CHAP. xix. THE CURSE OF CIVILIZATION. 335 



machinery; while the torpedo-boats and torpedo-de- 

 stroyers are adapted for purposes quite different from 

 those of the smaller vessels of our old fleets. Some of 

 our modern first-class armored turret-ships cost a million 

 sterling; and yet, as in the case of the Vanguard off 

 Kingstown in 1875, and more recently the Victoria in 

 the Mediterranean, they may be sent to the bottom by a 

 chance collision with a companion ship. The huge 110- 

 ton guns cost 20,000 each, and the more common 67- 

 ton gun costs 14,000. All the modern guns, as well as 

 their projectiles, are elaborate pieces of machinery, fin- 

 ished with the greatest perfection and beauty; and it 

 makes any thoughtful person sad to see such skill and 

 labor, and so much of the results of modern science, de- 

 voted to purposes of pure destruction. The six Great 

 Powers of Europe now possess about 300 battleships and 

 cruisers, from 2000 up to near 15, 000 tons' displacement, 

 and nearly 2000 smaller vessels, which are able to de- 

 stroy life and property to an extent probably fifty-fold 

 greater than the fleets of the first half of the century. 



But even this vast cost and loss to modern civilization 

 is surpassed by that of the armies of Europe. The num- 

 bers of men have greatly increased; their weapons and 

 equipments are more costly; and the reserve forces to be 

 drawn upon in time of war include almost the whole 

 male adult populations, for whom reserves of arms, am- 

 munition, and all military supplies must be kept ready. 

 Counting only the armies of the six Great Powers on a 

 peace footing, they amount now to nearly three millions 

 of men ; and if we add the men permanently attached to 

 the several fleets, we shall have considerably more than 

 three millions of men in the prime of life withdrawn 



