UNKNOWN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9320, 21 August 1908, Page 4

UNKNOWN.

THE FIGHT AT VIMIERA. - . - (' ' Canterbury Times. ' ' ) % "We are now entering on the centenfcry of. the great Peninsula War-, in ;Mbich Great Britain 'and France for %ears were in death grips in Spain and and which resulted in the Minnies of Napoleon being driven across the Pyrenees into ' France by the vic.toribus British army, with the Iron .Ifruke at its head, and the addition of iuch names as Rolica, Vimiera, Cori anna, Talavera, Busaco, Barrosa, Fuenfces de Onora, Albuera, Merida, Cuidad flodrigo, Badajoz, Llerena, Salamanca/ ; Dastalia, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St Sebasifcfan, St Jean de Luz, Orthez, Tarbes, Tblouse and Waterloo being added to the roll of British victories. Tho story Is a long one, and within the space of a newspaper article it is impossible to do ( more than skim over the chief events which led up to the sanguinary contest, 5n which British genius wa6 pitted against the mighty Napoleon and the other able generals of Revolutionary .France, and to give a short account of the first serious battle of the war, Vimiera, tie centenary of which will take place to-day.; ' ' • JFor the causes which led up to the Creat contest known as the Peninsula War, we have to go back many years ' 'Jjefore the opening encounter of the struggle — that of Rolica — iri : which the military genius of Great Britain and France long contended or mastery. The French Revolution materialised 100 early, the power of the aristocratic principle being still too vigorous and too closely identified with the monarofcial principle to be successfully resisted by a democratic effort, much less to be completely overthrown by a democracy rioting in innocent blood and ; menacing the destruction of political Mid religious establishments ; which were (he growth of centuries. The first military events, such as the civil war of Le Vendee, were feeble, and resulted in tihe frequent and violent change of rulers, and the Revolution was fast ■inking when the dazzling genius sof Napoleon Bonaparte loomed on the horizon and completely changed tho complexion of affiairs. The Treaty of Tiltfit, although it placed Napoleon in a commanding position among the sovereigns of Europe, unmasked the real nature of the war in which France had been engaged, and brought the Emperor and Great Britain into more direct contact. Peace could not be between them while both Were strong. When Nelson's great victory at Trafalgar forbade Napoleon to think of invading England, his fertile , brain conceived the plan of sapping her naval ai~J commercial strength by depriving her of the Continental market for her jgoods. He prohibited the re- ; peption of English, wares in any port of the Continent, and he exacted from allies and dependents the most rigid compliance with hia drders. However, the V* Continental system" became inoperative when Napoleon's troops were not present to enforce his commands. -' It was thus in Portugal whoro British Influence was paramount. From Portugal and Gibraltar English goods p?ssed/HPreely into Spain, and to check this traffic wae difficulty _ Spain occupied |}&srly the same position to France as Portugal did. to England. The unjust seizure of some Spanish frigates by oreat Britain in time of peace evoked a warm feeling of friendship for France, and although this rendered the French pause popular in Spain, nothing could induce the people to refrain from a profitable contraband trade. They refused to. pay respect to > the wishes of a loreign Power. Neither was the arisiocratical enmity to Napoleon aeleep in Spain. This state of affairs drew the Trench Emperors attention towards the Peninsula, the result being that he removed the reigning family and placed fais brother on the throne.- He was nnder the impression that the people of Spain, tired of an effete Government, would be quiescent, under such a change, and, in an evil hour for his own greatness and the happiness of others, he commenced this fatal projet. Pounded on violence, executed with fraud and cruelty, it spread desolation through tb« fairest portions of the Peninsula ;' it was calamitous to France and fatal to himself. The conflict between the Emperor's hardy veterans and the bloody, vindictive race he had -Insulted assumed a character of unmitigated ferocity, disgraceful to human nature, for the Spaniards did not fail to defend their just cause with hereditary cruelty, and the French Army ptrijck a terriblS balance of barbarous actions. Napoleon observed with surprise the nnexpected energy of the people, and bent His whole force to the attainment Df his object, while England, coming to fche assistance of the Peninsula, eraj>Tj>yed all her resources to frustrate his efforts. ' At this time Enzlnnd. omnipotpnt at pea. was little regarded as a military Power- Her enormous debt was yearly Increasing in an accelerated ratio, and the necessary consequence of anticipating the resources^ of the country and dealing in a factitious currency waa fast eating into tl^o vital streno^h of the State. Although the merchants and great manufacturers were thriving t

frotn the accidental circumstances' of the times, the labourers were suffering and degenerating in character ; pauperrfsai and its attendant crime were over the land, and the popu-. nation was fast splitting into two classes — the one rich and arbitrary, the other poor and discontented. From a cursory glance it would appear that the circumstances were favourable to France, but such a supposition would be a false criterion of the relative strength of the belligerents with regard to the approaching struggle in the Peninsula. As- Napier says in his masterly work dealing with the war: — "A cause manifestly unjust is a heavy weight upon the operations of a general : it reconciles men to desertion — it sanctifies want of zeal — is a pretest for cowardice— renders hardships morp. irksome, dangers more obnoxious, an-d glory less eatisfactory to the mind of the soldier. Now, the invasion of the Peninsula, whatever might have been its real original was an net of violence on the part of Napoleon, repugnant to the feelings of mankind, The French armks were burdened with a sense of its iniquity, the British troops were exhilarated by a contrary sentiment. All the Continental nations had smarted ' under i**" sword of Napoleon, but, with the c? ception of Prussia, none were crushed a common feeling of lviirailia J <on, *.h---hope of revenge, and tho ready tab* dies of England, were bonds of nnio among their governments strong^ tbs the most solemn treaties. France c ■■>' , only calculate on their fears. Englar? was secure in their self-love." • At this time the hatred of what wa known as "French principles" was :■ full activity. The privileged claese? oi every country hated Napoleon becausihis genius had given stability to t).^ institutions that out of the Re volution, because his victories had ba fried their calculations, and shaken their hold on power. Napoleon was the *)lv originator ar.d the sole support of riie political system that only required time and victory to consolidate; lie was the connecting lntk between the new h. terests of mankind and what of thr old was left in vigour, but ho was no favourite with either. " His power," j again, to <r»uote Napier, " unean.-fcified j by time, depended not leras uppp de- j licate management than upon vit?"” "is exercise ; he had to fix the foundations of, as well as to defend, an Empire, and he may b« 6aid to have been rather peremptory than despotic." The French army at this time wa» undoubtedly very formidnble from numbers, discipline, skill and bravery, but the -British army was inferior in no resnect except in point of numbers. Thy French Emperor's military system was inferior to the. British, which, if purely administered, combines the solidity of the German with the rapidity of the French, excluding the mechanical dullness of the one, and the dangerous vivacity of the other. Strange to relate, however, before its capabilities were so ai^oly demonstrated in the Peninsula War, the British army was absurdly under-rated in foreign countries, an-d sbfiolutejy despised by its own. although its glorious roll cf battles won should certainly have saved it from the latter if no. from both. For many years an ienorant contempt for the British soldiery had been entertained before the fail urns of the expeditions of 1794 and 1799 appeared to justify the general prejudice. The true cause of these failures was not traced, and the excellent discipline afterwards introduced and perfected by the Duke of York was despised". ' For many yeara previous to thtj French 'invasion, tho Royal family of ; Spain was distracted by domestic quarrels ; the son's hand was against his mother, the father's against the son, and the Court was the scene of continual broils Charles IV. was a weak and m efficient old man, who was governed b.> his wife, and ehe ag^in by Don Manuel Godoy, known as th« Prince *»* Peace. Ferdinand, Prince of the Afiturias, hated this favourite, and tho sad d&ath of his young wife and other circumstances created such an interest in his favour that the poople partook of his feelings, and the disunion of the Royal family. extMulintf beyond the precincts of the Court,, involved the nation in ruin. The Csnon of Esooiquiz, a daring and subtle politician, was the chief of Fordinand J 6 party, and finding Godoy 's influence too strong, he sought support in a powerful quarter. At his instigation Ferdinand wrote a letter to the Emperor Napoleon, in which ho complained of the influence which had been obtained over his father, and prayed for the interference of the " hero destined by providence to save Europe and to support thrones." Ferdinand also asked for an alliance by marriage with the Bona- i parte family. To this letter Napoleon did not vouchsafe a reply, but fresh matter of quarrel being found by his enemies, Ferdinand was placed under arrest, and Charles denounced him to the Emperor as guilty of treason, and of having projected the assassination of his own mother. Napoleon caught eagerly at this pretext for interfering in the domestic policy of Spain. A secret treaty was drawn up between the. representatives of France and Spain, in which it was stipulated that the House of Braganza of Portugal was 1 to be driven forth. The French force destined to invade Portugal was already assembled at Bayonne under the command of General Junot, Entering Spain by easy marches, Junot halted at Salamanca, intending to complete the organisation of his troops, but ! political events marched faster than he

I calculated, and fresh instructions from ' Napoleon prescribed an immediate adI vance on Lisbon. On the approach of I the French the family of Braganza fled, to the Brazils, and consequently there was no organisation to oppose the entry of the army into the ancient capital. In March, ISOB, Charles IV. abdicated the throne of Spain in favour of his son t Ferdinand, and after doing so declared to the Emperor of France that the act had been compulsory. The following month saw Napoleon at Bayon.no, for the ostensible purpose of settling the quarrels of the royal family of Spain* and Ferdinand was induced to meet him. At the same time Murat entered the Spanish capital at the head of a French army, and thence sent Gcdoy, *ho Prince of Peace, who had been imprisoned, under escort to Bayonne. There Napoleon had an interview with Charles, at which the Queen of Spain and Ferdinand were present, and where there ensued one of the most pitiful scenes of modern times. Charles accused his son of usurpation, the Queen declared him illegitimate, and, by threats and promises, he was induced do renounce all right to the Spanish throne ; and, singularly enough, the •fcher branches of the royal family re■rued their pretensions in a similar "i&rcer. Charles then ceded his claims a iavot:r of Napoleon/ who proclaimed I* brother Joseph King of Spain. T*iis was on June 6, but ten days f if. re this startling event the Portuuese rose in "arms and expelled the ■'rencli troops. The insurrection spread uto Spain, when the French squadron it Cadiz was compelled to surrender, md Dupont, at the head of 15,000 men, iapitulated to General Castenos. As soon as the people of Spain learnftd that the Royal Family had been sumnarily thrust from the throne by the li'rench Emperor, there was a furious outburst of indignation, and the harshness with which the outbreak was suppressed added to the fury of the people. \t a hundred points throughout Spain there were outbreaks, and 101 the purpose .of ridding the country of a common, enemy the people were prepared to i/?rget their local jealousies and to fight tor the liberation of their country from the French yoke. "Within a few days of the announcement that the orown of Spain had passed to the French Emperor, the French authority had sunk to the limits of the camps, and this despite the fact that at this time the French army, in Spain was nearly two hundred thousand 6trong. The patriots sought the aid of Great Britain to repel the • French invader An expedition was prepared to aid them, and rio^ began a most glorious series of victories in that fierce contest which made the names of many places hitherto unknown in " perfidious Albion " familiar as household words, and demonstrated, in an almost marvellous manner, how rich the nation was in military talent. The expedition was placed under the command of Sir Arthur Wfllesley, afterwards so well knowri as Britain's greatest military leader — the Iron Duke, or the Duke of "Wellington. Although not yet forty years of age, Sir Arthur was a warrior of ripe experience, having already tasted the sweets of victory and the bitterness of defeat, but it should be mentioned that when the latter occurred ■this great soldier occupied only a subordinate position. While in India he took part in the capture of Seringapatam and the battles of Congahgull, Ahmednuggur, Assaye, Argaum, and numerous smaller contests. On his return from the East he took part in the operations against Denmark, completing the land campaign by defeating Lieutenant-General Casten«kiold. The great qualities of the English general were now to be displayed on a far wider field. Not merely national but European interests were to be confided' to his care. Napoleon had successively humbled the great Continental Powers, and grasped at nothing less than universal dominion. In 1805 the grea* be ttle of Austerlitz had paralysed Austria. Prussia had been rendered powerless by the tremendous battle of Jena, in October, l§06 ; and through the battles of Eylau and Friedland, in 1607, Russia had in her turn been compelled to bow under tho iron hand of the conqueror. The glory of the great French soldier had dazzled the eyes of the fickle Emperor Alexander; and at the Treaty of Tilsit a kind of friendship had been established between the French and the Russian autocrat. On July 12 Sir Arthur Wellesley, at the head of 9394 men, sailed from Cork. On leaving the coast the frigate in which lie embarked steered for Corunna, where, Sir Arthur had an interview with tho provincial authorities., the Junta of Galieia, to whom he offered co-operation. The offer, strange to relate, was declined, tlie ground for refusal h-* •■' : - '■ Li iero ■"" i s no immediate necessity for it. Sailing thence to Oporta. the British commander held a conference with the Bishop and other functionaries. From them he learned that the regular Portuguese troops amounted to 5000 men, and were posted at Coimbra. that there were 1200 peasants in advance, and a corps of 2500 Portuguese and 300 Spanish infantry in Oporto. All, however, were badly equipped^ their only weapons be-

ing pikes. It was arranged that the regulars should co-operate with the British troops, and with this object in view Sir Arthur landed his troops at Mondego Bay on August 1. On August 14 the British troops reached the small town of Alcobaca, from which the French had f.tllen back on tho preceding night. The next day Caldas was reached, and here the first shots were fired in the great war of the Peninsula, and here the British and French were face to face for the first time. That day was August 15, a ; day that should be remembered, since it in- j augurat-fid a struggle which continued till that memorable Sunday in Juno, SI S, when the British eagles were it. tally triumphant on tho gory field of Waterloo. The French troops under Marshal Juuutdid not exceed 20,000 men, and of these not more than 17,000 were* available for the defence of Lisbon, against a force of 14,000 under Wellesley, who, however, was especially weak in cavalry and artillery. Sir Arthur moved lapidly southwards, and, forestalling General Laborde- in the occupation of Leiria, compelled him' to retire. The French Army, consisting of 5500 infantry, 500 cavalry and nine fielcUpieces, took up a position near the little town of Rohca, on the coast road leading from the north to Lisbon, and as it was believed that General Loison, who on the previous evening was at Rio Major, would come in on Laborde's right flank in the night, it was resolved to attack him at once -id force the passes. At the close ot sanguinary contest, victory res-ted with the British. The French losses amounted to more than 600 officers and men killed and wounded, while the British loss in killed, wounded and missing amounted to 474 of all ranks. Sir Arthur, with his victorious army, followed tho enemy as far as Villa Verda, on the road to Torres Vedras, and halted for tho night. The enemy retired behind that place, which is ten miles from the field of Rolica, and near there formed a junction with Loison's division. On the following morning tho advance of the British troop 6 was about to be renewed, when the arrival of a messenger from headquarters caused a suspension of the orders already issued. The messenger was an officer bearing despatches from General Anstruther to the effect that, with a large fleet of store ships and a reinforcement of troops, he was then at anchor off the fortified town of Peniche; and, as it was a matter of the greatest importance to bring in these troops and stores wit'iout delay. Sir Arthur resolved to march in such ja direction as would enI sure a ready junction. With this view ' he directed the route of the troops towards Louvinha, reaching that place in 1 the evening, and on the following day took up a position near Vimiera. General Laborde's position prior to 1 his retirement from Rolica had become • i most critical. He was severely wound- > ' pd. but, with unyielding; resolution, he i ; made a movement along the table-land ■ leading from his position to the moun- . . tains iv his rear, checking pursuit by • ' partial charges with his cavalry, until I '■ ho reached the valley of Zambugeira. . There the ground expanded, and the I ' dancer from the flanking force being i fended off, he made apottar f»tnnd Gre ' I he finals took To flight and ultimately 1 rapped Torres Vedras. Calms prevented tno fteet with An- ' strutter's reinforcements from stsndinrr 1 in till the evenm? of August IP. and \ the brigade was 1 lindoo" on t^e foiW--1 ing day amidst difficulties of no ordinary nature. 1 Meanwhile tfc*» French army pad as- ' sembled about Torres Vedras. The advance guard was under the command 1 '. of Marshal Junot, the Due d'Ahrantes. 1 having taken up a strong position in 1 ; front of the town, and the main x body. ' ; under Laborde. being stromrly posted i I. in the rear of it. During this and the j preceding day fheir cavalry had been very active. They covered the whole 1 country, hence Sir Arthur could gain •no exact information concerning the enemy, save that their post was one of great strength. About noon on August ' 20, news arrived that General Auckland was off the coast, and in the even- , ing of the same day Sir Harry Burrard | I arrived in the roadstead of . Maciera, ! with orders to assume command of the i army. The plan of Sir Arthur had been to march on the following day, to