HOW WARS FINISH.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7752, 22 July 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW WARS FINISH.

ABRUPT AND SURPRISING ENDINGS. Perhaps no Avar of modern or any t me has been the subject of such a spate of prophecy regarding its duration as the present one. Most of the predictions have already bean proved wrong, and the struggle still proceeds apparently as virile as ever. But this confusing of the prophets is no new thing. There has hardly ever been a great Avar which did not at some t.me Wig prior to the actual finish, exhibit signs of collapse. The sharpest of all nineteenth century conflicts, the Franco-German War or 18/0, was only six weeks old when the staggering tragedy of Sedan Imppenned, removing in one fell blow from the scene of activities the two finest marshals in France, her Emperor, and the entire Army of the North. Many experts committed themselves at the time to the vieAv that this disaster must prove quickly fatal. Tt did not, as we know; but when the great French Army of the Rhine fell into German tuwids eight weeks later it seemed the certain herald of an impending end to hostiiit-es Yet the war dragged on inoro or less fiercely for three months . Its demise was due to no lack ot fighting will and courage, but to a sheer attrition of French fighting men. j'* l3 same might be said of th e terrible tour years’ struggle between the Confederate and Federal States of Amerjea, only there the vanquished side had defeat forced down its throat by a fatal paralysis produced uy a complete Federal. predomination on the sea. Many notable wars, however, have collapsed dramatically in the heyday of t.ic.r youth. The Servo-Bulgarian struggle of 1885 had just reached an exceedingly interesting stage, though the Bulgars looked certain winners, when it was abruptly snuffed out by Avhat. seemed uncommonly like diplomatic interference. THE KUSSO-TURKISH SURPRISE. A war Avhich saw armchair experts badly at sea was that between Russians nrnl Turks forty years ago. The first shot was fired in the spring of 1877, and right away the Russians Avon victory after victory, nnd if ever an opponent seemed absolutely squashed it Avn.s the Turks just then. But neither the military experts nor the Russians bad reckoned Avith the magnificent defence fated to he set up at Plevna. For nine months the latter tried every means in their power to lower its flag, md only succeeded after sustain ; ng 80,000 casualties, and eA'cn then Osman Pasha nearly cheated them of the main pi’isw by making a'promising attempt to cut his Avay out. When Avar broke out between Japan and China in the year 1804 most people anticipated a long, ding-dong struggle, hut one sledge-hammer blow from the former removed all semblance of a contest and the war fizzled out ingloriousiy. Then, ten years later, Avhen the victorious side faced the Russians, the general feeling in this country seemed to bo that Russia would either quickly confound her pigmy rival or the Avar would he very protracted. It proved to bo ono which amply, fulfilled all the honors expected of it, but tho end caino soon, and it came abruptly. Tho purest of Russian people at home, alIvd to the growing desperate position of the main Russian Army, which only the craft of a Kuropatkin kept from being surrounded, proved irresistible factors towards accepting peace and i wallowing defeat. The .Taps wore reasonable, even generous, victors, nnd exacted no indemnity. ■SHORT AND SHARP. What promised to be a mighty duel and ono that might- easily endure foe a ye.-,r or two was that between Austria and Prussia in 1866. Armies totalling a million strong, and faultlessly equipped, as Germanic arnres usuallv are. took the field But within six weeks from the declaration of Aval ■150,000 fighting men met face to face ono da.v and decided not merely a battle but the whole campaign —one of the (Vu’cest fights of the century resulting in an OAerwlrelniing Prussian vicAnother European war which belied its promise Avas when Serbia, aided by Russia, threw down the gauntlet 10 Turkey in 1870, and a great surprise wr.s in store for tho prophets. The struggle opened on the first day of July, nnd an the last day of the folio,w■ng He tuber the Turks, heavily reinforced, stormed the Russo-Serbinn. (amp. and tho campaign came to r The ability of a country to sustain war for an indefinite period Avas given signal exemplification by France at the beginning of last century. From 1802 to 1815 her armies practically unaided, wrestled almost incessantly with ns many as six foes at a time. Yet their last essay seemed more than once l:kely to end in victory.