famine. He had already pene-
trated the country 500 miles and yet
knew not where to look for foe. Hear
ing that the Russians were at Smolensk,
q hundred miles further into the interior.
Napoleon again set his hosts into motion.
sending them by different routes to cut
off the retreat of the Russians, while the
Cossack hordes continued to lay waste
the country before him.
The heat was intense and the suffering
Of the French terrific. The dying and
the dead marked their path. On August
16 Napoleon was before Smolensk. After
fighting for a day the Russians burned
the city, leaving their dead and wounded
to be consumed by the flames. Napoleon
was Mortified at the spectacle.
The Russians had divided part of their
forces, one going to st. Petersburg and
the remainder to Moscow. Marshal Ney
1OllOWeQ IHc IclIcdtiuS " nOUCOW
and inflicted heavy losses on II. Napo-
leon, although in the midst Of continued
victories, was experiencing all the calam-
tiles of defeat The country was raw.
aged His troops were dwindling from
exhaustion and famine. The number Of
sick and wounded constantly increased.
The surgeons were compelled to tear up
their own linen for bandages and finally
, used the down gathered from birch trees
In the forest. Deaths were occurring from
actual starvation. To retreat exposed
Napoleon to the derision Of Europe. To
advance was the dictate of despair. Ma
poleon supposed that in Moscow he would
find food and rest, and towards that city
he went.
It was a march Of awful suffering. Dag
after day and night after night the ex-
hausted army pressed on. encountering
every obstacle and occasionally engaging
in bloody skirmishes. Near Moscow he
found the Russian army entrenched. He
had Just learned Of three heart-breaking
facts His Spanish army had been de-
feated at Salamanca by Wellington. Rus
STA had made peace with Turkey and .
powerful Russian army released from
this war was Fastening to attack him
from the mouth Of the Danube. He also
learned that Sweden had allied herself
and her army to Russia.
In the battle near Moscow he severely
defeated the Russians who again re-
treated, but lost 10000 Of his own men.
The Russians blew up all the bridges be-
hind them, drove the serfs from the fields
and burned the towns and all the provi-
sions and forage. For seven days ths
French, emaciate and tottering. pursued
their foes. They were everywhere victo-
rious, yet secured no results from their
victories.
Unmolested the French entered Moscow.
And then came the awful holocaust Hav.
ing driven the 100000 and more inhabit-
ants from the city, the Russians set hr0
to 1t, destroying their places. their sacred
buildings and the houses Of the rich and
poor alike. Scarcely dozen buildings re-
mained standing II was one Of the most
barbaric crimes In the history of nationA
Shortly after the French commenced their
retreat. the horrors Of which are only too
well known
The Russians, often outnumbering the
French ten or twenty to one. never dared to
give battle. Thousands Of savage Cossacks
harassed the retreating army on all sides.
The French perished by Thousands Of
hunger and through tho rigcrs OF the
frightfully severe winter which had see
in weeks earlier than usual.
Napoleon left Moscow with IN army Of
more than 100. 900 .msn. When his retraat
had brought him to the banks Of the
Niemen his elective mea had dWindlod -
~ 49,