Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-27
STARTING A WAR.
Tiny Sparks Have Often Kindled
Monster ConflagrationS.

merouS examples OF conflicts that
have originated through trifing causes,
says the London Globe. For instance,
Turkey in the past suffered greatly in
a war with Venice. When the Vene-
tan ambassador was asked by the
Turkish grand vizier to ratify a treaty
by swearing in the Mosiem fashion
upon his beard and the beard Of the |
prophet he declined because, as he |
said. the Venetians wear no boards"
This remark was too much for the |
Turk. who retorted angrily, Nor do |
monkeys" an exclamation which caus- |
ed the other to tear up the treaty and |
retire from the conference. The Sc
Quel was a sanguinary conflict in
which fell 10000 Christians and four
times that number of Turks.
But the Turks were not the only
ones to use blows instead of argu-
ments on the slightest provocation.
The emperors of China have ever been
famous in this direction. the record
instance being a war $50 years ago
which began through the smashing of
a teapot. This Indispensable house
hold article was looked upon by its
owner. a high dignitary Of the court.
as a priceless treasure. and conse-
quently it accompanied the great man
| on his journeys.
1t so happened that when he was
| travelling through the lawless prov
inces in the northwest Of China some
| OF his retinue were intercepted by a
Nf r-ha ha
among the baggage and Indignantly
| flung it to the ground and broke 1t.
| The matter was reported to the en-
peror. who was so indignant at his IA
| vorite's loss that he sent out punt
| tive force. and long war began which
resulted in the death Of 100000 men.
A conflict over a teapot, even a valu-
able one. seems almost out or the
range of possibility until one recalls
| that n bucket was once the innocent
cause OF terrible war. Nine hundred
years ago a party Of soldiers Of No
dena stole a bucket. apparently as a
practical Joke. from a public well In
Bologna and refused TO restore 1t.
Fights thereupon took place between
the soldiers of the rival states and
started n war which devastated
large part of Europe.
The cash value of that bucket was
only few shillings, but wars have
often been waged concerning things
that represented little from none
tary point Of view. An excellent illus
tration is afforded by Algeria, which
came into the possession of France
through a disagreement over a petty
debt The hey of Algiers demanded
immediate payment through the
French consul, who asked for time to
pay and in reply was beaten and
thrown into prison.
A couple Of days later a conflict was
begun that continued for twenty years,
during which time more than 100000
was surely unnecessary for so paltry
q cause. and the same remark is equal
Iy applicable to other wars.
In 1879 the Transvaal was declared
) q crown colony. and the salaries of
: officials. both Dutch and British. were
: cut down. Among the number so
treated was a certain Paul Kruger,
: whose salary was reduced by ESQ per
annum. The loss of the money an
r noyed the Dutchman, who raised the
standard of revolt. AS a consequence
2 there followed the Majuba Hill fight,
! years of agitation. the Jameson raid
{ and finally the great war which cost
= Britain 1920. 100000 and the lives OF
|. $4,000 of her sons.
I But the most curious war evel
2 waged over little matter occurred In
I the sixteenth century. Ii was carried
on single handed for about six years
6 between a bankrupt grocer of Berlin
mediate cause of the quarrel was the
. arresting of two of the tradesmen's
horses in the electors territory. hi
being a subject of the elector Of Bran
. denburg.
Failing to get redress. he adopted
what was then a perfectly legal expe
dent and declared formal war on the
realm of Saxony. The declaration wal
accepted in due form. and the war be
gan. The grocer burned farms anC
4 even villages. employed mercenarie'
after the fashion of the times anC
J. made himself the terror Of the district
It he finally was Influenced TO stoI
u nostilities by Luther. but was betray
t ed into a further act OF hostility b!
t rreachery and, being captured, sui
h Tered death on the wheel.