The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-02-06

tribes, when the Slavic race was still
unknown and Mohammedanism was
undreamed of, great war was in
progress in Asia, for the existence of
nation already centuries old.
In those days people doubtless were
urged to enlist to save their country
Just as they are urged to fight for
their fatherland in Europe today. On
one side we're the Tartars, classed by
their opponents as barbarians. On
the other side were the Chinese. Lit
tie is known about the Tartars except
that they were expert in war and that
they later turned their forces west
ward into Europe.
While the Chinese to this day con-
tend that the Tartars we're barbarians
we would Judge they were skilled In
the art of war. They had the most
modern weapons and they had the
most perfect military machine.
Emperor Che Hwang TIE of China
realized that unusual defensive meas
ures were needed to save his nation.
He organized an army Of 100000
men and decisively defeated the Tar
tars. He knew, however, that they
would return to the battle.
Emperor Che, or Chin, as he is
sometimes called, had served as
youth in the Tartar army. When he
learned their methods he returned to
his own country and overthrow all
the other chieftains and established
the first united empire of China. He
realized he was Bismarck among
the Chinese and feared his successor
would not be able to fight well.
So he planned for the defense of his
people for all time by building a e.
gantic wall, now known as the Great
Wall Of China, the greatest wonder
Of the world. and the only work of
man aside from the pyramids of
Egypt, which would be visible to the
man in the moon.
The building of the wall was at a
propitious time. The credit of the
country was paralyzed and the people
were facing a financial panic. China
had been engaged in civil wars for
centuries when it was not engaged in
wars with the Tartars The Tartars
were temporarily defeated. They re-
treated to their homes In the interior
of Asia and rested for a generation.
In their own country they could not
be attacked even by the great EN-.
peror Che. They were 5000 miles
from Che's military center and as
such were absolutely impervious to
attack. Che not only was looking
after the welfare of future China, he
had to have something for his SOL |
diers to do.
Il will have them build a great |
fence" he told his counsellors. And |
1t is written In the book of history |
Of the Chinese and is told in the
legends Of the wise men Of that most
ancient Of all people that Che did
that very thing. He took the arms
from the soldiers and put picks and
spades in their hands. He called the
greatest of his engineers together and
started to build the Great Wall Of
China. the wonder Of the world.
The wall. which is 5000 miles lone.
ltarted at the sea and was built in a
westerly direction north of Picking
INTO the heart of Asia. When the
rartars started on their next advance
N China thirty years later they found
ne wall barrier too great for them
Q cross. In despair they retreated
rom the half.built wall and in sue
wedding years when they returned to
he attack they found the wall higher
han ever.
The Tartars never learned that the
vall had m end. They only knew
hat for = thousand miles or more
ney eosld not set ACROSS. So after II
9 ysass Of defsat the Tartan With