The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-02

lStpnCp OF nut1uU liberty us uO'S ti'
greatest military power OF today.
The great power was overwhelmed, It's
forces shattered and Europe pre-
served in n single battle, that of Mur-
nthon, fought 400 II. e. Had the
Athenians failed In this great fight
Europe would have been overrun by
the Mcdcs and the Persians. The
course of the world would have been
turned into the hands of the Aslntlcs.
Called upon suddenly to fight for
their national existence, the men of
Athens found themselves In Il posi-
ton slngularly like that of Ameri-
cans today. They had only II tiny
army and they had Il host of law
makers TO debate the name In which
that army should be organized and d.
rccted. While every free Greek was
compulsorlly trained In military duty,
the muster roll of Athenlan citizens 1T
for military duty never exceeded 3D.
900. 1t Is estimated that Mt Marathon
the Greek forces numbered not more
than 1000. Against this the great
king, Darius. sent n host Of 1lO,OoU.
The odds seemed hopeless. Yet the
1000 warriors of ~ aroused and des-
pcrate nation drove ION times their
number literally into the sea.
Darius, not unlike the Wilhelm of
today. had sent hcralds to Greece,
declaring that he, "the lord OF all men
from the rising to the setting sun,
required earth and water 10 he deliv-
cred to the heralds rs symbol that he
was head and master of tn" country.
In large part Greece submitted. Attn
n and Sparta hurled back detnnc"
and stoned the hcralds In the market
place. Then they prepared to fight.
The great ASiotic army, voyuging
in more than 1900 vessels. was com
manded by DutlS, II of the ahleSt
generals of antiquity. Fighting and
winning easily one or two smaller en-
gugcmcnts, this savage" leader, making
announcement that the entire pnpuln-
ton of Greece would he led lnto Asia
to hear its doom from the lips Of the
great king, himself. finally landed on
the eastern coast ut Marathon. Behind
him were islands already conquered.
His gallcys covered tn" beach and the
neighhoring seas. On the mountain De-
fore him were the II 1000 Greeks, their
ten generals and one war ruler, ut
tempting to decide In council whether
II were better to attack. to retreat or
to wait for re-enforccmcnts from Spar
In. Sparta had promised assistance,
but the Persians had landed on the
sixth day of the moon and religious
scruplcs prevented the march OF the
Spnrtnn troops until the moon should
anvr reached It's full. There were pncl-
fists. actuated by religious scruples,
even In ancient Greece.
The ten generals, elected, after the
Greek custom, for n year each, di-
vided equally. Five were for fight and
five were for delay. Upon the vote
of the pOlemarch, or war ruler, one
Calllmachus, hinged the decision. lie
hesitated even MS the presidents and
congresses Of modern times sometimes
hesitate.
But among the five generals enger for
fight was Miltiades, II man OF record
none too savory and afterward 10 meet
with more than n little of eXecrntion.
but n military genius, n man of fiery
IL INSCRIPTIONS energy and a fighter
from his sandals to his crown. Said
this Miltiadcs (Herodotus sets down
his words) !:
ut now rests with you, CALI
mnchus, either to enslave Athens or
by assuring her freedom. TO win your
self an immortality Of fame. Never
since ,r Athenians were q people
were they In such danger. If they
bow the knee to these Modes they
are to be given up to llippias, and YOU
know what that means. If we do ne
bring on n battle presently some ftc'
tious intrigue will disunitc the
Athrnians and the city will be betrayed
To the Modes. But II we fight before
there Is anything rotten In IN" state oi
Athens, | believe that, provided the
gods will give fair PLAY and no favor
we are able 10 get tho best OF 1t III
an engagement"
Said Calllmachus, slowly: 1--WE
fight"
Ii was the law that the Greek gen
erals should take turns ut army com
mand day by day. Miltindes waited
for the day. 1t was also The custom
for the warriors Of each Greek tribe
10 fight In Il body under their own gen
cral. Their line consisted wholly OF
heavy armed spearmen bearing spear,
shield and short sword, for the Greeks
OF that period set little store by light
armed troops save for skirmishing
They usually advanced slowly and
steadily into action In n uniform
phalanx about eight spears deep. Fol
Marathon. however, Mlltlades, VIII
had no idea OF permitting himself Il
b. outfanked, Won Kluck fashion, ano
cut up by the Persian horse, weakened
his center to protect his wings anc
take advantage of the inequalities II
the ground. Thus stood the Greel
force, chanting hoarsely Its war song
"Oh. Sons Of the Greek, Strike fol
Freedom"