The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1918-01-25
wHrN Will THE WAR FND7


Washington. Jan. I2.-when the
curtain Is rung up on war, not even
the wisest of prophets can say when
or how IL will be rung down. For. of
all lotteries, war is the most uncer-
tain. IL may come 10 an unexpected
conclusion within few weeks or
months, or II may drag is balcful
length over twice as many years
When the conflict between the
States began IN the early part Of
1861 there were thousands both IN
the North and South who confident
ly predicted that the following
Christmas would see the issue decid.
ed and the banners ~ war furlrd
but four Christmas days were to
pass. and the April Of 1865 was 20
come before hostiltics ceased and
peace WAS restored to the land
The war, which had been expected
Go end within few months. had last
ed more than four years. had cost
tens Of thousands of lives and mil
lions Of money.
And so II has been with nearly cv-
cry war that has been wagcd. Meth
CT prophet nor far seeing soldier OF
statesman has been able To forescc
its end.
When South Africa burst into
fame one October day in 1899. the
people Of England expected II to be
a short struggle But il was more
than three years later before the Bocr
delegates set their names to the
treaty which ended the war.
In the Franco Prussian war Of
1870 only six weeks had passed be-
fore the tragedy Of Sedan saw the
downfall Of Napoleon the III. and
the surrender Of the entire army %
the North. The conclusion Of the
fighting seemed certain matter Of a
few weeks. But To the worlds aston
ishment il was not until six months
later that the last shot was fired and
preliminaries or peace were ratified
at Bordeaux.
The Germans had planned 10 re. .
peat their first six weeks success ]" Z
the present war, and but for the gal +.
liant Belgians and the British might I
have done so. They certainly expect /.
ed complete victory over France I.
and Russia within few months /
When Russia and Turkey came 20
blows in the spring of 1877, the
Cars armies marched from victory |
to victory until il seemed certain |
that a few weeks would see the 1
Turks brought to their knees. But |
the cicverest experts had not fore
seen Osman Pasha's gallant defense
Of Plevna. which kept the Turkish
nag flying from July to December
and kept final defeat to bay until an
other year had dawned.
In Japan's war with China, in
1894. a long and bitter struggle was
almost universally expected. But
here. too. Japan COMPOUNDED the
wisdom Of the wise, and by a single
sledgehammer blow knocked all the
fight out Of her opponent.
In 1866. when Austria and Prussia
marshaled million men at the call
of war. there seemed every prospect
Of prolonged and close fighting, for
there was not a pin TO choose be
tween the rival forces But what
promised 10 be mighty duel run
ming into years came TO a dramati'
close within six weeks from the fir
ing Of the first shot, when a single
battle between the rival hosts left
Austria hopelessly crushed and beat
en-.
And 50 il was when Serbia, with
Russia at her back. flung down ~"
gauntlet 10 Turkey in July of 1876.
Here again, long and deadly strug-
gle was generally anticipated. But all
forecasts were falsifed when, on the
last day Of October. the Turks fen
like an avalanche on the enemy AMI
brought the campaign 10 a sudden and
end.
Such is the lottery of war! No
man today. in Washington, in Lon I
don. in Paris, or elsewhere, can say ,
with any degree Of certainty whether