File:The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources- American, British, French, German, and others (1919) (14780300811).jpg

Identifier: literarydigesthi01hals (find matches)
Title: The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources: American, British, French, German, and others
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting), 1851-1919, comp
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918
Publisher: New York, London, Funk & Wagnalls Company
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image:
n consequence, the Aduatiei sent
ambassadors to C^sar asking for peace. These ambassadors
declared that they did not believe the Romans waged war
without divine aid (sine ope decorum), since they were
able to move forward machines of such height with so great
speed. It was heavy siege guns then as now that over-
came Namur.
Belgium alone furnished in Waterloo the most famous of
all these battle-fields, but other still famous battles, Ligny,
Quatre-Bras and Fontenoy, were fought in Belgium. Water-
loo lies on the Brussels and Charleroi road, only a few
miles distant from Brussels. On this field are the hamlets;
or farms, called Mont St. Jean, La Haye Sainte, Hougo-
mont, La Belle-Alliance and Plancenoit. The ground on
which Wellington took up his position after the battle of
Quatre-Bras was Mont Saint Jean, where the highroads
from Vivelles and Genappe unite. Thence the main route
leads to Brussels. In front of this village extends a long
chain of low hills with gentle slopes, presenting advantages
250
Text Appearing After Image:

THE RIVER MEUSE IN DINANT
251

ON THE WESTERN FRONT

for concealment. Undulating ground afforded every facility
for posting cavalry and reserves, and screening them from
the enemy. Here Wellington was able to hold his own
against a stronger enemy, until the assistance promised by
Blücher arrived.
Genappe, a village with 1,700 inhabitants, is often men-
tioned in connection with Waterloo. About two and a half
miles to the south of it lies Quatre-Bras, which derives its
name from the four arms of roads that lead to Charleroi,
Nivelles, Brussels and Namur. This point was of great
strategic importance to Napoleon. Its capture by the
French would have made it impossible for the British and
Prussians to render each other effective support. It was
on June 16, 1815, that this battle of Quatre-Bras was
fought between Ney's division and the Allies. The French
numbered about 17,000 men, the Allies 18,000. Of the
latter 8,000 were British and Germans and 10,000 Nether-
landers. After a series of indecisive preliminary operations,
Ney, at the head of 9,000 men, attacked the Netherlanders.

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