THE RETREAT AT CORUNNA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 14, 19 February 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE RETREAT AT CORUNNA

It was on October 12, 1803. that Sir John Moore received orders from London to take command of the troops in Spain designed to drive the French from that country, and upon receiving" the news, Mo»<e set to work at once ti leave Lisbon. Scf'ore the en 3of the month lie set ont with his forces, having lieen informed that the fleet would cooperate with iiim.

Napoleon was on the point of leavin„ Valladolid to engage with Moore's troops when ho received news that Austria Jiad declared ivr.r against him, and he was forced to Jeave Spain, enjoining 011 Soult. who succeeded him, to "push the English into the sea." as these were threatening his communications. Accordingly Soult marched with all his ioi ces, and with extreme difficulty mounted a number of guns at the top of a pass through which the English must advance.

too hazardous did the plight of the English appear that Moore wrote to Lady Hester Stanhope that "he would uo liis best but if the task set Irim provod impossible he hoped never to leave Spain alive"—a wish destined to be gi anted binding within the next few days that the army opposed to him numbered more than five times the number of his forces, he determined to fall back towards the sea, and this he did, under terrible weather conditions and fighting a severe rearguard action all tho way. Upon arriving on tlie coast near Corunna, Moore's feelings may be imagined to find the fleet had not arrived, having been delayed by a gale. In these desperate circumstances Moore determined to cover the embarkation of his troops until help_ arrived, and an action ensued in which he was mortally wounded; but beforo his death he had the satisfaction of learning that his army was safe 011 the ships, which had arrived at last. Soult s o much admired his enemy's courage and skill in covering his retreat that h e erected a mon. ument to his memory on the field of battle.