The New York herald., 1874-07-28

Oners OF war have been used with the most unjus-
eoned in .s rsS sps
this harbor were treated In a manner so rDtOler-
able as 70 cause & revolt in winch many r OF tnem si
cruel abuses. Their food consisted OF putrid beer
WORN EATEN BREAD
which had been condemned on board the vessels
of war. They were deprived OF nre for days to-
gether and compelled TO eat raw meat. The grOans,
night after night, OF the sick and dying and the
wild ravlngs OF the delriOus, driven TO madpess
by barbarOus treatment were terrible to hear TO
crown all, attempts were made to compel the
Americans to desert the cause OF their country and
enlist In the service OF their enemies and Oppres-
sors. During the late war In France, even the
regulations concerning the wounded estab-
lished by the Geneva Conference were not
uniformly observed Since the close OF the war, as
made by the belligerents regarding the manner In
which each nation treated Its prisoners. There can
we
scarcely possible that the enormous armies noY on
foot will be maintained much longer In an effect
i've condition without their relative strength being
brought to test. When the collision takes place
the miseres Of war will not, perhaps, be very
seriously diminished even by the observance on
for the guidance OF armies IN the field. But much
has been done by the. Geneva Convention for the
alienation OF the mlseries on both sides;
battle, war entails an immense deal Of SUI
ferng which, by the general adoption of certain
laws regulating the conduct Of hostile armies tow
ards one another and towards the people OF the
country invaded or occupied, might certainly be
lessened. The object OF such laws is to prevent
recourse being had to reprlsals, and generally TO
avert such acts OF hostility as make the return to
peace unnecessarily dlf1lcult.
INDEPENDENTLY or MIsDEEDs,
simple Misunderstanding between belligerents
are OF constant occurrence: The Pau Mau Gazette,
o few weeks since, referred to the correspondence
which TOOK place during the late war between
Prince Bismarck and M: de Chaudordy on the sub
'usages Of war" in regard to persons, and
between Prince Bismarck and Lord Granville as to
their violation in regard to property. 1t could be
dents, such as no war can be without, the ques-
tion Of their legality or illegalty cannot be de-
disputants have no law to appeal to.
Law being wanted they refer to law books
Ivy, and rs eachcltes what suits his own case and
Keeps everything OF the opposite tendency out Of
view, sucn arguments are necessarily intermina-
BILE. They are, in TACT, incapable Of being decided.
NJ Jules Favre for example, reprOaches the Ger
mans with having omitted, contrary to the usages
OF war;" to give notice of bOmbardment or with
having, contrary to the nsages of wal, executed
volunteer who was entitled, II captured, to be
ted by Bismarck the asserted "usages OF war" are
denied; and counter reprOaches are addressed to
the French concerning the practices said to be in
disaccord with the same .'nsages' which are no.
where to be found or which differ according to the
taste OF the author who has written them down.
CONCLUSION.
AS far as the Russian government Is concerned
1t Is entitled 10 credit for its action in this import.
ant movement. The Car has manifested great
interest in 1t from the beginning II is understood
that Russia has no special or exclusive end to
serve ana is anxious only to provide for COM
mon want and avert general inconvenience. it
deslres as a result OF the deliberations, the adop-
ton OF convention which shall establish just and
humane usages Of war oil over the civilized world,
and which are to be In the future acknowledged.
The English journals, as has been seen, openly
state that Bismarck IS the original author Of the
proposal, but the London Examiner believes that
the Origination of the Congress is due to knot of
French dipOmatlsts, with Count HOndetOt at their
head. But every one is satisfied that the Emperor
OF Russia should have all the honor resulting from
mitigation OF the sufferings OF war when the plan
adopted Tor the purpose III It's scope and principle
Is in accordance with the enlightened sentiment
OF the age in which We live