WHAT NAPOLEON FORGOT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 22

WHAT NAPOLEON FORGOT

SECRETS OF THE KREMLIN IRON BOX DISCOVERED THE FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW. Discoveries of considerable historical interest and importance were recently during repairs and alterations in the Kremlin in Moscow. The demolition of an old wall revealed an iron box of ancient design, containing documents and letters originally belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte. These evidently were forgotten by him in his hasty retreat from his ill-starred march on Moscow in 1812. The papers included a detailed programme of his plans for the complete subjection of Russia, while the letters are stated to throw an, entirely new and hitherto unsuspected light on certain phases of the Emperor’s private life. The box also contained a number of military decorations and Napoleon’s private seal. A wonderful porcelain service, of Egyptian workmanship, presented by Napoleon to Alexander I following the signing of the Treaty of Tilsit in' 1807, was found in a specially hollowed portion of the same wall, Although the existence of this priceless specimen of the potter’s art has always been known, its possible hiding place has till now remained a mystery. Other discoveries include original manuscripts of Livius, and Taci tus, part of the valuable and extensive library which Ivan the Terrible inherited from his father. According to an old legend the Kremlin is built on the site of an ancient town, among, the underground ruins of which the Tsars Basil 111 and Ivan the Terrible are credited with having stored valuable treasure in the form of gold, precious stones, and old manuscripts. The Kremlin was built to the plans of a famous Italian named Floraventi, from Bologna, who, on the completion of his task, had his eyes put out by order of Ivan 111.

The recently found documents have been submitted to a specially formed committee of Russian historians _ and archmologists. Professor Stelecld, in charge of the newly instituted excavation operations within the Kremlin walls, has expressed his confidence of further important discoveries being made, and of ultimately securing the buried treasure.