CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 253, 25 October 1941, Page 6

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

1812 "E.W.H." has become somewhat uneasy under the collar at my jS marks on Napoleon's campaign hi Russia, and jibes at me for not having had access to "any but prejudiced anti-Napo'eonic information" Let me say that my information is culled from such works as "Histoire de la Revolution," "Vie de Napoleon," by Antoine Henri Jonwli probably the greatest French histch rian on the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. also Kirchoisens* "Napoleon" and "Memoirs," and Wilson's "Napoleon." Jomini served in the Austerlitz campaign and under Napoleon at Jena and Eylau Napoleon declared war on Russia because the latter steadfastly refused to become a - party to his continental system, whereby he contrived to close the whole of Europe to British commerce in a bold endeavour to force her into submission; that briefly was the cause of the Russian campaign. As for the man himself, no one will deny his military genius, his victories with almost uncannv planning. As a statesman he had few equals, though he had the first essential to statesmanship on his side, that of might! His philosophv was profound. He was a Corsicar but a traitor to his native country when she was struggling for political independence, seeking fame in France. Impatient at not receiving a commission just prior to hi? first Italian campaign, he was on the verge of offering his services to the British Army in India! He mai|» overtures to Czar Paul for "employment" in the Russian Army, which were rejected. He wanted., fame and glory no matter how or where. When he became dictator the ideals of the revolution were ruthlessly traifapled on; thence onwards his WBBpaigns were fought on the prosjtfMt of loot and plunder, particularly those of Italy. Egypt and Russia. P. ENGLAND.-; j