WHERE ATTILA MET DEFEAT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 255, 11 December 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHERE ATTILA MET DEFEAT.

Outside Chalons-sur-Marue, in the plains which lie between it and Troyes, was fought what has been described as one of the fifteen decisive battles of tlie world. It was a bloody and obstinate contest in which Attilla's hordes of Huns, who were sweeping over Europe, leaving a trail of devastation behind them, suffered a terrible defeat, and Attjlla's attempt to found a new airliChristian dynasty upon the wreck of tlif temporal power of Home was completely checked. In the battle, whi.ii lasted an entire day. t.'io carnage was dreadful. the number.-, »la 11 wlaml by various authorities at lrom 175,000 to JwO.OOO. Chalon»-sur-Marne is the capital of tho department of Maine, and is situated about 107 miles east of Paris on the mam line oi tho Eastern railway to Nancy. Narrow and irregular streets with houses of timber or plaster are characteristic of the town, which lies oti thy right bank of the Maine with a suburb on the left bank, but the outskirts present a prettier picture with their broad avenues and promenades, and the park known as Jard. The Sixth Army Corps has its headquarters her©, and occupies tho huge barracks to the north and east of the town. Chalons has been in the thick of most of the fighting of France. In the tent ft and following centuries, it enjoyed a kind of independence, and on two occasions on which it was attacked bj the English it was successful in repelling the enemy The Prussians occupied it in 1814; and again in 1813 it was occupied by the Russians. The Germans occupied it in 1870. , . About sixteen nules to the north of tho town was the famous camp of Lhalons established by Napoleon 111., which covered an area of nearly 30,000 acres. It i s still a training camp for troops.