HOW WARS FINISH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 195, 28 July 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW WARS FINISH.

ABRUPT AND SURPRISING ENDINGS. Perhaps no war of modern or any t'nw* has been the subject of such a spate of prophecy regarding its duration as the present one. Most of the predictions have already boon 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 givat war which did not at some tune, long prior to the nctual finish, exhibit signs of collapse. I lie sharpest of all nineteenth century conflicts, the Franco-German \\ T ar of 1870. was only six weeks old when the staggering tragedy of Sedan happened, removing in one fell blow from the scene of activities the two finest marshals in France, her Emporor, and the entire Army of the North. Many experts committed themselves at the time to the view that this disaster must provo quickly fatal. It did not. as we know: hut when the great French Army of the Rhine fell into German hands e'glit weeks later it seemed the certain herald of r.u impending end to hostilit : es. Vet the war dragged or. more or loss fiercely lor three months longer. Its demise was due to no lack of fighting will and courage, but to a sheer attrition of French fighting men. Tlk> same might be said of th e terrible four years' struggle between the Confederate and Federal States of America, only there the vanquished side had defeat forced down its throat bv a fatal paralysis produced .<y a complete Federal predomination on the sea. Many notable wars_ however, have collapsed dramatically'in the heyday of their youth. The Servo-Bulgarian struggle of 188-5 had just reached an exceedingly interesting stage, though the Bulgars looked certain winners when it was abruptly snuffed out by what seemed uncommonly like diplomatic interference. THE RUSSO-TI"RKISH SURPRISE. A war which saw armchair experts badly at sea was that between Russ : ans and Turks foitv years r.go. The first shot was fired in the spring of 1877, and right away the Russians won victory after victory, and if ever an opponent seemed absolutely squashed it was the Turks just then. But neither the military experts nor the Russians had reckoned with the magnificent defence fated to be set up at Plevna. For nine months the latter tried every means in their power to lower its flag, and only succeeded after sustain : ng 80,000 casualties, and even then Osman Pasha nearly cheated them of the mam prize by making a prom's,ing attempt to cut his wav out.

When war broke out between Japan and China in tho year 1894 most peopio anticipated a long, ding-dong struggle, but one sledge-hammer blow from the former removed all semblance of a contest iind tho war fizzled out ingloriously. Then, ten years later, when the victorious side faced the Russians, the general feeling ; n this country seemed to lie that Russia would either quickly confound hor p-gmy rival or th.e war would be very protracted. It proved to be one which amply fulfilled all the horrors expected of it-, but the end camo snon, and it came abruptly. The unrest of Russian people at home, al-I'-'d t;> tho growing desperate position of the main Russian Army, which only tho craft of a Kuropatkin kept from being surrounded, proved : rresistible factors towards accepting peace and -wallowing defeat. The .Taps were reasonable, even gonerous, victors, and exacted no indemnity. SHORT AXD SHARP. What promised to be a mighty duel ;• nd one that might easily endure fo' yei'.r or two was that between Austria and P/'ussia in 1*6(3. Armies totalling a million strong, and faultlessly viuipp.'d, as Germanic arnres usuallv are, took the field But within six weeks from the declaration of wai •!•;(;,0(10 lighting men met face to face one day and decided not merely a battle but the whole campaign—one of tho fWcest fights of the century resulting in an overwhelming Prussian victory.

Another European war which belie-.i it- proniiVe was when Serbia, aided bj Russia, threw down the gauntlet it Turkey in l s 7(), and a great surprise wrs Hi store for the prophets. The struggle opened on the first day of ■I uly. and an the last day of the following October the Turks, heavily reinforced, stormed the Russo-Serbiaii camp, and the campaign came to :> granhic end.

The ability of a country to sustain war for an indefinite period was given signal exemplification by France at the beginning of last century. From 1802 to 181.) her armies practically unaided, wrestled almost incessantly with as many as six foes at a time. Vet their la.-t ossav se.enied more than once lik.v lv to end in victory.