The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-17 00:00:00

THE GENEVA CONVENTION DOOMED.

"Th. lut sortie brotiailt with it an increase of the °diem
which has fallen on the Geneva Convention by breaches of its
rules and Minus of its privilegea. I am bound to say that
the belligerents recriminate strongly, and as I am with the
German armies! only hear one side, but on that aide there is
mottled determination to make a sweeping change in the
whole system. lam obliged to bear, then, that when the
attack on the poets near L'ilay and Chevilly on the 19th of
November had been made, ambulances were sent out on both
aides to pick up the wounded. A German waggon we, thus
employed in undiscriminating charity, relieving French and
German" alike. The ninon., and men in charge of the party
observed • large white flag with a red cross, the Geneva Con-
vention standard, flying outside an earthwork, one of the
redoubt angles of Vill-julf, where the French had planted It.
They avroached, gleaning as they went after the death
harveaa Suddenly the fort opened on them, and the
French lining the puspets poured musketry fire upon
them, and obliged the whole ambulance to fly, not
without causing loss. Again, there can be no doubt that
the French took all the Bavarian and Prussian sick and
wounded In the hospitals of Orleans, and treated them as
prisoners of war. Among these was the son of General Von
Golub, of the Ober Ittappu Commando Mahe Prince Royal's
Army at Corbell—a most courteous, amiable gentleman and
excellent officer, who has been exceedingly kind to all
Riffilleh who needed usistance at his hands. The young
officer In question is in the filth Regiment of Infantry, and
he was dangerously 111 of fever and could not be moved
when Von der Tenn evacuated the place He was, never.
theleas, treated as if he were taken in the field, and has been
sent to the Isle of Gleron, or to Pan, apparently; but hie
father, who le natfirally in great diatreas about the lad,
cannot obtain any precise information of the locality.
Perhaps some of your reader. in France might relieve
I his anxiety. The French, on the other hand, allege
breaches and abuses of the Convention against the
Germans, and I must any that once I, and more than
I, saw what was, under the circumstances, a suspicious
ofsplay of the Red Cross on their side. The temptations to
stratagem are sometimes too strong for honour. The French
cannot understand why Krankentrivere sheuld carry arms,
and declare they have seen office,, reconnoitring with the
badge on their arma, and at n particular instance or the
early disregard of the rules of the Convention they
aver that all the French sick in the Palace hospital
at Versailles were made prisoners and sent to
Germany, although some of them were actually in
hospital before the war broke out, This is a thorny path I
am treading ; but I give due warning to all concerned,
the Convention at it now stands 4 doomed. Pity that it
should be so, for under its flag has been fought and won many
a glorious battle, in which victory has brought no tear save
that of grslfilliade to human eyes. Sometimes the necessities
of war are beyond all the ruler. But what have charity and
10,e i 0 do lan benne, =dor, end sudden duet Al