The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-16
MICROBES IN WAR.
Would Bulgarians Infect Their Enc
mics With Plague Germs

Would Bulgarians Infect Their Enc
mics With Plague Germs
Although certain orientals are a pref
~ bad lot and are known in dispatches
of old, not as Bulgarian people, but Bull
garian atrocities, we doubt if they have
the means. the scientific knowledge, the
forethought, or the cowardice to culri-
vate plague baciln and infect the cities
of Europe whose officials are inimical to
the revolution Revengeful, brutal and
fanatical these fellows may be. yet the
courage they have shown in fight is the
courage of the baIbarian-a brute cOur-
age, not the malignity of the sneak IF
plague does appear in the zone of Bull
garian activity it need not be of neces-
sity attributed TO the revOlutiOnists, it
can safely be ascribed to the people who
die with it. and who take it because
they do not live wholesOmely and do not
wash Plague. like cholera and other
zymotic diseases, has its origin in filth
and the cleaner the safer. We have
heard little Of the raVages of the great
contagious since cities introduced sewers
and citizens became addicted to laun-
dries and bath tubs became usual ap-
purtenances of homes, hospitals and ho-
tells The terror that spread through the
country when it was reported that
smallpox, cholera or any other disease
Of communicable character had an
peared in one of the centers of pOpula-
ton, is now so slight that nobody loses
sleep because of it, If the world is no
ne ppier than it used 70 be it is not
Decause i'll IS not safer
Devices Tor killing have greatly NUT
tiolied v.tf-in tne last dozen years "
hase Ia 7oer hitting suns, longer reach
ing rifles. smOkeless powder, explosive
bullets shells Of deep penetration, bombs
nlled with chemicals Of terrific energy.
and other bombs charged with letlEal
vapors boats that come up under war-
ships and plant torpedoes that will tear
the ships to pieces, and it cannot be
claimed for some of these inventions
that they encourage fair and open fight
ing The submarine boat skulks like
q microbe. the smokeless cartridge kills
and does not mark the place from
which it WAS fired. the lyddite shell
sufocates more surely than the stink
pots of the Chinese pirates yet of all
the contra ptions none stand in fear eX-
cept The soldiers and sailors who are
required to face the cruel conditions OF
open war.
Fighting with bacnH is the fighting &.
q sneak. because he attacks not soldiers
but peaceable citizens. the old. the chill
dren and the women. he reduces pOpu~
iations and paralyzes industries; he
throws thousands upon charity; he
causes suffering through illness. Wa
tolerates only such destruction as =
necessary to effect its purpose. The
war of civilized nations is never Waged
against the home stayers and the
helpless During our war of the rebels
lion il was reported here in the north
that an attempt had been made to in
troduce yellow fever in the METROPOLIS
The means were to be quite simple. a
southcrner was to walk into the Fifth
Avenue hotel carrying quantity of in
fectcn bedding and he WAS to take eff
the clean sheets and pillow cases in va
rious bedrooms and put on dirty ones
Instead. People would sleep on the TN.
clean linen. catch the fever, and die. II
is so usual for strangers to take pos
session of our hotels and make up the
beds that this story had wide credence.
We know today that any one can sleep
In the bed of yellow fever patient ana
wear his clothing and be exposed to
not the slightest risk. 1t is the mo-
gquito that carries yellow fever-not the
siothinE.- Brooklyn Eagle.