, 1881-02-20
1IOLTkE On WAR.

The Tpstitut de Droi& International has lately
published Il little hund- book In reference to tbs
!" Laws OF War On Land." It Is the result OF the
consultations Of u Commission composed OF Aa"-
yers and experts of several countries which was
held at St. Petersburg. Tho book has been SUBJ
| uitted to the several Governments Of Europe
and America. The February issue OF the Rerue
dc Drot International, the organ OF tho above
mentioned institute, contains criticism OF this
handbook from tho pen OF Field-Morf1a!
SIoltke. The criticism is in the form OF letter
addressed to the Vice-Presidcnt OF the Institute,
MIR. Biuntsehii. The letter reads in trans!auon
from the French lit was originally written Ia
BENLIS. Dec Ii. l6so.-You were kind enough
to fnFnsn IN mG e VIZ S eopy e St h
and you express the desire that 1t might meet
with my approval. First. and above ali. peruis
huuane endcavors, whose object it is to assuaxe
the distress caused By war.
Perpetual peace Is delusion, dream. and
not even Il good one nt thut- War Is an element
OF tho order OF things, ordained BY Proyldence
The noblest virtues OF mun are developed during
It's continuance, courage and RESIGNATION. tho
immDntiou The soldier sncrinces his me.
Without war the world would bG attacked 1y
putref,c1lon. and would lose itself in Material-
ls,n. fully in,iorse the proposition mentioned
in the preface OF the hand book-v1z.; IAae
the gradual nmeliorattou OF manners and NOR,
als must be shown by the mode and manner Ia
which var Is carried ou.
But 60 still farther, and believe that the
- s.g.' ,i-r. -. ~ ~ nh,art wnh cannot n
~ s.!i wv 10 - tt ~ ~ cn1ti..t cr,cn ~ mil
itary law. Every law prcsumes IN authority to
tt. ar ~ aqt;nrftr @ xhich Ia wnnrin,r in re-
gard to enforcing obedience to intcrnauonat
npn.sress us fur rs the mode and manncr Of car-
rylug On wAp is concerned, has In truth 1ol-
ip"eu tun EtnIi'.i ~ ~: .nnt NO i,na., ],a.ia
!tnpot.ant ~ - .'? ;tsoI.cira and renuir,r'-
aaE'n ''aFy w We 50 that hs eass1ed classes
couth and unorded elements are yet; As TOR for
merry, coulpo'.ent p's' os', -:
nul tney aInno ucu Wns;,1cs 1hs. payernnen1s
possess TWO great ailu a.poa ~; s"nA +ssr M,,s.
prevent the worst eAccSscs+sn-i eaalse uisp o,Ip
line 70 when tne solaier nus uGEou .h nreas ea1
tntnca 81 tsn,, hIch nrnvitcs fo1
OF tho army adin9tlstratlou. "uItu p.o' uc W. i1 ~;
the maintenance VI tue Troops "n'1e snos "'e IL
the Held.
Tho most Important anu pencnGhl taGi III; n Mns t
It's ulskm y; m ano 90 ~ s1Hm DI Wiz VII na
eSeeptloa ,as a5a 81 wa'eh 30
densned, Under no "iscuinssAnces cai ts'dosse y 20
tho hec!arauon " Ct tttetsoutE ~ ..4as, :, - ~
cripple tnea a'niiltary resources VI .ne cstes ~
the ons 5ussgle ,t.c si way h ue n,a IN iii the @
sources OF the eileny'-upon us r|a ~
nliirOAds upon all ms stoseS; ~ - t osy,v
and even upoa nss prestSe. nttn 49, hnYrIn
but VITA lnore lnouetat.o!t ta'an n,J,,rtcd Gho
was the @ 1as+ war ,s a,reay dcciie Two
mouths atter rs scon'e.1ecno1 n;rtor chnrs,n-
tltcs5 anu phtaIes oss s..s. rnrernmenr 10 the
ter 'w9en - Esanno 6rrtonvcif the war
~ Ti.l;ngly adult that the hand book pay1
more attention to the necessities OF siar nr tnu a.