The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-01-18
STARTING A WAR.
Tiny Sparks Have Often Kindled
Monster Conflagrations.
CONFLICTS BORN OF TRIPLES

and the Great Boer Uprising.
The history Of warfare contains nu-
merous examples of conflicts that
have originated through trifiing causes.
says the London Globe For instance.
Turkey in the past suffered greatly IL
u war with Venice When the Vene
tian ambassador was asked by the
Turkish grand vizier to ratify treaty
by swearing in the Moslem fashion
upon his beard and the beard of the
prophet he declined because, as he
said. 1.-The venetians wear no boards
This remark was roo much for the
Turk. who retorted angrily. Nor do
monkeysr' an exclamation which caus
ed the other to tear UP the treaty and
retire from the conference The Sc
quel was sansuinary conflict in
which fell 10000 Christians and four
times that number of Turks
But the Turks We're not the only
ones to use blows instead of argu
ments on the slightest provocation
The empercrs Of China have ever been
famous in this direction. the record
instance being 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 priceless treasure. and conse-
Quently 1t 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 Il
band of robbers. who found the teapot
among the baggage and Indignantly
flung it to the ground and broke it
The matter was reported to the EN-
peror. who was so indignant at his fl
| vorites loss that he sent ont puisi
| tive force. and long war began which
! resulted in the death Of 100000 men
| A conflict over a teapot. even valu
/ able one. seems almost out Of the
/ range Of possibility until one recalls
that a bucket was once the innacen
| cause Of terrible war Nine hundred
years ago party of soldiers OF Mo
dena stole bucket. apparently IS !
practical joke. from public well il
Bologna and refused to restore il
Fights thereupon took place between
the soldiers of the rival states nns
started a war which devastated
large part of Europe.
The cash value of that bucket VA
only a few shilings. but wars hay
often been waged concerning thih:.
| that represented little from mon:
tary peint of view. An excellent iil'l'
tration Is afforded by Algeria. whit'
came into the possession Of Franc
through a disagreement over Il pe't
debt The bey of Algiers demante
immediate payment through T.
French consul. who asked for time
pay and in reply was beaten an
thrown into prison.
A couple Of days later conflict VT
begun that continued for twenty year
during which time more than $1,000
lives were sacrificed. Such Il cala:ci;
was surely unnecessary for so palts
cause. and the same remark is eqn;'
ly applicable to other wars.
In 1879 the Transvaal was declare
crown colony. and the salaries !
, officials. both Dutch and British. we
. cut down. Among the number
/. treated was certain Paul kruge
: whose salary was reduced by ESQ p
annum. The loss of the money a
noyed the Dutchman. who raised Il
standard Of revolt. As consequent
there followed the Majuba Hill tigl
!. years of agitation. the Jameson ia
;, and finally the great war which CO
Britain f22O, ,OOO.O 600 and the lives
: o5.OOO of her sons
But the most curious war ev
waged over a little matter occurred
the sixteenth century. 1t was CARR
on single handed for about six ye:
between a bankrupt grocer of Ber
and the elector Of Saxony. The l
4 mediate cause of the quarrel was
8 arresting Of two Of the tradesme1
( horses in the electors territory.
: being a subject of the elector Of Brs
i denburg.
: Failing to get redress. he adopt
Z what was then perfectly legal ex
: dent and declared formal war on
Z realm of Saxony. The declaration v
+ accepted In due form. and the war
Z gan. The grocer burned farms q
+ even villages. employed mercenar
z after the fashion Of the times q
! made himself the terror of the disfr'
? He finally was influenced to g
hostili,ies by Luther. but was betr
ed into n further act of hostility
e. treachery and. being captured.
IL fered death ON the wheel