The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-23

liglous yoke of the Koran" Tough
In the year 49, 1t broke the power
Of the Saracen, who was then like {,
overrun all Europe. Had not Charlie,
Martcl then and there won his vie
tory, u mosque might stand todn,
where stands Westminster abbey
The discovercr of America might
have been n Bnrbnry corsair. Check,
Ing the Arab conquest of western Eu'
rope Mt Tours, Charles Martel rescued
Christendom from Islam.
The Tours engagement was fought
In the same country where RACES the
heavy fighting Of today. 1t was lost
To the TurklSh-Arab conqucror
largely because his soldlery yielded
to the same greed and passion for loot
aScribcd to the German troops of the
present.
The modern historians have been
forced to obtain their material for
discussion of this battle from the
manuscripts of the old Arab writer's
and from the illuminated records Of
the monkish chroniclcrs. The fight
ended strangely. They all agree
upon that. But II Is difficult to OBJ
tain reliable data as what took place
before the rout.
Charles Martel, duke of the Aus
tralnsian Franks. was n man of ex-
ceedIng holiness and resolution. Hal
lam thinks he was rash In risklng the
fate Of Europe on Il single battle,
but Charles was n tried and experl-
cnced soldier. whose impctTosity was
guided by military brllliancy and who
doubtless relied in large measure upon
tn" discipline and military order with
which he had been able 10 endow his
franklsh militia. He had no stand
ing army, but he knew the weakness.
as he knew the strength. OF his enemy.
In any case he won and won conv;nc-
ingly.
The Saracens were led by Adder
rahman. Of whom II Is recorded that
he came out Of Spain with the
largest army the chroniclcrS had
evor seen. all his wives and all his
children, yea. even he and all that
wcr" with him, as If they were hence
forth ever 10 dwell In France. The
Arab writer's picture Abderrnhman rs
n model of integrity and justice. The
Christian monks relate that he burned
and murdered wherever he went. that
he was given over 10 all manner of
vices. and that his Bcrbcr cavalry. Il
force Of notable skill and valor, raw.
aged the country until II was mere bar.
rcnness. The rival historians agree
upon practically nothing. save that
the Saraccns We're defeated. The
Arabs say that the force Of Alb
dcrrnhman numbered 10000. The
monks do not hesitate 10 increase this
by several hundreds Of thousands. one
Of these latter recorders puts the loss
Of the invaders in dead ut Tours at
$4,000. He adds that the number Of
Christians killed was but 1907. For
this disparity in losses he gives credit
to direct intorposition Of Providence.
The Count Eudo tried battle with
AhderrHhman nj the river Garnnno, hut
the MoSlem shattered Eudo'S army, held
Il high carnival Of slaughter among the
prisoners and swept on. II was then
llltll W. ~ slbll VI lulll'N 'N'lN uNllllr
able man. His first fortunes were like
those Of Eldo. Abdcrrahman drove
him back, taking large numbers of pris.
Oners and advancing through the corn-
try like n desolatlng storm. The
writer's set II down that "the men OF
Abderrahmnn were pulled up In spirit
by their repeated successes and they
t,.arA fYtI 80 ,r,,., L. 49,, ,.f,. ..l .,a.
practice of their emir." Charles Mar
tel had every reason 10 believe that the
death which had been meted out tn
EudO would oon be his own portion.
All the Franks were trembling Mt the
terrible army Of swarthy men which
devoured all that faced II.
Presently Charles taking stand along
the Loire felt strong enough to risk n
mighty cast of the dice. He had
gained important re-enforcements and
In spite Of the general terrorizatlOn he
had stlffened the spirit Of his men. Alb
derrahman's success In entering Tours.
with the resultant decentralization of
his troops, gave the Frankish leader
the opportunity for which he waited
'Il't u 'HlHe Ht pTtSS'u IL 10 Int lull
limit OF success. Abderrahman stormed
Tours almost before the eyes NJ the
army which came to save II. The fury
and cruelty Of the successful Moslems
against the luckless inhabitants Of the
fallen town has been likened 10 that
Of raging tigers. Each man of the In.
vaders loaded himself with loot. The
sword and torch were everywhere at
work. ut was manifest" says one
Arab historian, "that Gods chastlse-
ment was sure TO follow such ex.
cesses," and proceeds to lament the
loss Of discipline upon the Saracen
army.
A"bderrahman was keenly alive to
the danger In the disorder which re-
suited In the possession Of so much
spoil by each soldier, yet he dared not
venture the ~dlspleasure OF his men
by ordering them to abandon every
thing except their arms and warehouses;.
Fearful though he was, he vet trusted