The Next European War.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6911, 24 February 1894, Page 4

The Next European War.

WAR TO THE DEATH— NO MERCY,

The Berlin correspondent of the New York Her&ld writes t — The Kaiser, I bear, following a report of Count York von Wartenburg, Military Attache at St. Petersburg, has just read the recently published book by the Colonel of the Russian Staff (Baikow), the intimate friend of General Gourko, upon the war of the future. The official Militair Wochenblatt takes up the criticism of the work. It shows what we may expect with the next war with Russia. Baikow professes himself a partisan of not only crushing the opposing army and all appertaining to it, but also all the resources of an adversary's country. He advocates radical destruction, without pity, so as to exercise upon the inhabitants a material and moral pressure. Destruction of every means of communication, of victuals, etc., appears to him the dominating aim of action. Baikow details the forces which menace 'khe enemy. In the districts of Kiev, Wilna, and Warsaw there are already thirteen and a half divisions of cavalry ready to march at a couple of days' notice. Besides there is the frontier watch, divided into eighteen brigades, which can form eighteen regiments of frontier cavalry. These know the adjoining country right well, its configuration and its population. They would form tKe front guard of the first attack. Baikow admits that his theory of making war would cause vivid protests from the humanitarian point of view, from that of international right, etc. But he is of opinion that no attention should be paid to such protests. He wishes war to the knife without quarter. One can understand that this book, published by an officer in the active Russian service gives food for reflection to the Kaiser and his officers. The press are already drawing attention to Baikow's work. It will be a useful weapon in the hands of the Government.