The Land Ironclads by H. G. Wells. Short summary

5 seconds

In a battle between two armies, the one that used war machines — the land armored men — wins, deciding the outcome of the battle. And all because the military underestimated science and civilization.

1 minute

A war correspondent and a young lieutenant argue about the battle between the two armies. They wonder why one army wins and the other loses. One army has the best soldiers on its side. They know how to hold arms and fight. And their enemies are an army of ordinary townspeople.

Both the correspondent and the lieutenant are convinced that although their adversaries—clerks, students, and workers—know how to create the goods of civilization, they will lose to those who fight better. Civilization and its science are nothing compared to combat-ready troops.

But it turns out that an army of civilized men, served by the best engineers, prevailed. Her scientists developed special war machines—land armored vehicles. Thirteen machines defeated the militant army, and the opponents managed to disable only one.

Thus, people who liked coffee and cookies were able to defeat those who liked to shoot. And all because the latter underestimated science and civilization.