The morning call., 1892-04-10

town held by troops, they are liable to the
chances of war. In regard to their persons
as well as their property. How lar the
bombardment Of an open town should
be undertaken is another question. 1t
would be difficult to say that In no case
would it be justifiable, for military necessity
might render this course the best 10 be pur-
sued under certain circumstances. Take.
for example, an open town upon the sea-
coast whose partial destruction would be a
very serious loss to the enemy. or would
create so great panic in his country that
he could thereby be coerced into submits
sion The mere destruction of life and
property for no proportionate gain would
undoubtedly De gross act of vandalism.
and would lead to retaliation resulting in
making war more destructive than 1t need
be; but it can scarcely be said that no act
OF this nature can be committed In cases OF
necessity.
STRATAGEMs PERMISSIBLE.
Stratagems, false attacks. dissemination
OF false intelligence, and in short every
mode of deceiying an enemy by act or word,
which is not perfdiOus, Is permissible and
often laudabe. Good faith must be kept
between belligerents, who, although opposed
to each other by war, do not cease 10 he
men. Coed faith consists not only in the
observance Of promises, but also in not
deceiving on occasions when there is the
least obligation Of speaking the truth. II
is grossly perfiiOuS, for instance, and an
outrage 10 Justice 10 uUlst lub GeueNd nag
ON any building not used as hospital.
When a territory is fairly occupied or
exclusively possessed by an invader, the
latter rules ii. He is master by right Of
conquest, and the district submits to force.
The people do not become the subjects of
the occupying Government, nor do they
renounce their allegiance TO their own Gov
eminent. But they may be constrained 10
give no trouble to an invader.
Intercourse between belligerents is neces-
sary in wartime. 1t is usually begun by
flag of truce Such intercourse may lead 10
suspension of arms, to partial trnce, to
an armISuce or to Capltulatlon. The eX-
igencies of war imply that commanders have
the rover TO conclude military cOmpacts
Tor objects which are clearly necessary to
their mission during the course of hostilitieS.
An agreement purporting TO go beyond this
limit may be repudiated. If, however, the
compact does not go beyond that power 1t is
binding. He who signed il without author
ity may be punished by his Government,
but the arrangement is valid and must be
carried out, in that the enemy is not sup
posed to know the extent of the authority
which may have been granted TO the officer.
The generally accepted rule relating TO
an armistice is that during its continuance
no operation may be undertaken which
would have been resisted had the cOnven-
ton not been in force, but that such acts
may be performed which would not have
been subject 10 interruption. Thus CON-
mander may not repair the breaches in a
fortress that is being attacked, but lie may
bring up reserves from the rear.
By the first article of the Declaration of
Paris privateering Is abolished. Every
nation in the world except the United
States and Spain have accepted those arti-
cles. There was communication between
Great Britain and the United States on the
subject, and the United States agreed TO
accept those propositions II it was added
that the private property of citizens and
subjects Of belligerent powers was to be
free from capture on the high seas, but the
offer was not agreed 10, and SO the situation
in this country regarding privateering re-
mains the same today as in the War Of 1872.