WATERLOO DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

WATERLOO DAY.

Though seventy-rive years have elapsed since the battle of Waterloo was fought, and though there are still a few survivors of the struggle among us, it is surprising what an amount of controversy rages over points in the battle which, we would imagine, defied dispute. Historians are pretty well agreed as to what took place at l'harsalia and Acfcium nearly two thousand years ago, bub what libraries have been written about Waterloo without dissipating the legends which have gathered around it. A wellknown artillery officer is at present engaged in an effort to shed light on what are regarded as obscure points in tho battle, but Colonel Maurice can scarcely expect to succeed where a legion of predecessors in the same work have practically failed. The namber of combatants in the battle is to this day a matter of uncertainty. Nor is it quite clear at what time the first shot was fired, nor at what hour the Old Guard made its final and fruitless charge. Serious doubts have been expressed as to whether Wellington ever shouted, at the critical moment of the battle, "Up, Guards, and at them !" or whether General Cambronno in answer to the demand of a British officer exclaimed, " The Guard dies, but never surrenders." As to the part taken by the Prussians in tho battle, the old notion is still securely lodged in the average Briton's j head that they did not make their appearance till after the battle was won, although it is matter of history that they were fighting for several hours in Mapoleon's right rear, and that more Prussians fell on the eventful day than English. Wellington himself was not aware till after the battle what a murderous conflict the Prussians had sustained. Even the point of meeting between Wellington and Blucher is given by different authorities as La Belle Alliance and Genappe, some miles to the south. Bub, besides differences of opinion on matter of fact, endless discussions have been waged over the strategy of the campaign. Wellington was completely surprised, according to one school of strategists ; according to to another everything turned out as he expected. It was the Prussians, say some authorities, that saved Wellington ; it was the absence of General Grouchy, say the French. Grouchy, if we are to believe the Imperialists, flatly disobeyed orders ; if. wo are to believe Grouchy himself, he carried them out only too literally. The main certainty, however, is clear enough, that whoever won tho battle, tho French lost it.— Daily Chronicle.