Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-02
THE WAR SPIRIT


Itself involved In a conflict with Japan
at any time.
No particular symptoms OF an lmme-
date eruption are mentioned. but ref
erenca is made TO the well know fact
that Japan has a grievance against
Russia. For years, Il is believed. the
japanese have made UP their minds
that a war with the giant Of the north
IL inevitable. and that they would pee
fer TO have 1t come on before the COM
plction OF the railroad through Siberia.
II seems that the Japanese just now
have great influence at Pekin. II Is
supposed that their officers win or
ganlze the Chinese army on the Euro
pean pattern. Then an alliance WIN
be formed between the two AsiatIc EN-
plres, and together they Will oppose the
Entertainments OF Russia.
II is safe to venture the guess that
II such plans are about to be carried out,
a great storm Is nearer than appears
ON the surface. Russia cannot permit
such an alliance against her TO assume
shape in eastern Asia. Nor would
Japan undertake the policy outlined ex-
cept with tacit understanding with
Great Britain.
Russian papers Just now urge Euro
pean Intervention in behalf OF the Az
rlcan republics, and the Russian gov
eminent is busy looking out for adyan.
tages in places where English inhu-
ence used TO be paramount. 1t all has
a rather sinister look.
The war spirit is abroad In the earth
at the closing hours Of the present CEN
fury, and exercises greater influence
than was thought possible fifty years
ago. Then 1t was hoped civilization
would make the appeal to brute force
obsolete. But civilization has failed to
do So
What the coming century WIN bring
Is as yet beyond human knowledge, but
some idea may be formed. perhaps, OF
the terrible features OF the war toward
the vortex OF which the world seems
to be whIrling. The Russian military
author. NJ. Bloch, vividly describes the
battle Of the future thus:
1.-The distance is e.OOO meters from the
enemy. The artillery Is IN position,
and The command has been passed
alonR the batteries 90 give fire The
onemy's artillery replies. Shells tear
up the soil and burst. IN short time
the crew OF every gun has ascertalned
the distance OF the enemy. Then every
pr0jectle discharged bursts In the air
over the heads OF the enemy, raining
down hundreds Of fragments and bullets
in his position. Men and horses are
overwhelmed by this rain OF lead AMI
iron. Guns destroy one another, bat
teries are mutually annihllated. am
muulliOn cases are emptied. Success
will be with those whose fire does not
slacken In the midst Of this fire the
battalions advance. Now, they are
/ but 1900 meters away. Already tbs
rifle bullets whistle around and XII
! each not only finding victim, but pen
! Grating files. ricocheting and striking
| again. Nolley succeeds v0lley bullets
/ I'M great handfulls, constant as hall and
/ swift as lightning, deluge the field ol
I battle. The artillery, having sllenced
! the enemy, is now free TO deal With the
/ enemy's battallons. on his infantry
however loosely II may be formed. III;
] guns direct thick iron rain. and sOor
| In the position OF the enemy the earth
Is Redeemed with blood. The firing lines
viii advance one after the other, bat.
talon will march after battalioni
finally the reserves VIII follow. YET
with all this movement In the two
| armies there will be q bel. a thousand
PAGES wide separating them as by
/ neutral territory, swept by the fire oI
both sides, belt which no living beins
can stand for a moment The ammuni,
ton Will be almost exhausted. millions
! OF cartridges. thousands ~ shells vii
cover the soil But the fire will con
tlnue until the empty ammunition case.
| are replaced with full. Mellnlte bombs
win turn to dust farmehouses, village'
and hamlets. destroying everything tina
might be used as cover. obstacle OF
! refuge The moment viii approach
when half Of the combatants VIII bl
moved down, dead ana wounded vii
lie In parallel rows. SEPARATED one from
the other by that bet OF Thousand
PAGES which viii be swept by a eros,
fire OF shells which nlliving person car
pass The battle VII continue With
feroclty. But stu rheS thousand PAGES
unohangingly separates the foes. WIZ
shah have gained the victory Neither
II Is much more probable that IN IN,
future both sides win claim the vic
tory
II is 80 often said that the powers
are not yet ready for the final conflict
Is this what they are preparing for
No wonder II In the day Of judgment
the mountains and hills viii be ap-
pealed 10 for shelter