In the month of May, 1701, just two months after the death of William III., we found ourselves involved in war with France, in consequence of the quarrel as to the right of succession in Spain. One hundred and thirty years later a similar cause led to the Franco-German War. In those far-off days England was a Continental Power, and whatever affected the Low Countries affected also the United Kingdom. The Dutch provinces of Flanders lent themselves to attack, and as in the wars under William, so now once more they formed the theatre of war. We had no King to assume the command, and to Marlborough was confided the task of commanding our armies. The Spaniards were no longer our allies, and Spanish Flanders was in the hands of our enemies, adding considerably to the military difficulties. The Dutch, too, showed themselves no more favourably disposed to us than when William of Orange was on the throne, and the whole year of 1701 was wasted in fruitless wrangling. There was infinite jealousy between ourselves and the Prussians and Dutch as to Marlborough's position, and both nations seemed to forget that their troops were but mercenaries, maintained in the field to a very great extent by the subsidies voted by the English Parliament. In 1702 Marlborough found himself in nominal command of about 60,000 men, of whom 12,000 were British soldiers. His freedom of action was much hampered by Dutch Deputies and Prussian jealousies. That year, however, saw him victorious on three occasions: at Venloo, which, after a short siege, was carried by assault in the most gallant manner by the English, led by the noted fire-eater Cutts; at Maestricht, in August, where we lost 4 officers and 132 men killed, 7 officers and 134 men wounded; and at Liège, which was captured with a loss to us of 11 officers and 143 men killed, 20 officers and 360 men wounded. As was the custom in those days, the army went into winter-quarters, whilst the Commander-in-Chief returned to England to face Parliament and secure funds and reinforcements for the coming year. In 1704 Marlborough determined to carry the war into his enemies' country, and by a masterly movement, worthy of Napoleon in his best days, transferred the scene of operations from the Valley of the Meuse to that of the Danube, and on June 21, 1704, gained a brilliant victory at Schellenberg, on the banks of that river--a name that might well be borne on the colours and appointments of the sixteen regiments which bore such a distinguished part in the fight. I append the casualty lists of the losses incurred in this now almost forgotten battle, which surely deserves recognition. CASUALTIES AT SCHELLENBERG, JUNE 21, 1704.