Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-06

means horrors, and although the meth
DDS that prevailed during the thirty
years war in Germany, for instance,
when cities were burned 10 the ground
and lnnocents massaored, are abolished,
yet war remains what General sher'
man so well designated II 10 be.
The powers that be, In the AsiatIc
conflict now on, are jealousy guarding
all channels by which news might leak
out concerning the doings OF the sol.
dIers They have, perhaps, sufficient
reasons for this, besides the desire OF
preventing the other side from obtain.
ing Information regarding strategic
movements. But London papers are
nevertheless publishing reports OF at
rocties committed by Russian soldiers
now In the field. And they charge even
the higher officers with nagrant viola
lions OF the laws Of morality. Accord
Ing 70 extracts made in the Literary
Digest, II Is charged, for instance, that
one hundred japanese ladies at Port
Arthur, wives and daughters OF respec-
table men, were outraged by Russians
who also stole their property. Other
women are said to have been massa-
cred. At Kanghal Corean town near
the frontier, girls, II is said, have been
found dead after hours Of maltreat-
ment. In other Corean towns, women
OF high social position have been drag
ged from their homes by the troops.
Atrocities are being committed daily"
declares the London News, land, It Is
feared, will preclpitate an immediate
reign OF terror II the powers do not In
terfere."
II Is further charged that the efforts Of
our consular officials to protect refu-
gees have been bafiled by the action OF
the Russian authorities. The London
Standard lays the chief blame upon
the Cossacks, who, II believes, have
now inspired hatred throughout Man
churia by their excesses. THE Co.'S
sack" II remarks, lis a sufficiently use
ful instrument OF government so long
as the only purpose is 10 overawc the
natives: but one OF the weaknesses Of
Admiral Alexief's position Is that his
garrisons are, after all, mere handfuls
OF armed men In the midst Of dense
population. There has not been time.
even II there had been inclination, to
establish relations OF confidence, or
even to get In touch with Manchu So
ciety."
II is 10 be feared these reports are |
but too true, and that half Of the story |
Is no. told, Wars brutalize men. II
used 60 be urged by the war lords as
an evidence In favor OF mlitarism, that
soldier may be as gentle and as good
man as any preacher But anyone
who will investigate the subject thor
oughly VIII find that wars do not pass
over a country without injurlng the
mob instincts Of those Tho take part |
In It, and generally II leaves It's ugly
scars upon nation for generations.
Wars wear of civilization, which Is but
thin veneer IT best, and lays bare
the savagery underneath When the
unnecessary crueties practised by SOL
dlers arc related, one feels tempted
with Tolstoi, to doubt whether there |
Is any civilization. One feels the force
Of h contention that war Is a mon
ster scourge and that everything
leading to war Is 10 be utterly con-
dem. d." This 1Gy be ~olng too far.
as there are wars for the defense OF
home and countr" which must be con-
sidered iustihable, but II the sentiment
il applied to wars OF aggression, II |
must be endorsed.