The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-20 00:00:00

THE IMPIOUS CARNAGE OF WAR.

Amid the suspense and excitement a ith which we are
watching the tremendeus struggle rov raging on the Conti-
nent, it is not, we fear ;remelt" The Times in a leader), un-
necessary to invite refL)ction ou some scenes of whiM little
will be heard in telegrams or despatches. N. thing Is more
terrible in war than the imigni,comce to which it reduces
everything but result,. When the end is camel, what, in
comparison, is thought of the means? The consequences of
war ought to be, and verbena th y are, immeasurable, in
order to render possible such a total ecl)pse as seems In its
presence top es over all ordinary passions, to, lines, suffer-
ings—nay, huinanitles. A great victory is glad, end the
victorious army passes on. It leaves the held of battle
behind; and so, it is to be feared, in thought. do those who
hear of the victory. All the interest is concentrated in the
front, and wben the world has once put its baud to the
terrible plough of war. it can scarcely venture to look bn k.
Perhaps, some Sell6o of elan e prevents men from loeking
openly at the deeds of which their Infirmity is capable. If
Such things must be done, they are hest f. irgottett no. dm as
p-nilAe, and the benevolent and the reckless combine to put
out of sight what, if seen, would be unenduranto If the
murder must be committed, lot it be done, if possible, behind
the scenes. . . .

It is our duty, however, to ask the public to think for a
little if what an army and their victory leave in their treat
Our Correspondents from the two scenes of battle have
efforded a few glen:sea, but If the wh .19 troth wore to be
brought home to our readers, it could require a special
c irrevondence for this purpose atone. Let et c uti 'er ft r
a moment the single battle td Worth. Marshal Niaellabon
appears to have left horn 12,000 to 15.000 men hehind blot
Oil that 11,1 d. The Frusstans, by their ow w•count, suffered
In, proportion. What does that nn-an? We ought tt under-
stand its significance. The leaden and •iolent (teethe it
implies represent, at least to the victims, not the un-
happiest fate. Nor need we dwell on the thoutands
of homes desolated, of hearts lark-red, end of hopes
annihilated. But it is 111 the cane of the wounded
that the Lorrors of war are seen in their meet hideous form.
rushed limns, unstariched swotted'', Peonies of faintness,
thirst, ar d rextlerrnesa, and perhaps hours of torture before
the relieving hard can coma and all this endured, not by
scores or humirmis, bat by ihousande and tens of thousands
of brave men, she hot yesterday were in the prime of life and
strength What force of surge, us, bearer-, or mutes oteld
relieve e ith a' t tome pronip•l -ride the sufferings of such a
battle field no that id Worth? The butchery is comurnmate I
in a few short tours, at a time and place alike untorseen.
Nigh' falls, and fheels of rain pour op tn acres of bruised and
torn fl tsh and blood. At the bait what are the hoper of the
mounted? A J•tlting ri-le over rough ground, in etrts with-
outspringe, to the railway and then a tedious j.rurney to
the hospital. Human ingenuity never deviled such torteres
as were shrtuded under the brief telegrams of fill recent
battles.
lire say that people outtht, whatever it costs them, to try
to realist, all 011 and it 111 ty he doubted whether we ought
not to feel it almost as deeply as the nations whose sons are
thus crueliy sacrieced to the greatest of Mimeo crimes.
Members of thme two nations are in ell the excitement of
the contest : and the acute-em of the.r p.m may he mete!'
fully rellxved by the Intensity of tie-jr i ntitusierm.
The Germans, indeed, in this, as in otter thugs, are
setting a noble esamp'e in the haslet., sof war The
completeness of their military (organisation terms rivalled
by the patient forethotigot with which all alto are
left at home are provlding for the relief of the
wounded. Under the shock which the war has given to
our hopes for civilization, this merciful care for the victims
of warts some euceiirs2emeut. Isle in great measure anew
thing in our days. The wouneed met a harder late in the
early wars of this Century. Front every German home, in
Fatherland or abroad, munificent contributions, thou 'haul
arrangements for help or gentle anti unselfish sersdee are
fort.tcomii g 'To us the poilti n 1 issues of the war are of
less profound interest; but for that reason it might be
thought weehoulit be the more alive to the hideous mi,ery
entailed on both sides in the stru.gle. The war must by
most clothe mainly regarded as an iniquitous carnage.