Tag Archives: wars

History’s Oddest Military Recruitment Tricks: Strange Tactics Armies Have Actually Used

War has never appealed to me. Serving your country is one thing; being dragged into someone else’s political grudge match is another. I’ve never understood the romance of dying for a slogan, a flag, or whichever ideology happens to be fashionable that decade. But here’s the thing: military leaders have always known that enthusiasm for… Read More »

1898: Guam’s Surrender – A Tale of Miscommunication and Unfired Salutes

In the Spanish-American War of 1898, Guam fell into US hands without any resistance. The island was such a neglected and isolated Spanish colonial outpost that the local governor was oblivious to the war’s commencement. As US ship arrived and began firing poorly aimed shots at the decrepit Spanish fort, the inhabitants mistook it for… Read More »

Great Emu War

During the Great Emu War in Australia in 1932, the Australian military used machine guns to fight against an army of emus. Despite the use of heavy artillery, the emus proved too elusive and only a small number were killed, leading to the military’s defeat in the so-called “war”. Source