New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-31
EMPLOYMENT OF BARBARIANS II CIVILIZED
WARFARE

The Emperor Napoleon, in making use OF
the TurcOs spahis, and other baraIans OF Northern
Africa in the present against Germany mas raised
a storm Of indignatOniamOng all civilized nations we
have no doubt but that the thoughtful part OF the French
people would Join In the general cutlery against the
brutality and nfay Of this measure, il they only dared
10 give expression TO their feelings The Wrtemberg
Saals Apzeiqer publishes in recent number, an inter
esting little article the subject by Robertson Mohl,
one of the greatest living writers on international law,
OF which we give verbal translation:
We will not dispute the practicabiltv nor even the
necessity OF the employment OF neh barbarian hordes IN
the wars waged by the French Government against tne
other pot subjected barbarian tribes of AMIGA IL may
he that barbarian foe is best forced into submission
through the assistance OF other DaIallahs bu. ,lS
will never Justify the employment Of the African bar
harjans i'm European waged in European country:
The law OF nations is essentially Dosed on l est.g y.
culture and civilization of the contendlng peoples lat
Is the reason why that code has aways chanseI accord
ing TO the greater lesser scale OF Oh te IN
protest against the Of these barbarian Troops De
cause not used TO their mannr OF m me- bahs
warfare may be wild and not auaptea 10 'nd oi
Of disciplined European arinies; Dn. w. in ttseif
condemnabe, inadmissibe ana adyerse 10 te IIeS
Sanctioned by the law of nations But tber az 1ther
r. IA well understood and has been too frequently
nroyen TO be disputed for moment, tlal sush unity
VA hnt e9may horrible atrocities First, their treat
ment of the wounded and captured antagonists IS cruel
heyond description, and it 10 not TO be expected
ny thew will be In any way affected by injuncions
from their officers, matter how energetc nor ny pe
anf
sncb acts of cruelty, while they can never have any
nataral influence on the issue OF an engagement u
don6tedy adduce series OF unnecessary eyil. Beside
.a must not forget that such barbarous ana cruel
balior must necessarily lead 70 retaliation and thus
INFINITELY augment the horrors OF wal 6ut no. "nS
that sich 6arbarians horrible plague ior inc
pbsbiants not under arms, friend as wen as Zoe. Ae,s
10 against non combatants cannot be prevented
in fact there is no security of person or Pfopey ~
snch sayages who do not respect what Is vs AZ 80
Ss n even the warriors OF civilized nations 40 700
much harm 10 the Districts they traverse rs
nnwortIv of the humanity and culture chiheu " a
European state pretending to march AZ vi heSu h
cIvlafiop TO Bcfease the horrors OF war UNI, Icy
come unsuppor able II is true that history 't n %
The use OF gxaries, as, for instance, the hrnf VI
Indian savage s during American wars or tne ~ re
menf az Tcy rkessians by the Emperor Oh hss, p,s
war of anVihaton against the a. com
Rnf fhes.measures have been htly o. q.
act,n VII, th law off nations IL is rather dincult 70
establish positive rule, and this ~ equaS any,. and ees
snch co entries where civilization loses itsen anu s
stifeO by barbarisIn the remote Dofa, a. ~
ther ca1nof exist moments doubt that J, 10 tat
os nation ike the French TO import foreign with
III IN, nav helm in the settlement Oh dii' " an
nGber European nation, and thus to place ii d Tn
with race 80 decidedly inferior 10 VI. u, s
~ nlt,re claimed by ia lsande nation Ins step wa
certainly not necessary for the sustenahse " nIS he
and The otbcr European bclligercnt states
| justified In unanimously protesting UuiA'' INV