New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-12
The International War Congress-.
The following is from the Brussels cOrrel

Europe 70 come TO a precise understanding
as to what was TO be allowed and what was
to be prohibited in warfare. If this were
done the consequences of war could be cal
culated beforehand with much more accu-
racy than at present, and the caiamities
occasioned by ignorance or uncertainty
would be greatly mitlgated. War, IN fne.
should be reduced to a game, with certain
well defined and plain rules, like those OF
whist or ecarte, and every player should be
bound by these rules. The old maxim that
"Eyerything is fair in war" should be abOi.
ished, and everything should be done on
the square. II a player at cards pulls a
trump out of his boot or shows against his
opponents two aces and three kings three
aces and two kings he is ruled out of the
game; and Baron JOmini was eloquent IN
arguing that war should be made as honor.
able in its rules as poker.
In debate which followed the delegates
Oe some Of the other countries argued that
tie rules proposed by Russia would paral.
we the defense Of an invaded country. and
that the old rules were the best. War,
take It as you will, is q barbarous game; 1t
means injurins your enemy as much as
this end, every means, every strata.
gem. every deception. was rightfully en-
ployed. And it was added, with force, that
the best way of preventing wars was to
make warfare as horrible as possible. and
not to soften and ameliorate it. Baron
Jomini's, however. had his answer ready.
Modern science, he said, had changed the
conditions of warfare. Personal strength
and courage had been superseded by tOrmld.
abls machines directed by engineers; and
this made it necessary that the inspiration
of patriotism-the defense OF an invaded
country by its own citizens-shOutd be sys'
temizeds If this were not done: Irregular
patriotism and enthusiasm, encOunterlng
organized armies would !mperil the de-
defense OF the country.
Take the idea home to yourselves. A for.
eign army suddenly lands upon the Ameri.
can coast and advances toward Washing.
ton. Your army-wretchedly small a:
best-is out on your Western frontier killing
Indians. The ''irregular enthusiasm OF
your people, which would impel theIa TO
form bands Of franc iiyeai'S. and harrass the
invader at every step, must ba restrained;
and you must sit still and see the zoe
advance unimpeded.
The good sense Of the majority Of the
Congress reyolted against this idea; and SO
determined was the opposition to it. that
Baron Jomini. after debating again and
again. when his scheme was referred to
committee consisting of one delegate o.
each State, that his government had no
wish to limit the defensive action of any
country, was fain to withdraw his project.
The question of bombardment caused
much discussion. 1t was decided that an
open town. undefended by troops ''Or by
inhabitants,s should not be bOmbarded
until it had been summoned TO surrender
and every possible warning had been given
to the authorities and that churches, monU.
nferts scientific and charitable institutions
should be spared as far as possible. The
Belgian and Holland delegates proposed
that the inhabited quarters OF fortified
towns should not be bombarded: but this
was opposed by General Voigts Rhetz. one
of the German delegates, who insisted on
the right of bombardment, and that the be.
seiger, after completing the investment OF
town, should not even be bound to allow
the egress of fnOE-cOmbatants.
A lively discussion concerning spies was
commenced by the Spanish delegate, who.
with Castilian gravity. proposed that while
spies whe were hired for money might be
shot, those influenced by pure patriotism
should be spared. 1t was agreed that a
person seeking information clandestineiy or
under false pretenses in localities occupied
by the enemy in order to communicate it to
the other party should be treated as a spy:
but a proposition that an inhabitant Of an
invaded country giving Information to his
own army should pc treated as spy was
rejected, greatly to the chagrin OF the Ger
man delegates who remembered some exc
ploits Of their own in France, which. in the
light OF this rule. were murders. AT the
very outset of their war with France they
Shot the mayor. the priest and four Of the
Inhabitants of a French village because
some Of the people Of the town had given
information to their own army concerning
the movements of the Germans.
It was likewise agreed-malgre the oppo"
sition of the German Gelegates-that per.
sons captured in balloons should not be
treated as spies. For myself, do not see
the distinction between spy on land and
one in the air. The proposals on flags of
truce aud means of communication were
adopted, with the exception OF the clause
respecting the diplomatic and consular
agents of neutral powers. the consideration
of which was deferred. As to capitulations,
the French General urged that dishonor'
able conditions and those contrary to mill.
tary honor should be prohibited. on which
General Voigts Rhetz remarked that it was
difficult to define this different armies
having different views as to what was dis
honorable. The committee adopted an
amendment reprobating conditions contrary
to military honor.
The chapter on armistices was next
adopted. As to the prisoners OF war, the
clauses on noD-cOmbatants were postponed.
The Russian proposal that a prisoner of
WAX Taking uiSnG miSuu De SuOU UurlilS tuo
pursuit, but once recaptured should be ex-
empt from punishment was SO amended as
to provide that arms may be used against
the fugitive. and that on recapture he may
be subjected to severe discipline or surveil-
lance As to the treatment of wounded,
the German delegate objected to any con-
trayention of the Geneva convention, and
urged that any modification Of it would
require the unanimous consent of all the
parties thereto. He objected likewise to
the material as well as the personnel of
ambulances and military hospitals being
altogether exempt from capture, and sub
nitted rival scheme, as also did the Bel
gian and Swiss delegates. All four schemes
were referred to sub committee.
At subsequent sitting there were such
diffarences of opinion on the modification
of the Geneva convention that the COM
mittee came to no decision, but referred the
question to the consideration OF the res.
pective governments. As to the mutual
rights of belligerents, the Dutch delegate
declared that his country, having purely
defensive military organization, could not
abandon any means of resistance IN case
of attack, and objected to any proposal ab-
solving citizens from the sacred duty OF
defending the country by every means in
their power. Belgium and Switzerland made
similar declarations. General Voigts Rhetz
advocated the omission, in the clause
vader in occupied territory, and of
the phrase ''as long as he is able to
exercise it." He urged that the clause
as it stood made too great resemblance
between blockade and an occupation; the
former was only effective when exercised,
but the latter was not necessarily mani
tested by external visible signs. In the