The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-10


trived to make away with his brother Bleda,
and thus secured undivided supremacy. In
AS and the following years, he again directed
his attacks against the eastern empire and laid
waste the whole country round Constantinople.
i Nowhere did he meet with resistance save from
the brave little town of Azmus. The empire
seemed about to succumb, when Theodosius en-
tered into negotiations and made terms with
his conqueror. While matters were being ar
ranged a plot was laid to assassinate Athla, IN
which the emperor was implicated. The con-
spiracy was discovered, Theodosius died soon
after, and his successor, Marcian, returned
firm refusal to Attilas demands for tribute
4 War seemed inevitable; but at this time the at
tention of the Hun was drawn to the western
empire.
Attila assembled his forces, it is said, seven
hundred thousand strong, led them through the
center Of Germany, and crossed the Rhine at
what place cannot be determined. He defeated
| the Burgundians, and pushd on through the
heart Of Gaul, until his centre was checked by
the valiant resistance offered by Orleans. Mean
WHILE Theodore and Aetius, the Roman gen.
eral, had collected and united their forces, and
marching with all speed, arrived in time to raise
!, the siege of Orleans. Attila retreated to po-
sition in the plain of Chalons, and there con-
centrated his forces for great engagement. A
tremndous battle ensued-one of the most gl-
gantic as we'll as most important contests re-
corded in ancient history. The Romans, who
formed one wing, were driven back, and all
though they kept together, and at nlghtfall re-
tired to the camp of the Visigoths, Aetius had
given up the day as lost. The Vlslgoths, who
were on the other wing, had also been repulsed,
and were discouraged by the fall OF their lead
/ er Theodoric But the fortune Of the day was
changed by the impetuous bravery of Thoris-
mund, Theodore S son, who, burning to avenge
his father S fall, led on the Infatuated Visigoths
and drove Attila back to his camp. He even
penetrated into the Notifications, but was
wounded and thrown from his horse, and his
followers with difficulty carried him off. Next
/ day, Attila remained in his camp in expectation
of an attack, and having thrown all his bag
gage into gigantic pile in the center of the
camp to be burned in case of defeat, resolved
to sell his life dearly. But no attack was made;
for Thorismund was persuaded by Aetius to
march to Toulouse in order to obtain his faith
er's kingdom Attila was thus enabled to retire
in perfect security Next year he poured llia
forces through the defiles Of the Alps, and laid
waste the whole north of Italy. Rome itself
seemed likely to fall before the invader, when
his course by arrested by an embassy headed
by Pope Leo. Attila at once withdrew from
italy, but the motive which led him to act thus
is not known
In the year 453, Attila died from the bursting
of a blood-vessel. The vast empire over which
he had ruled broke up immediately after his
death.
Is it strange that the kaiser should bow
down before the achievements of the terrible
leader of the old Hunsg The men are both of
the same pattern, of the same ambitions. tt
may be said, and the conviction is implanted
in many peoples, that the fate of our modern
Attila will in some way resemble that of the
original bearer of the name 1t is safe to
prophesy that the Prussian empire will be
broken up, that the rule of the Hun will ter
inmate and that at no distant day.