MAN WHO SPOKE TO NAPOLEON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12883, 2 October 1912, Page 12

MAN WHO SPOKE TO NAPOLEON.

LONDON, September 20. Tlie centenary celebrations m Russia of the battle of Borodino has brought into prominence an interesting character m tho person of the only man alive who has talked to Napoleon. The man is a farmer, and is 120 years old. He* was captured by the French when the Grand Army entered Poland on its way to Russia, and Napoleon made, him lead the army* through' Poland. * The little -C&rsican srodo continually beside him as he guided the army, but the prisoner was j ultimately able *to escape. J The bnttle of Borodino was fought on Sep- . tember 6, 1812. Napoleon hnd invaded Ru&sia j with the Grand Army, and the Russian forces ••steadily retreated before him. The French advanced steadily across thc frozen fields of Russia till close on Moscow. Then the Russian General, Kutusoff , engaged the French lat Borodino, but was beaten. The victory, however, was useless to Napoleon, as, with unusual and misplaced caution, he refused to engage his famous , Guard, and the Russians were saved from being decisively routed. Napoleon entered Moscow on September 20, but the city was burned about his oars, and he had to retreat ignominiouslv. < Only 12,000 i men out of 500,000 got back to Poland. Thc j others perished m the snow or were kille i by the pursuing Russians. Had the battle of Borodino been decisive the Czar would have surrendnved to Napoleon and the Grand Army would have been saved..