4o8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



The making of warfare an applied science by the western nations 

 and by one eastern nation has tended also to prevent war between na- 

 tions so equipped. When war is a game of skill rather than of chance, 

 it is likely to be undertaken only after careful consideration of the con- 

 ditions and consequences. The cost is enormous and must be carefully 

 weighed. The interests of the money lenders are usually on the side of 

 peace and become increasingly so as war continues. If war does occur 

 between two great nations it is likely to be of short duration. It can 

 not drag on through tens of years as formerly. Its horrors are also re- 

 duced; non-combatants are not so much concerned, and soldiers suffer 

 less from disease — far more dreadful than violence — owing to the 

 shorter duration of wars and to hygiene, medicine and surgery. It may 

 be hoped that science has accomplished, on the whole, more for defense 

 than for aggression; torpedoes, mines, submarines and aeroplanes are 

 more effective for protection than for attack. The cost of modern 

 armam.ents is so immense that this in itself will lead to their limitation 

 and to the settlement of difficulties otherwise than by appeal to arms. 



There is a psychological aspect of modern scientific warfare, which 

 tends to discredit it. The heroism and the bravery, the excitement of 

 personal contact and the exhibition of personal prowess, the romance 

 and the occasional chivalry, are largely gone. Men cooped up in battle- 

 ships or displayed like pawns on the field are not much greater heroes 

 to themselves or to others than workers in a mine exposed to nearly 

 equal danger. Officers under constant instructions from the seat of 

 government and telegraphing their orders from a point of safety fall to 

 the level of ordinary men of affairs. Tin soldiers will not forever stir 

 the imagination of children in the nursery. Providence is on the side 

 favored by the money lenders and having the best organized commis- 

 sariat. War becomes brutal and disgusting; at its best like the busi- 

 ness of the hangman, at its worst like infanticide. 



War, wine and women as a toy have been so continuously exploited 



by poetry and art, that a philosopher might well propose to banish such 



incitements to misconduct from his republic. It is obvious that these 



things, bred into our blood through long ages when they were useful or 



at all events natural, stir the emotions and the passions in a way that 



can not be expected from considerations regarding peace, sobriety and 



the care of infants. Even religion is primarily racial in its expression. 



The churches of a nation may on the first day of every month repeat 



the prayer: 



Up Lord, and help me O my God; for thou smitest all mine enemies on the 

 cheek-bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 



Its people may unite in the anthem: 



O Lord our God arise, 

 Scatter our enemies, 

 And make them fall; 



