The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-12
HOW LONG WILL THE WAR LAsTs

Modern science, military and naval. is not
worth much unless it shortens wars. If it
merely enables warning nations to infiict
greater slaughter and damage on one an
other without shortening the duration of
wars it had better not exist. Manifestly,
though, that is it's real tendency and effect.
Other things being equal, or nearly equal,
the longest-range guns and the heaviest
plated and best fighting ships will win, and,
If the superiority in these respects is very
decided, will win in a short time.
Most of the wars in recent years have
been very short compared with those Of
former times. The world will never see
another thirty years war. Modern science
and Improvements have rendered such a
thing impossible. If two nations were I'M
equally matched in respect of equipments
one should make short work of the other
and if they are equally matched both are
likely soon to become exhausted. The days
of long wars-that is, wars lasting many
years-are past. The German-French war of
1870, whose results were of such tremendous
r.
weeks. France declared war on the 18th
of July, and Louis Napoleon surrendered
and abdicated on Sept. 2. There was some
severe fighting after this, incident to the
pursuit and defeat of different French army
corps, and Paris did not captulate till Jan.
IS, 1871, but the battle of Sedan, on Aug.
81, followed by the unconditional surrender
he o
the French Emperor himself, virtually end
ed the war. The rest was merely gathering
up the fragments.
The war between China and Japan began
in August, 1884, and the treaty of peace was
signed April II, 1885, No modern war of
equal dimensions and Importance, involv-
ing both land and naval forces. was so
short. In this case the naval battle of
Yalu river, in which the Japanese gained a
victory which naval experts regarded as the
greatest since the days of Nelson and which
has only been surpassed by the recent one
of Commodore Dewey was fought on Sept.
II. little more than a month after the
declaration of war. In this battle the Chi
nese fleet consisted of twelve ironclads and
anese of eleven war ships, with torpedo
boats. The Japanese were the attacking
party, the battle lasted five hours and re-
suited in the sinking of four Chinese battle
ships, the burning of three others and put
ting the rest to flight, while the Japanese
did not lose a ship, and only forty men were
killed and 160 wounded. Besides being one
q eIo full
of striking events and the most instructive
of recent times in demonstrating the SUI
periority of intelligence over brute force
and the Importance of brains in connection
with modern appliances.
In the nature of things the present war
must be short. The whole world saw at
the beginning that Spain would be no match
for the United States in the long run, but
intelligent foreign critics predicted that the
United States would receive some bad blows
at the beginning and would probably find
the war a much more serious matter than
they expected. These critics overestimated
tho strength of Spain and underestimate
the preparation and readiness of the United
States. Thus far the predicted bad blows
for the United States at the beginning have
not been received, and all the advantage is
on our side. War was declared April "a and
one week later, May 1. Admiral Dewey
achieved his great victory at Manila. One
more such victory would end the war, and if
the Spaniards had dared to send their Cape
Verde fleet to this side of the Atlantic that
victory would probably have been gained
before this. Failing to find the fleet we
VIII capture and hold Cuba and Porto Rico.
possibly within the next thirty days. When
that is done the main objects of the war,
except the establishment of stable govern
ment in Cuba, will have been accomplished
and we shall be in possession of three Of
Spain's most valuable insular possessions.
That will practically end the war, and as
Spain will have nothing more to fight for
and not much to fight with there will be
nothing left for her but to sue for peace
and accept it on such terms as the United
States may grant. AS events are now shap-
ing, the war ought to end by Aug. 1, at the
furthest.