New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-22
EUMANIZEKG WARFARE.

4
I In view of the probabilities Of anothe,
European war and the dismemberment oil
some Of the smaller provinces as @ result,
Russia has announced the reassembling
Of the International War Code Conference
at Brussels at an early day. There was
held at Brussels last year preliminary
congress relative to this same subject, at
which the Russian project was submitted
by Prince Gortschako off as starting point
for Interior Deliberations, intended to pre-
pare the way for general understanding.
A draft treaty is to be submitted to the
conference about to meet, and it is added
that the Berlin and Vienna governments
are more inclined to entertain the Russian
proposals than some of the smaller States.
The smaller States at the former confer
ence showed remarkable indisposition to
| rernodeling the laws Of warfare in accord
ance with the interests of the great mill
tary powers, and to deprive themselves
prospectively Of their only chance of
equalizing struggle between themselves
and their stronger neighbors. 1t is
highly probable that at the coming
conference. the same feeling OF opposition
to the proposed code will manifest itself
on the part of these smaller States, as the
result Of the adoption Of such code to
them will be a policy Of national suicide
Should the Berlin and Vienna governments
appear inclined to assent to the Russian
proposal, the opposition Of these smaller
States will not prevent the consummation
Of q measure already predetermined, and
for the interests Of the great military
powers of Europe. The general under
standing, it seems is to reconstruct the |
laws Of war in the interests of the great |
military powers and with or without the
consent against the interests of the weaker
powers.
The code or treaty as proposed is to re-
strict the area Of combatancy as narrowly |
as possible, to make war as completely as
possible an affair Of professional fighting
men, and if it. happens from such an
arrangement that it gives all overwhelm-
ing advantage in warfare to that nation
which can muster the greatest number of
professional fighting men, the argument
will be, that is merely an accident, fortu-
nate or unfortunate as the case may be.
If by this means the military powers
Of Europe, because Of their numerical
and governmental strength, can secure
and consolidate their joint mastery over
Europe, that policy will be. recon cilable
% them under the pretext. that such a
work is for the good Of humanity and the
assuring OF the peace of Europe. Should
he smaller and weaker powers refuse or
lecline to unite in this grand idea sug-
tested by, Russia they will have had
warning Of its purposes and the military
powers uniting with it in the proposed
var code. Of what they may expect ct the
lands of these high contracting powers
Then next they come to be engaged in a
7ar with them. a.re go
The humane rules will be carried out
nth vigorous humanity, with truly mer-
iful severity. Civilians will be, in their
wn truest interests, summarily executed g
they attempt to take up arms in de-
snse Of their country. The asea of
loodshed will be benefcently restricted
nd every one will be shot who trespasses
ithin it or too near its borders. Per-
APPS, in order to restrict it as closely and +
ene6cently as possible, the doctrine of
constructive occupation will be adopt
I, SO that 'the presence Of flying col
INNS" in a country will entitle the in F
der to ''hand over to justice" any s:in- &c
viduais belonging to the population of -
e country who shall rise in arms against "
m. Thus it is expected the humani fl
ton OF warfare will be achieved, and Of
the same time the supremacy Of the Sc
eater military pc wers be secured. n
The principle Of might makes right
scugtt 70 be enforced, snd the d;sinte-