The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23
NJ. DE BLOCH AND HIS sooK.
Eight Years. study of Wars Horrors Con-
densed Into Six Great Volumes.

densed Into Six Great Volumes.
SCHoEvENINoEN. Holland. July 15-Henri
de Bloch whose great work on war was one Of
the causes that led to the Peace Conference at
The Hague. Is a man OF 65. rhort. fat and gray
headed His beard is trimmed closely to his
chin. Great shaggy eyebrows overhang a pair
of piercing eyes When he becomes excited
he 10 fierce in appearance and In manner. He
is the last man who would at those times be
taken for an advocate OF peace. He is always
excited when he Is talking.
Early in youth he became impressed by the
horrors OF war. He began to make a study Of
them. He considered the cost OF war In mis-
cry and in money. and he considered It's re-
suits He found the two ncommepsurate He
took up every phase OF arguments Of men who
had planned means OF preventing war. In
those days most Of these men were dreamers
and their plans were wild and impractical.
But Bloch did not despair.
He was fortunate In that he was immensely
rich and could carry on his studies untram-
melted by the limitations OF poverty. His
work WAS unceasnR. From every quarter of
the earth he gathered material on the subject
which always filled his mind. Al last, eight
years azo. he nod mastered his great subject
He had not satisfied himself with knowing all
about modern wars and their miseries; he had
corning the early Greek and Roman wars was
scarcely less complete than the mass OF ma
terial he had gathered concerning the Franco
Prussian and other great armed struggles OF
his own time.
AT last. eight years ago." he said to a visi-
tor here Il found myself in a position whore
could really begin my work Everything up
10 that time had been preliminary. then sat
down and wrote my little book"
The conversation took place in the private
din ing room Of NJ. de Bloch's suite in the Hotel
nap OF three, hours. which. with four hours
sleep at night, gives hin his rest, He was
Of Of m.a which great millionare would 10 .I
pected to order.
ssa s sae ysS S s
Nj. dc Blochs English 10 somewhat difficult
to understand at first; He speaks It IN com
French and Russian, his native language, are
bis favortes. His English accent is some
sion on Of his face But ,h.re was nothing sruff
about the Way t., he said; Let me bring you a
lie !sit til. room and came back with his
volumes Of that little book" and they are
n. De Bochs little book It's irst ' Ave vol j..
umes are, devoted to an exhaustive study OF
They amount practically to an encyclopedia Of
everything connected with battles and with
sh IN n. Ths St volume win
everything from the cross bow OF the ancients
to the smokeIsSs p9Td;r q o-1 Mn Thescc
y ko s3o aG% green!
time this volume was written He studies in
detail the effectiveness of European armies.
disGnSsss their eSi5tiHg RrepaTHtions for war
their officers, the training Of their soldiers
their camns their f., i3rtressss the possibilities
Cured in the last contnry. This volume alone
une is the brietest and least important Of his
work. II deals with naval warfare. and the
subject Is not comnetently treated.
In the fourth volume he treats OF economi-
cal problems and their probable effect in the
war, of the future, It goes into the subject
considers the cost Of the military AS com pared
with the revenues Of all nations II shows
viii marx the war Of the future The Nth vol.
ume tells OF the development e. The idea that
@ snG ths Tn
anti, milItarIsm. IL discusses the influence OF
armies actually in existence u Don the people
OF the different countries. II goes into the
matter OF wounds and sicknesses resulting
from war most exhaustively-evsn to the point
fect o'eyery BULLET now in use by CIVILIZED ma
;iOn; The mqrvel Ious detail OF this volume can
II il is in'the sixth volume that hs sum marizes
his arguments Beiore It Is half finished he
leaves his DESCRIPTIONS o. war and his data
concerning battles and soldiers and begins 70
SPECULATE on the possible uavs Of preventing
international conflicts. His plan OF interna-
tionnl arbitration suggested In this final
volume Of his book IL almost Identical with
the plan laid down by the Gar in thu call for
a peace conference
After NJ, lie Bloch had brought in His 'little
book" he smoke very freely concerning the
International Euronean situation. lie dis
cussed the terrific burden of armament which
the nations Of Europe are obliged To carry aud
talked Of the hardrhlps which compulsory
military service works upOn the citizens OF
the countries where II is practced. " him
aelI ha anull nothing