The Tomahawk., 1917-08-09

Ot VILE
through the shallow marshes stream
flowed, deep enough to carry large
boats. Coligny made rapid plan TO
get re-enforcements, food and num-
tons into the city by this means from
La Fere. The constable thought we'll
Of the idea. Five boats were hurriedly
constructed, and d'Audelot, younger
brother of Coligny, was charged with
the task Of carrying out the scheme,
but it failed, and only 45O men Of the
tiny expeditionary force led by dAude-
lot got through to the relief Of tho
city.
Defeat of the Constable.
The aim Of the constable was to en-
gage the Spanish forces while the OPP
Grafton from La Fere was carried out.
Unfortunately, he lost too much time'
and had no opportunity to draw up his
men in battle array. Savoy and Es-
mont charged his troops too quickly.
In less than half an hour they were
thrown into disorder with great loss.
Retreat was difficult and ultimate dis
aster seemed imminent. The constable
asked an old officer: "What must we
doc" II knew IN hour ago, but 90
not know now," was the reply. "And
T." exclaimed Comte d'Enghien, II
know where to find not safety, but an
honorable DEATH" and flinglng himself
upon the Spanish lines, found the
death he desired. The old constable
fought like the hero he was, till at last
taken prisoner, with all his leading
generals.
After the battle the Spanish, and
especially the German officers, specu.
lated freely in the ransoms demanded
for the number of distinguished gen.
erals and princes taken prisoners.
They bought them for small sums from
the private soldiers who had first cap
tured and disarmed them, and then re-
sold them among themselves. The ar
rival on the scene Of Philip Of Spain
himself, from Cambria, alone put an
end to the infamous gamble.
The town Of ST. Qcntin held out fol
II days after the loss Of the bnttle
Under the brilliant leadership OF
Coligny, who must have known the i'm
possibility Of driving off the bcsiegers'
the little garrison stubbornly resisted.
But with the flags taken from the con-
qucrcd French army floating before
the rnmparts, the hearts OF the citizens
failed them at last. When IL huge
breaches had been made in the walls,
through which the Spaniards might
surge into the streets, he yielded. The
city was given over to the usual hor-
rors of fire and pillagc, while the in
habitants fled into the open country.
Coligny was taken prisoner.
Doubtless in the modern city OF st.
Quentin little thought is given to such
oid-world and fast-fading histories, as
her prosperous citizens enjoy their
leisure on the large shady boulevards.
These walks are situated on the site
Of the old ramparts, once the scene OF
so much passionate effort. They were
demolished by Napoleon's order In
1910. Could he have thought that the
tide Of war would never surge round
the city's walls again? Sixty years
after she had thus been rendered de-
fenseless, the Germans took possession
of her on their way to Paris. In jan
uary, 1871, General Won Goeben routed
the army of General Faidherbc, after
prolonged and glorious resistance. The
EermanS claim that IN the battle their
forces numbered 10000 against 10000
of the French. They paid dearly In
killed and wounded for their victory.
But Won Goeben took 10000 prisoners.
When, in the last days Of August,
1914, the mighty hordes Of the Ger
mans moved forward and forced back
the French army for q hundred miles,
pouring on towards Paris, they swept
over st. Quentin, engulfing her pros
perities and robbing France Of indus
tries very vital to her needs.