The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-30
LITTLE WARS.
some Forgotten Campaigns Tho
War of Day.

some Forgotten Campaigns Tho
War of Day.
From the Hand Glass.
A one days war! There is a pleas
ant sound about II when one recalls
wars which have fingered on for years.
Yet this almost record short war en-
braced two battles. 1t was in 1913 that
the Mahrattas imperied the peace OF
our great Eastern possessions, and
more especially the Punjah. by main
tanning. despite all protest. standing
army of $4,000 men, backed up by nu-
merous cannon which had been equip
ped in their own foundries and arse
nails. When hostilities did open, how
ever, II was scarcely anticipated that
the Mahrattas would face our troops
in battle, but right CALAMITY did they
confront the two British divisions con-
verging on them and the two battles
may be said TO have lasted between the
rising and setting OF the sun. the NAH
rattas in the end being routed with
great loss. A curious feature OF one
OF these fights. which had opened I'M
expectedly, was the presence of ladies
mounted on elephants. and they had
to be hurried TO the rear amid tho
whistllng of bullets.
A singular struggle earlier In the
century was that between the Belgians
and the Dutch. which, so far as the
former were concerned, was really a
war of independence. For long their
conduct had been exemplary. despite
the harsh treatment melted out to them
by their masters the Dutch. but at last
there were eloquent signs of restless
ness. Surely never did war have
a more dramatic Introduction. The
celebration of the Dutch Kings birth
day had come round, and the Brussels
people awoke one morning TO find the
town placarded over with haring red
bills, which read Monday, Fire
works; Tuesday, IlluminationS; We'd
nesday, Revolution" Wednesday
came. and a tense thrill of expectation
swept through Brussels; but the hours
quietly slipped past, and brought moth
ing uncommon. In the evening. how
ever people fiocked TO the grand the
alter TO witness a patriotic play which
the police had almost forbidden to be
played. and the great building was
packed with "a seething mass OF hui
manity.
The applause was very frequent, and
almost frantic in its intensity, and
long before the play finished large
section OF the audience could no long,
er contain their FEELINGS, but marched
out into the street. being added to by
the crowds outside. Brushing aside
the police. they visited the residences OF
everyone known TO be of Dutch SYM
pathies, and played sad havoc with
their property. Next day Brussels was
in open revolt, and Notifications were
hastily thrown up IN the principal
streets In preparation for the inevita-
bic coming OF the Dutch army. When
the latter did enter the town their
welcome left much to be desired. From
nearly every window firearms, stones,
quiclklime boiling water, and even arr
ticles OF furniture were discharged on
them, while from the security OF lofty
roofs sharpshooters picked Off man aft
err man. What all these little atten-
lions failed 70 do the forces behind
the barbados did. and again and
again had the Dutch 10 retire precip-
itately. For the greater part Of
week street fighting Of the most san
culinary nature prevailed, varied by an
occasional bombardment. but the un-
trained Belgians we're holding on 90
grimly to the positions throughout II
all that the Dutch withdrew banned.
and the singular struggle came to q
triumphant end for the defenders.