WAR AS REGARDED BY VON MOLTKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 177, 27 July 1881, Page 1

WAR AS REGARDED BY VON MOLTKE.

i "Perpetual peace; is -,a delusion, a idreara, and not even a good one at jthat. . War is an element of the order ,of things, ordained by : Providence. |The noblest virtues, of men are develjoped during, its continuance-— courage land resignation j the truest performance jof duty arid the spir^bf imtnolation. jThe soldier sacrifices hislife. Without war the world would be attacked by putrefaction, and would lose itself in materialism. I fully endorse the proposition mentioned, that the gradual amelioration of manners and morals must be shown by the mode and' manner in which a war is carried on. But I go still .further, and believe that the instigation of morals is capable of leading us towards gaining an object jwhich cannot be attained by the aid of la., codifipial edition of military law. i Every law presumes an authority to : watch over arid guide it in its execution,, and it is this very authority which lis wanting in regard to enforcing [obedience to international corap' its. iWe are "■ forced to admit that hunian ; progress, as far as the mode and .paan-' I nor of carrying on war is concerned, ; has in truth followed the general amelioration of' morals. ' An (important step in thishrespect has. been made during ' our days by introducing and rjeqj|iringV ! military service, so tbafe the educated I classes were compelled to enter the larmy. The more uncouth and, unbridleli elements ,are. yet ; as. formerly a component part thereof ; but they are not any more, as in the past,: i alone* Besides thisy g6yernmeri,tß | possess : two, great and iinpor^nt remedies to prevent the worst exces3y, viz., strict discipline, to which the ; soldier has become accustomed during times of peace, and the great care of '■ the army administration, which vides for the maintenance of the troops while they are in the field. The most important and beneficial fact in war; is its quick termination j and in view of this, fact the use of all means must be permitted, with the exception of those which must be positively condemned. Under no consideration can I endorse the declaration of St. Petersburg, that | * to cripple the military resource of the enemy' is. the only justifiable way of carrying on a war. No, sir, the attack must be made on all the resources of the enemy — upon his finances and railroads, upon all his stores, .provisions—yes, and even upon his prestige. With such energy but with more moderation ; than ever before, was the late war against France conducted. The fate of ; that campaign was already decided two months after its commencement, and the conflicts and battles only assumed a bitter character when a revolutionary government, to the great detriment of France, prolonged the war for many months thereafter."