The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-04-16 00:00:00

BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.

At the Royal United Service Instituticn, London,
a paper was read the other day by Captain Ross of
Bladensburg, entitled "Belligerent Rights, and What
Is Lawful in War Time." Lord Thring presided and
there was a numerous attendance. Having premised
that the question was one for the jurist rather than
the soldier, Captain Ross proceeded to divide his con-
siderations on the manner of making war into two
branches -namely, (1) the causes of war and the pre-
liminaries to acts of hostility; and (2) the actions of
those to whom the conduct of warlike operation's
might be entrusted. With the exception of the Con-
vention of Geneva and the Declaration of St. Peters-
burg, there was no written law or compact regulating
war on land, but there were many unwritten customs
of authority, which had been set forth by many
eminent jurists in works on the law of nations, Lord
Thring among the number. The general principles
upon which war is regulated would allow belligerents
to use all necessary means short of treachery to subdue
their enemies, but only under the authority of the
State, and not for their own individual gain. All acts
of perfidy or treachery should be repugnant to hon-
ourable men, and should be regarded as unjustifiable.
Captain Ross amplified these points at some length,
dealing with quarter, reprisals, respect for private
property, bombardments, stratagems, and intercourse
between belligerents. In conclusion, he expressed the
opinion that international disputes ought not to be
referred to the decision of neutrals, as being inconsis-
tent with the liberty and dignity of independent
nations. In order to ensure that wars should not be
undertaken without just cause the verdict of an inde-
pendent national Council might be sought with ad-
vantage. In the discussion which ensued the Earl of
Denbigh, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Captain Colomb,
R.N., Ceptain Henderson, R.N., Colonel Bayliss,
Colonel Lonsdale Hale, and others took part.
Sir Beauchamp Walker characterised the paper
as one of the most yaluable that had ever
been read in that institution. With regard
to requisitioning he mentioned that during the
Franco-Prussian war he suggested to the Crown
Prince of Prussia :he advantage of paying for sup-
plies, enforcing his remarks by relating his own ex-
periences in China. Subsequently, while dining with
the victors at Versailles, Count von Moltke said to
him, "You will be pleaseeco hear that your conversa-
tion with the Crown Prince has borne fruit already ; "
and King William added, "I hear you have been
talking to my son about requisitions; well, everything
is going to be paid for in future." Lord Thring, in
closing the discussion, said it was imposeible to codify
or define the laws of war, and their infraction
scarcely admitted of human punishment. Those who
had the conduct of warfare must be guided mainly by
conscience, and act te the beat of their individual
judgment: but they would hope that their generals
would have as much consideration and humanity as
was consistent with the safety of their armies and the
success of their cause.