Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-19
MODERN WAR.

1t is believed that a work written by NJ.
+! Johann Won Bloch had much to do with
influencing the action of the car of
Russia in proposing the peace conference
| now il session at The Hague. The book
is a remarkable production of its kind,
inasmuch as it is a thorough exposition
of the modern c~ontrivances of war and
the death-dealing capacity of this bellig-
erent age. In touching upon modern arms
the author says:
The action of the new projectile on the
human body is frightful, resembling the
action of an explosive bullet. The bones
are not bored through as with an W
To think so is quite erroneous. On the
contrary, they are split into tiny frag-
ments which are scattered throughout
the entire organism with a force OF a
dynamite discharge. The entrance made
by the bullet is small, almost impercept-
ible: but its exit is marked by a gaping,
awful WOUND. 1t does not pierce one body
alone, but has the power to penetrate
three, and its course is only stopped in
the fourth. Liver, heart, n kidneys,
when touched by one of these projectiles
Of the future. are pulyefized; other in
ternal organs, and notably the muscles,
are torn to shreds. The extremities, if a
bone is struck, are destroyed, and wounds
in the head, neck, and abdomen are al
ways fatal. At a distance of over 1000
meters the impact of the bullet on the
human body causes a number Of radiated
rents to start in all directions from the
point of contact. Ever at a distance Of
1,600 meters the new projectile inficts
dangerous fractures, and as often as not
tho fra pm, an Of hnnn ora 1Siyan into
other portions of the body, working
through the tissue like a pair of scissors.
The experiments already made go to
prove that the old round bullet, and even
the long bullet in use in 1870, was COM
~paratiyely "g~ood-natured" compared
with the present finely wrought, nickel
coated projectile.
While this description is graphic
enough to discourage the man who pre-.
fers to be a live coward rather thar q
is equally interesting to the peaceably in.
clined. He y
Vt a distance Of 1900 meters the flint
silvery bullets'o the infantry, with thei1
low trajectory, whistle through the air
piercing hole rows of human beings
The volleys grow in intensity. The bull
lets, lIliCh DIS nail, SWlIt as uSnlnlnS
sweep the field. One firing line replace.
the other, one battalion the other, anl
hen the reserves are ordered up. Their,
is, however, a space of 1000 meters be
tween the opposing forces which canno
be crossed, for it is swept with an ire
sistible fire. AT last the ammunition il
exhausted. The ground is covered witt
millions of empty cartridges and frag
ments of shell. Fresh supplies, however
arrive, and the two armies fight the figh
of despair. The wounded and dead ar
formed into ramparts for the protection
Of the living. But no one can cross tina
1000 meters swept by bullets with cloud
of dust rising from the ground. The bat
tie is over. Which side is victorious
Neither.
The author is quite right in saying tina
a victory is achieved by neither side un
der such conditions of warfare. The win
ming army pays too high a price for it
alleged triumph. The olden days, whel
thousands of men met in personal con
tact on the battle field and fought witt
spears and battle-aXes n clubs, ma,
have seemed cruel but the modern system
is more fatal. Won Bloch pictures tn
coming field of carnage with all it's hor
rors and then shows up the armament O
Europe. Little wonder that his work ha,
some effect upon the ruler Of the Russias