The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-30

In the brook she would not have fasci-
mated Duke Robert of Normandy. II
be had not wed her she would not
have become the mother Of William the
r%unqueror. If there had been M VIII
liam the Conqueror there would have
been no battle of Hastings, Harold
would not have fallen. no Anglo.Nor.
man dynasty would have arisen. and
there would have been no British en-.
pire. But Arletta's feet did twinkle.
Hence Hastings. Il fight which changed
England and made America what II
Is today.
Hastings was fought in the year
InCG. AT that time the stat" OF Eng.
land. under her last Anglo-SaNon
kings. closely resemblcd the state Of
France under the last C~nrloving'an
princes. The crown was feeble. The"
great mobiles We're strong and turhu-
lent. II has been generally conceded
that for all the cruelty Of the con.
ruerors II was the Norman conquest
which put the mettle in the blood NJ
England and Sowed the seed for the
British constitution.
Edward the ConfcSsor had died
rhildless. Although William Of Nor
mandy was his kinsman. although Ed
ward was believed TO be most favor
ably inclined toward William. and nj
though there Is some evidence that 10
william he promised the English
crown. upon Harold. son az Earl God.
win and most popular chlcftain In the
land. was made the formal hoStowal.
Rut before this Harold himself. while
n visitor mt Williams court. had given
formal promise 10 assist the duke In
obtaining the English throne. That
William obtained this oath by the en-
ploymcnt of trickcry, and that he was
INSCRIPTIONS In his method Of coerclnC
Harold. is fairly evident. But William
mad NJ least oStenslble ground for IN
hiCnation when EHrold. finding him.
self after Edwards death Landed by
the priests and thames as England's
king. decided that the oath needed no
keeping. Tie was duly anolntcd, rocciv-
ing from the hands Of the archbishop
not only tho golden row and sccpter,
hut n wclghtv hnttlonx. For this latter
lll W I'EillI l' l'lillh WY Il'T'll'
need.
William published far and wide
through ChriStendom the perjury" OF
Harold. proclniming his intention ~
gaining his rights by the sword be-
fore the year should expire, and prom
Using most dire punishment To the per
iurcr." He laid his case before the
popa hut uor,1J raftSnJ IN urbitrota
declaring that he would not ANSWER
before an Italian priest FOR his title
MS an English king" Forthwith the
pope confirmed William In his claim
whereupon William raised the holy
banner. and half the chivalry Of CONT
mental Europe nocked "a his side for
the privilege ~ of serving In Il strug-
gle blessed by his holiness.
Harold prepared for the invasion,
hut down upon him from III" north
swort Harald Hardrarda Of Norway.
By n forced march and brilliant ma.
nouverlng, Harold surprised HarAld az
Stamford Bridge. completely routing
md killing him with most Of his mobiles.
II was n striking victory. but = wg9
bought nj "A tremendous price. for here
Harold lost the flower Of his officers
md his army. while his occupation In
Yorkshire gave William the opportu-
nifty for nm unoppoScd landing upon the
Sussex coast. With n great array Of
knights and n lesser force Of men-at-
nrms-his total army had one mum.
hcred 10000, bur there had been some
loss through the wrecking Of ships and
through defections-he came ashore
M Pevensey or the Doth Of September.
Harold wns still AT York rejoicing over
his hard.won victory.
Harold now made the mistake Of
Understanding the military skill OF
the enemy. He might have gathered
an army greater in size than Williams,
hut his victory owe Hardrarda had
given him great confidence. Raising
only n small force in London, he at
tempted another forced march. hoping
10 surprise the Normans as he had the
Norwegians. William lay In nm armed
camp at Hastings, hut he made skillful
employment Of n cavalry screen, there
by employing the same methods of pro-
lection used by modern generals, until
the airplane came into the field. The
horse, falling back In good order,
warned William. and dashed Harold's
hope for a surprise. Therefore he
halted seven miles from the Norman
lines, sending out spies, who made the
curious mistake OF taking the Norman
soldiers for priests, since they were
short-haired and shaven. Harold's
generals, realizing the numerical lnfe-
riority Of their forces. would have had
him retreat upon London, leaving the
Saxon feet to cut Williams line Of
communication with his base, hut to
this Harold would not hearken. He
strengthened his position by n pail
SADIE, and there awaited the attack.
The great battle came on October
II. Standing on a hill whence h
could obtain Il general view, William
formed his army In three divisions, ex'
horting his soldiers: "For Gods sake
spare not; strike hard ut the begin
ming; stay not to take spoil all ths