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Show THE TIMES-NEW- NEPIII. UTAH S. It !s not the purpose of thla artfele to try to twist the Brlt-Is-h Hod's tall. All this Is ancient statesmen British history. nowadays are publicly admitting that Its course with Its American colonies was a mistake. The two nations are now probably closer together than ever before. Possibly on the cohesion of the English-speakinpeoples depends the safety of the world. Nevertheless, this "If" Is Intensely Interesting. Was Jackson right In his Interpretation? And If he was right and If he had been defeated, would Britain have held on to New Orleans or let got Figure out the answer for yourself. In any event the Battle of New Orleans was an extraordinary affair. Word of the British reached expedition Washington early In December of 1914. President Madison ordered the mlllta of Kentucky and Tennessee to Join Jackson at New Orleans. Jackson arrived there December 12. He organized a force of about composed of about 1,000 regulars, local volunteers, free men of color and "Baratarla Pirates" under Jean Lafltte. Lake The British entered Borgne, nine miles from New Orleans, December 23. They were 10,000 strong, largely made up of veterans of European wars and were considered Invincible. Preliminary skirmishes took place, Jackson killing time In anxious waiting for the Kentucky and Tennessee riflemen. They arrlvta at g tS5llJMl IT , Jackson , a .4:to.i: w?wi,i. .MK't:::.. ; , . NEW BLOUSES ARE STUNNING; SPRING STYLES ARE SIGHTED overblouse Is a special of good fortune for adding variety and chic to the practical wardIn a between-season- s robe. period, like the present. It Is a resource for spicing up one's belongings with something new. The last word In blouses may be gathered Just now, from the collections prepared for wear at Southern resorts. Including sports, tailored and dressy types. In the last class belong many pretty models made of printed fabrics In silk or lightweight wool, finished THE In new ideas In their adornment and styling. For many of them, camel'g-hn- lr twill, in plain colors, is used while dressier models are coming In plain unit printed crepes. The stralghtllne Is varied often the tunic leading other methods, followed by plaits Introduced at the sides or at the front An attractive frock with plaited panels at the sides Is illustrated here. It has a narrow girdle of the goods and bishop sleeves, with an ornamental band of colored embroidery Inserted. The plain, nar . es : 0, if if i iisawsMi mt n rm Y'w""- - s Why "Old HicKprys "Victory Was a '"Decisive 'Battle of the World n 'i I 4m i .1 J: It By JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN I ANUAItY 8, 1815, one hundred and ten years ago, Americans under Gen. An drew Jackson defeated British under . nr,. , n-- i Tt .. .11 .1 uenerai ruKenuuuj m lue xume ui xcvr Lwfl I Orleans. It was one of the most extra I ordinary victories In all military hls- tory. From one viewpoint It was a "De i cisive Battle" for America and for all the world. "Old Hickory" so regarded it "If the British had won " is one of the fascinating "Ifs" of our history. Following Is a chronology of events having a more or less direct bearing on the Battle of New Orleans : 1769 Victory of Wolfe over Montcalm at Quebec closes century struggle between French and British for possession of America. 1762 France bilks Britain by secretly ceding; to Spain Louisiana west of Mississippi River and Island of New Orleans. 176S Treaty of Paris, giving French America to Britain. 1761 George III bilks American Colonies by counQuebec Act, making; Alleghanles-Mlsslsslplands. crown try1776 Fighting; begins In Revolution. 1778 George Rogers Clark captures Illinois Country and Virginia takes possession. 1783 Treaty of Versailles, making the Mississippi Western boundary of new nation. 1789 Constitution takes effect. United States Is born, Washington Inaugurated first President. 1800 Treaty of tit. Ildefonso; Bpaln cedes Louisiana to France. 1808 Louisiana Purchase by America from Prance. and 1804 American Flag replaces Spanish French flags and Clark Expedition to Pacific. 1812 War against Britain; Louisiana admitted to Union. 1814, Deo. 24 Peace Treaty of Ghent. 1816, Jan. 8 Battle of New Orleans. Comment on chronology: At the end of the) Franco-Britis- h struggle for America Spain was stronger than France, so Louis XV secretly ceded the territory west of the Mississippi to his ally. In 1800 Spain was decadent and France was the France of Napoleon, who apparently had the world at his feet. Moreover, Napoleon was planning new French empire along the Mississippi to take the place of the one lost on the Plains of Abraham. So Napoleon took back from Spain the territory ceded in 1702. The United States found the mouth of the Mississippi closed to Its shipInterests. Thereupon Jefping by French-Spanisferson sent Livingston and Monroe to Napoleon with $2,000,000 with which to buy the mouth. Napoleon kept them twiddling their thumbs while he went on with his preparations. Confronted in 1803 with the necessity of choosing between colonizing and fighting Britain, he chose to fight. He then literally forced upon the American envoys the Louisiana Purchase for $15,000,000. Jefferson was aghast The East stormed In protestIn There was the whole but about $25,000,000 In circulation But the West was pleased. Congress country. ratified the purchase. In the War of 1812. while the peace negotiations which led up to the Treaty of Ghent were tinder way, the secret expedition against New Orleans was crossing the Atlantic. The Treaty of Ghent was signed December 24, 1814, both parties being uninformed of course as to the success or failure of the expedition against New Orleans. The treaty contained a provision for the restoration of all territory taken by either nation during the war. Presumably the Americans assumed that thla provision covered the possible taking of New Orleans. What had the British In mind? Representative James O'Connor of the first congressional district of Louisiana, In which lies the battlefield, read Into the Congressional Record an excerpt from the writings of January 8, 1023,(1808-79representative and senWilliam Allen ator from Ohio and later governor of Ohio. In It Allen tells of a conversation with President Jackson in the White House, shortly after the admission In 1830 of Arkansas, the second of the 13 states to be made In whole or In part from the Louisiana Purchase. The first thing of course was a drink. The toast proposed by Jackson was "The new star In our Flag Arkansas." Thereupon Jackson said to Allen: "Do you know, Mr. Allen, that this new state which has Just become a part of our vast Republic la one of the first substantially large fruits of my victory at New Orleans T sb. d m 1 i 1" pl h ), Allen was surprised and said so, remarking that the Treaty of Ghent was signed 15 days before the battle was fought and adding: "General, I am familiar with that treaty and It provided for the restoration of all territory, places and possession taken by either nation during the war, with certain unimportant exceptions." Following are the high points of the ensuing conversation, Jackson doing most of the talking : "Technically you are quite correct," replied General Jackson, and his smile was more triumphant and proud than before. "But, my dear Allen," said the old hero, "those very words would have been used to defeat the purpose of the American commissioners at Ghent, because the Battle of ' New Orleana was fought after the war; 16 days after the war technically ceased by treaty. "If General Pakenbam with hla 10.000 veterans could have annihilated my little army and captured New Orleans and all the contiguous territory, technically after the war. Great Britain would have held that territory, abrogated that treaty, and utterly Ignored Thomas Jefferson's great deal In real estate with Napoleon. Moreover," he continued, "Great Britain had other cards up her sleeve. "Here are the transorlpts from the Department of State concerning the famous treaty of Ghent. Here are the minutes of ths conference which were kept by Mr. Gallatin, who records: " 'The British commissioners emphatically declared: "We do not admit Bonaparte's construction ot the laws of the nations. We cannot accept It In relation to any matter before us." ' "At that moment not one of our American commissioners comprehended the awfully deep significance of those few words. But every one of the commissioners of Great Britain knew that General Pakenham was on the way to New Orleans with upward of 10,000 veteran soldiers. In their Judgment and It was a wise Judgment, too 10,000 British soldiers should, and would, clean up and wipe out an army which America could muster, for ths Pakenham Invasion was to be a triumphant military coup and surprise. "Now, I can tell you, Mr. Allen, that I did not know, and my boys behind those bales did not know, what a prize the British were after nor what a service we were rendering our country. We were simply typical American soldiers, lighting for our country as American soldiers always do; ready and willing to dare, do and die. "But since I have been President I have ascertained from diplomatic sources of unquestionable authority that the British ministry did not Intend to permit the treaty of Ghent to apply to the Louisiana Purchase at all. The whole body. Lord Liverpool, the Duke of Portland, Greenville, Percl-vand Castlereagh, all of them, utterly and emphatically denied the right of Napoleon to sell Louisiana. Therefore, their commissioners declared, 'We cannot accept Napoleon's Interpretations of trternatlonal law In relation to any matter before us.' "Now, you see. Mr. Allen," said the proud old hero, "the British ministry In London held most vehemently that this country had no right to that Immense territory no right at alL They Intended to hold that It was entirely extraneous to the terms of ths treaty of Ghent. And, If General Pakenham had been successful at New Orleans as, tinder all of the ordinary rules of war he ought to have been, with his tremendously overwhelming force of veterans If he had defeated my little, thin line of riflemen. If he had killed or captured me. If be had won that battle as Great Britain had every reason to expect of him. he would have held his ground. Moreover, he would hsve fortified his and Great Britain would have sent other positions, veterans enough to forever hold that great prise, the Louisiana Purchase. "But, my dear air, British diplomacy and British military power combined knew nothing of my and Kentucky riflemen. The will of the enemy was strong and Intelligent; but the will of God was far above It all. Providence willed that this Nation should live, grow, and be the cradle of the liberty of the world." Then Oeneral Jackson n "Ood moves in a quoted a hymn: mysterious way, Ills wonders to perform,'' and con eluded his narration: "The astute diplomats, the trained of Greet Britain, cheerfully found It commissioners easy to throw sand Into the eyes of our honest cornmlsxloners at Ghent; but. Allen, they could not ward off the cold lead which my rough and ready riflemen sprinkled Into the faces of their veterana at New Orleana All of the tnngled web that British diploand macy Kngllsh cunning could weave about our Inexperienced commissioners was torn to pieces and aoaked In blood In half an hour by the g rifles of my sqalrrsl-shoogn- g pioneers of the mountains as they oarefully took their aim from behind these to vulnerable bale of cotton." al Ten-nees- well-know- red-coat- never-mls-sin- One of the Pretty New Arrivals. with borders of plain, black satin, or row wrist bands are prettily finished In the color predominating In the with ties of ribbon and the odd neck blouse. Faille silk, ' with colored opening is finished in the same way. Since the slender silhouette Is schedstripes. Is also popular for dressy and by managing the stripes uled to remain in our midst for some Ingeniously designers need no other ma- time, new ways of "personalizing" day terial for decoration. Plain silks with frocks have been Introduced on spring delicate patterns in embroid- models. These appear In small, quaint ery art among the prettiest of the embroideries In single motifs as a Japnew arrivals In materials for blouses. anese fisherman, or a little bulldog, In sports and dressy blouses, favor stitched above a small pocket the seems to be about equally divided be- watchdog of the treasury or two or tween the long and short sleeve, but In three butterflies near the shoulder. It tailored blouses models looks as if our spring frocks might ar in the majority. There is great become backgrounds for picture-boo- k diversity of necklines In all blouses Illustrations and we may tell the world and many chic new arrivals. In the of our favorite scenery by means of tailored class, have high collars. The stitching. The little old red school over-blouse- s, the last moment,' Jackson then entrenched on ths Plains of Chalmette, about four miles south of the ity, using cotton bales for breastworks. January 8 the British veterans marched In solid raaks directly upon the breastworks, scorning the ew little cannon that barked at them. At 200 yards they were still marching as If on dress parade. Then the Kentucky and Tennessee riflemen opened up. They stood three deep. The first line fired and moved back to give place to the second rank. By the time the third line had fired the first line was ready. Always they fired at the officers and file leaders. The veterans broke, reformed, came again and broke the second time. In less than half an hour the riflemen killed and wounded 2,600 British. General Pakenham was mortally wounded. General Glbbs, second In command, shared his fate. General Keane, upon whom command devolved, waa shot down. General Lambert then withdrew the British forces and soon sailed away to Mobile, where word of the signing of the peace treaty was received. The veterans went home to whip Napoleon at Waterloo. The American loss was 8 killed and 13 wopnded. What a remarkable battle! And a feature of It Is the contrast between the opposing forces. The British veterans, supposedly Invincible, supremely disdaining tactics, marching In solid ranks In direct frontal attack upon the breastwork of cotton bales. Behind the breastwork a motley array French and Spanish Creoles (local white residents); free men of color; Lafltte and his pirates; convicts and the Kentucky and Tennessee mountaineers who had come by river In fiatboata, A second feature Is that it was the Kentucky rifle vs. the British musket. Both sides withheld their fire until about 200 yards. At that distance "Brown Bess" the British smooth-bormusket In the hand of a veteran, was usually able to put In a bullet somewhere the ranks of an opposing army. The American rifle In a frontiersman's hands would put its bullet In the head of any specified Individual In the front ranks of the enemy. European soldiers fired by volleys In the general direction of the enemy. American riflemen picked their target and made every shot count Looking at the engagement now, the British were simply led up to slaughter. And there was Lafltte and his pirates I At war with the constituted authorities, they were yet Americans when It came to resistance against an Invader. Captain Lockyer of the British navy, offered Lafltte a pardon, a captain's commission and $30,000 to Join the British expedition. . And as to the American leader surely no more picturesque figure ever enlivened the pages of American history than "Old Hickory." As to the pictures: The portrait of Jackson represents him In Inter life as a civilian ; as a fighting man In uniform he was a different figure altogether. The statue Is the famous "Rocklng- Horse Statue,' which In replica stnnds in Washington and New Orleans. President Coolldge Is shown placing a wreath on the Washington statue. The New Orleans statue stands In Jackson square, where Jackson drilled his troops. Facing the park Is the famous old Cablldo (1705) In which the Louisiana Purchase was consummated. In the other picture Is shown Admiral Sir William Christopher Pakenham of the British navy placing a wreath on the grave In New Orleans of Gen. Sir Edward Michael Pakenham, killed In the Battle of New Orleans. Admiral Pakenham, recently retired from command of the British fleet In North Atlantic and West Indian waters. He la a grand nephew of General Pakenham. The Plains nChalmette today are beautiful with great live oak?. Bills have been Introduced In congress to make the New Orleans battlefield the renter of national park. all-ov- long-sleeve- d t, e IP rttw-- r jpr. ej Frock With Plaited Panels surplice front Is a graceful survival of house down the lane, or an oceaai the fittest nothing was ever more be- liner, or a blue goose, or anything else coming end Is being as enthusiastical- from anywhere, may be sketched on ly received as the new Jubot front ar- frocks otherwise quite plain. rangements that have won fashion's Another tip has been brought home smile of approval. by the adventurers who first discover Sailing out beyond the harbor spring styles. The ensemble eoxtnme of winter fanhlons and peeping over is here to stay a while for spring the horizon to meet those of spring, coats, to be worn with frocks bearing early adventurers report that after- an unmistakable family resemblance noon frocks of the Informal kind, have to them, bear the new arrivals com been sighted. Although they are still pany. Jt'LIA BOTTOMLET. stralghtllne) tbej are about to bring dale, (C IIH Westers News |
