[Points: There has been fighting at all times—wars in the past and at the present time—change in methods and tactics—older wars were tests of personal heroism, but modern wars are tests of material resources and scientific knowledge—butchery in the worst form remedy.]
It is said that man is a fighting animal. This is why there have been so frequent fights between man and man from the earliest times fights between individuals, tribes, races and nations. In fact, the political history of mankind consists mostly of accounts of these conflicts and wars.
At first wars were fought with bows and arrows, swords and spears and horses. Then came guns and cannons, and motor vehicles to carry them and the soldiers. Now we have aeroplanes to drop bombs for quick results. It will be seen that changes in method have made wars more and more horrible. At first they were tests of personal heroism and physical power. But they have now become tests of material resources and the power of applying science to wholesale destruction. When armies fought with bows and arrows, and swords and spears, there was a spirit of chivalry in them. But victory in modern wars depends on the cowardly act of striking the enemy unawares and unprepared. Moreover, as they are total wars, no distinction is made between civil and military populations. So no scruple is felt in bombing even whole cities out of existence by sudden attacks, as in the last World War. In fact, development of nuclear weapons threatens to wipe out civilisation altogether.
The horrors of a modern war continue even after pence has been concluded. Bombs infect the survivors with poisons of various incurable diseases. We still see these horrors in Japan so many years after the first atom bombs were dropped there. The economic life also of the countries concerned is shattered by wholesale destruction, and the miseries of the people know no bounds. Indeed the situation in Europe was so critical after the last war that the U.S.A. had to come forward with generous helps for the reconstruction of even enemy countries.
Another dangerous feature of a modern war is that it does not remain confined to a few countries. Almost every country is compelled by force of circumstances to take sides, so that the war soon turns into global war.
Unless, therefore, wars are banned, human civilisation is doomed to utter ruin. The United Nations Organisation has been formed with this object in view. And it is the duty of every country to strengthen it and help it in settling all international disputes in a peaceful way.
