NAPOLEON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 70, 12 August 1914, Page 7

NAPOLEON.

(To the Editor.) —ln the British House of Commons, Mr Bonar T.-a\v seems very exultantly to be "thanking Heaven" that there is no Napoleon. Certainly there u no Napoleon to request frcin. the Kaiser William of Germany the surrender of his colors, artillery and prisoners at Jena, where Napoleon gave a sovereign an hour to soldiers to convey guns to the heights to open on and frustrate the ingress into France' of the Prussian troops. "No Napoleon" with the intrepid McDonald at Monte'bello and Marenzo, and, again, to inflict on them a crushing defeat at Wagram befoTe Vienna. The soldiers of France to-day, soldiers of the Republic, might perhaps d'o worse than recollect the oli deeds of the .Army of the Rhine, the victories of Rivoli, the tremendous passage of the Bridge of Lodi, and remember that "none put Republican phalanxes could have accomplished what they did." In more than once instance Napoleon is understood to have sent to inquire from the opposing enerav whether the quarrel could not be adjusted without fighting. In one case his heralds were killed, and the invariable answer was ever returned: "Nothing but the decision of the sword." The war-makers consequently almost lost their armies for their pains. Such a general as NapoJeon is precisely the man that migfot be required in France at this moment. "Farewell to thee, France, but when Liberty rallies Once more in thy regions, remember me then; The violet still blooms in the depths of thy valleys: Though withered, thy tears may restore it again."—Lord Byron. C.W.W. Fitzroy, Aug. 10.