Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 281, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1917 — EFFECTS OF NOTED BATTLES [ARTICLE]

EFFECTS OF NOTED BATTLES

Probable Results If Outcome Had Been -Different, Explained In Book by English Writer Years Ago. About 60 years ago an English writer, Sir Edward Creasy, published a book which he called “The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World.” His purpose was to describe those great military events which have had the greatest influence upon human history. Each battle described, had it resulted differently, would have completely changed the course of civilization* says the World’s Work. Had Charles Martel not have won the battle of Tours, for example, the whole of Europe, and that means also North and South America, would very likely have become Mohammedan In religion. “Perhaps the interpretation of the Koran,” says Gibbon, describing the consequences of this battle, “would now be taught In the schools of Oxford and her pupils might demonstrate to the-English people the tnfth of the revelation of Mohamet.” Ten of Creasy’s epochal battles have been fought since the beginning of the Christian era. Four of them represent victories which were won on French soil —the battle of Chalons, A. D. 451; the battle of Tours, 732; Joan of Arc’s victory at Orleans, 1429, and the battle of Valmy, In 1792. Another was a great French victory won on English soil—the battle of Hastings In 1066. Two others —the battle of Blenheim, In 1704, and the battle of Waterloo in 1815 —were great French defeats. It appears, therefore, that of the ten most decisive battles fought in the Christian era five were great French victories and two were French defeats. No other nation has any such military history as this. This mere record indicates the part which France has played In advancing civilization. So far as Europe Is concerned ■ the greatest events in modern history have taken place on French soil. At this time, when the democratic nations have joined hands to deliver France from the cowardly attack which Germany has made upon her, it Is well to keep this fact in mind.