Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 08.djvu/568

LEFT S'OTJCHEZ 496 SOULT SOITCHEZ, a small village in Artois, France, about four miles S. W. of Lens, which was the center of a heavy battle between the French and German troops, beginning on May 9, 1915, in which the German lines were temporarily broken. Most of the fighting occurred in and around the village of Souchez, but as a whole became known as the Battle of Artois. The German losses were esti- mated at 60,000, while those of the French amounted to only about 2,000. SOTJFRIERE, a volcano of the island of St. Vincent, West Indies. Its height is 3,700 feet. Violent eruptions have oc- curred at intervals during the last two centuries, the last on May 7, 1902, simul- taneous with the eruption of Mont Pelee, in Martinique, 1,350 persons being killed, the depth of rocks and dust reaching in some places 60 feet. SOTTKHOMLINOFF, GENERAL W. A., a Russian officer, Minister of War at the outbreak of the World War in 1914. He was at that time believed to be of the modern school of military officials and it was supposed that he was largely responsible for the modern innovations which had been instituted in the Russian military service after the Russian-Japa- nese War of 1904-5. As soon developed, however, the Russian Army was in no such state of efficiency as had been sup- posed, and to this was added evidence ©f deliberate treachery in the lack of supplies of war munitions at critical times during the operations against the Ger- mans and Austrians. After the Revolu- tion of 1917 General Soukhomlinoff, though retired before that event, was brought to trial for deliberate treason. This trial was continued after the rise ©f the Bolsheviki into power, in Novem- ber, 1917, when he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. SOULE, PIERRE (so-la'), an Ameri- can statesman; born in Castillon, France, in September, 1802; was educated at the Jesuits' College at Toulouse. In 1817 he went to Bordeaux to complete his educa- tion, but took part in the plot against Louis XVIII., was detected and fled to the mountains of the Beam country. He was pardoned, however, and returned to Paris in 1824, where he became editor of "Le Nain Jaune" ("The Yellow Dwarf"), a paper noted for its extreme liberal ideas. For the publication of a bitter article attacking the ministers of Charles X. he was sentenced to imprisonment, but escaped and arrived in Baltimore, Md., in 1826. Subsequently he went to New Or- leans, where he entered politics and was elected to the State Senate in 1847. In 1847 he was appointed to the United States Senate and elected to a full term in that body in 1849. Later he was sent on a mission to Spain with the object of negotiating for the acquisition of Cuba by the United States; and in 1854 was one of the ministers who framed the fa- mous "Ostend Manifesto." Up to the time of Abraham Lincoln's election he had advocated secession, but thereafter favored co-operation. On the passage by the State of the ordinances of secession, however, he tendered his services to the Confederate government, and in 1862 be- came an honorary aide on the staff of General Beauregard. At the close of the war he returned to New Orleans and practiced law till his death there, March 26, 1870. SOULT, NICOLAS JEAN DE DIETT (solt), Duke of Dalmatia and Marshal of France; born of humble parentage in Saint Amans la Bastide, Tarn, France, March 29, 1769. In 1785 he entered an infantry regiment as a common soldier. Raised from the ranks, he became suc- cessively lieutenant and captain in his regiment. At that time he served on the upper Rhine and greatly distinguished himself at Kaiserslautern, Weissenburg, Fleurus, and other places, and after suc- cessive promotions was named General of Division by Massena, to whose army he was attached. In the unsuccessful cam- paign in Italy he was wounded and taken prisoner, but obtained his liberty after the victory of Marengo in 1800. In 1803 he had the command of one of the three camps of the army intended against Eng- land, that at St. Omer. He was one of the marshals created immediately after the formation of the empire in 1804; and in the Austrian War, in 1805, distin- guished himself at Ulm and Austerlitz. He acquired new fame in the Prussian campaign; and in 1807 ; after the battle of Friedland, took Konigsberg. From 1808-1812 he fought in Spain, but, over- matched by Wellington, was unable to gain many laurels. In 1813 he was re- called in consequence of Napoleon's dis- asters, to take the command of the 4th Corps of the Grand Army, and com- manded the infantry of the guard at Lutzen. On the news of Wellington's vic- tory at Vittoria he was sent back to re- organize the French force in Spain, and did his utmost to oppose Wellington's triumphant career till Napoleon's abdica- tion. Soult gave in his adhesion to Louis XVIII., who appointed him commander of the 13th Military Division; and in 1814 made him Minister of War. On Napo- leon's return he joined his standard, and held the post of ^ major-general of the army in the campaign of Waterloo. After the second restoration he took up his