Maybe there's an experienced sergeant. He guides the younger soldiers and has seen many battles. There could also be a civilian woman who is affected by the war, perhaps her family has been torn apart by it. So, these three types of characters - the young soldier, the sergeant, and the civilian woman - might be the main characters in 'the war short story'.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read this exact 'Spoils of War' short story. But generally, in a story about the spoils of war, there could be soldiers who are either taking or protecting the spoils. There might also be civilians affected by the spoils.
Since it's 'Girls at War', we might expect to see characters like a brave and headstrong girl who takes the lead in the fight. There could also be a more timid girl who has to find her courage during the war. And perhaps an older girl who has some knowledge or skills that help the group survive.
In a 'A Council of War' short story, the main characters could include a strong - willed military leader who is in charge of the overall operation. There may be a wise old advisor who has seen many battles and offers his sage advice during the council. Also, there could be a young and ambitious officer who presents new and untested ideas. There might be a diplomat who tries to balance the military needs with political implications. And perhaps a spy who brings in crucial information about the enemy and whose identity and motives are somewhat mysterious within the context of the council.
As I haven't read it, I can't say for sure. But likely there would be the dominant baboons in each group involved in the war.
Since I'm not familiar with the 'the war chest short story', it's hard to say for sure. However, if the story is about a political struggle, the main characters might be politicians or power - hungry individuals vying for control of the war chest. There could also be some side characters like advisors or spies who play important roles in the plot related to the war chest.
Since it's a short story about a water war, the main characters might be representatives of different factions. There could be a young activist who is fighting for the rights of the poor to have access to clean water. There might also be a powerful industrialist who wants to control water sources for his own business gains. And perhaps there is a scientist in the story who is trying to find solutions to the water shortage problem but gets caught in the middle of the warring sides.
There could be a civilian, perhaps a mother or a child. Civilians are also very important characters in such stories as they show the impact of war on non - combatants. They might be struggling to find food, shelter, and safety in the shadow of war.
I'm not sure without reading the story, but it could be the leaders of the war party. They are usually the ones making the decisions and driving the actions in such a context.
Since I haven't had the chance to read the 'War of the Clowns short story', I can only guess. There could be a protagonist clown who is trying to bring peace among the warring clowns. And there might be some antagonist clowns who are causing trouble and fueling the conflict. There could also be some side - character clowns who are caught in the middle of this war.
I'm not sure without reading it, but it could be the war child itself as the main character. Maybe also a family member or a friend who is important to the child.