p. 12 | Wars and Rumors of Wars

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1911

Wars and Rumors of Wars

UNDER this heading the Washington Post of June 13 summarizes the warlike activities and threatenings which are reported from different parts of the world at the present time. It mentions as centers of disturbances of this nature, Lower California, Central America, Venezuela, Chili, Peru, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Turkey. It also mentions the fact that China is considering the question of sending a war-ship to Mexico to collect ten million dollars indemnity from that country as a reparation for the outrages committed by Mexicans upon Chinese, particularly in the city of Torreon. It might have mentioned, also, that a revolution is in progress in the little republic of Haiti. In addition to this, and of far greater consequence, might have been noted the unprecedented naval and military activities in the larger nations of the world, which are at present at peace with one another; the continual struggle between Germany and England in the matter of the construction of the most powerful warships; the recent decision of Japan to begin at once the construction of five new battle-ships of a greater tonnage than any now afloat; the reorganization and training, under foreign officers, of the Chinese army; and the boy-scout movement in Great Britain and the United States, the purpose of which is to infuse the military spirit into the youth of these countries and prepare them for war when the time shall come to strike. These conditions do not make for peace and safety; they are forebodings of a grim and terrible struggle, which this world is soon to experience; and the very headings which these secular papers use in calling attention to such affairs are themselves a warning to the people of what these things mean, and of what is to follow the culmination of these activities.