The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30
WAR PASSING OUT.
VIII the Russian.Japanese CONFLICT Prove
Discoura cement 70 war Hereafter?

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-Sr: The
agreement OF Great Britain and Russia to
refer to the arbitration OF the Hague Tribunal
the questions OF fact and all the points in
dispute between them concerning the tragic
incident In the North Sea 10 a hopeful evidence
OF the advancement Of civilization in enght-
ened reasonableness.
II may be said. Of course. and truly, that
both OF these great Powers are peculiarly
averse to wsrlike conflict at the present
time Russia has found that In Japan alone
she has an enemy against whom she must
marshal all her possible military resources
II she is to be successful. or even to save
herself from the humiliation Of complete and
disastrous defeat France. her ally had No
wish and probably no intention OF coming To
her aid II war between Russia and England
had resulted from the North Sea incident
Germany has manifested sympathy with the
Gear In the existing conflict. but all her inter
ests forbid her embodiment In such con-
test The same may be said Of Europe and
Of civilization generally Nowhere Ia the
possibility Of war looked forward to with
out the srsvest apprehension Even Russia
would not have entered into the present war
with Japan II she had not grossly miscalcp-
lated Japans military strength and her de-
termination to fight against Russian pre-
tensions In the Far East 1t Is a conflict which
In all respects is a calamity for civilization
Great Britain. moreover. has had enough
Of war for this genera alton in South Africa a
war In which she won no glory and probably
planted the seeds Of future African troubles
for her. The general business condition NJ
England at the present time dictates the
necessity Of a long period of assured peace
All the financial and commercial exchanges
of Europe and this country want peace, and
are allied in making powerful efforts TO pre-
vent hereafter the settlement OF questions
in dispute between nations by resort 10
arms. so dangerous to the interests of the
whole civilized world. now knit together 80
closely and 40 intimately.
Another cause tending to the ultimate and
perhaps speedy abolition OF war among the
great ma tions is the lesson which the Japanese
Russian conflict has taught and is still teach
ing. When an insnlar Oriental Power. only
recently entered into the ranks OF civilized
States, demonstrates her superiority in the
use OF modern and scientific military methods
the Western soldier must necessc rily feel
degree Of humiliat Those best Informed
as to our Occidental military and naval DO
tency must incline to the unwelcome juig-
ment that the fate which has met the Russian
army and feet at the hands of Japan might,
and probably would, have been encountered
by any Western army and navy in conflict
with her. at least to some degree Military
and ma val methods under dispute at the West
as 10 which q large part OF professional OPINION
was In grave doubt. even II II was not abso-
lutely prejudiced against them. were adopted
and carried out TO their fullest efficiency ny
Japan without question. That country, only
now on the threshold of civilization, has no
traditions on the subject to overcome. VIII
us all military tradition is. or at least was,
against them or sceptical of them.
The consequence Is that the willingness to
fight Is disappearing from our Western
civilization. The Japanese war has reduced
all war to something like an ebsurdity in the
heart Of the Western soldier-ha turned ns
all against it. The glory of war has de parted
The battleship has become machine under
the practical command Of the engineer
Fighting on land is a matter of cold science.
as prosaio as the digging OF our subways.
Generals headquarters are now the centre OF
telephone and Geographic systems like the
headquarters Of a railroad. and he has become
q man of affairs. like the superinte ndent Of
great business enterprise employing many
thousands Of men engaged in many depart
ments OF related activities.
That is. the pomp and circumstance OF war
are gone. and they will never be- restored. The
great battles In which civilization now en-
cages are peaceful struggles to conquer nat
ural obstacles by mocha meal and scientific
means and push forward commerce and in
dustry. Peace has become tho watchword OF
civilization. The Hague Tribunal expresses
modern enlightenment
VETERAN OF WAR.
NEW YORK Oct %