The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-02
reat Battles Of a Century, Beginning With Waterloo

Lucknow and Cawnpur are but syno-
nyms of two of the bloodiest struggles
in military history. England had no
sooner crushed the Indian mutiny than
she found herself at war with China.
The struggle lasted for nearly two
years and ended in the capture of the
Peiho forts and Picking. About this
time, also, the Italian struggle for in
dependence began. The king of Sar-
dinia came forward as the champion of
Italian liberation from the yoke OF
Austria. He was unsuccessful, but his
son, Victor Emmanuel H., had the same
ambition, and, with Cavour for his adj
wiser, he renewed the attempt. He sue
ceeded in enlisting the powerful aid of
France, and after a series of battles
which terminated with the fierce strug-
gle at Solferino he accomplished his
design.
Until 1860 all regular naval battles
had been fought in wooden ships. The
battle of Hampton Roads, March 9.
1862, was the first serious encounter
between ironcIad ships of war. 1t is
true that France had four small gun
boats in the Crimean war with armor
plating, but the American civil war
marked the actual beginning of the
ironclad type. The famous meeting OF
the armor plated Merrimac with Cap
tain John Ericsson's Monitor was a
1868 is memorable for two of the most
remarkable battles in the annals of mil
itary science-the fight at Gettysburg
and the siege and fall of Vicksburg-
one restoring Union prestige in the
east and the other resulting in similar
effect at the west. These two events
were certainly among the most conspic-
uous military operations of the century.
At the close of the American civil war
the scene of military activity shift
ed to Germany. Prussia and Austria
could find no surer way to settle their
numerous differences than by a resort
to arms. A dozen great battles, begin
ming at Liebenau and ending at Sado-
wa, proclaimed Prussia victor and re-
suited in the present German empire.
Four years later the humiliating defeat
of the French army at Sedan strength
ened the new German confederacy and
made France republic. In 1877 the
old Turco- Russian quarrel broke out
afresh, Russia assuming her customary
role of champion of the oppressed peo-
pies in Turkish territory. 1t was a
mighty struggle between the bashiba-
zouks and the Don Cossa cks, and the
fall of Plevna brought the sultan to
terms. Stimulated by his success, the
Muscovite since then has never ceased
to be aggressive, although his energies
have been centered upon his dream of
Asian expansion. For years he has
fought his way to the east Asian lit
toraI, and the savage peoples of the
Kirghiz steppes and the Turcoman
plains have first opposed. then yielded.
Great Britain, too, has pursued similar
tactics in Africa, and the fall of Khar-
tum and the humiliation of the Boer
republics were accomplished at fear
full cost of life and treasure.
When the smoke of the conflict which
is raging in the far east shall be lifted
and the mystery and uncertainty shall
have passed it may be seen that few
battles since Waterloo have been better
entitled to place in military annals
than the battle of Liaoyang and the
wonderful siege of Port Arthur.
ARTHUR TENNANT.