The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
%SELF-MURDER IN BATTLE.
lEODERN AND ANCIENT INsTANoEs
OF TRAGEDIES OF THAT CLASS.
suioiaes OF soldiers in tire wars In Greece
ana Chins-lnstances Related in Sacred
and Profnno History-Fear or Torture.

ana Rrofnno HtntoFy-Feor OF Eortures
FNon, the 81. Lort, Globe. Democrat.
solf.innicted death on tho field of battle ia q
tragedy within tragedies. Having existed from
very ancient times, II has continued until the
present, During tho recent war between China
and Japan some attention was drawn to this
little-known aspect Of war. Messages came to
US In regard to the suicide OF Chinese officers in
order to prevent capture and torture by the on.
envy. It became known hat all Chinese
officers went into battle prepared with
prussia acid or opium to kill themselves in
case there was danger OF capture. 1t was
also made known that Chinese officers who
are defeated in battle are expected or COM
handed by their Government to suicide. in
order to avoid disgrace and torture by their
own people, and that in case of failure to carry
out this behest they lose standing thereby. A
notable instance during that war was the sui
eide of Admiral Ting, one Of the greatest and
noblest of modern Asiatics. q man who. in his
personal qualities and attachments. compared
well with any man Of his time. After the battle
of Yalu he had the choice between capture by
the Japanese, torture and disgrace by his own
countrymen, or suicide. He chose the last.
During the recent G~raco-Turkish war reports
have como OF the suicide Of number Of Greek
officers, who. when they found themselves I'm.
ablo to escape otherwise from capture. have
Aihiott JAZZ " hhNbot thuA ouoibiJ ~ blobh-
bic torture. The reports contain some terrible
announcements. 1t 10 stated that the Turks
burned the Greek wounded in a church at
KurtZivoli. They lighted fires undor the bodies
OF wounded beasts. Many OF the Greek wound.
ed implored their comrades to kill them; others
committed suicide. During tho retreat Of the
Greeks from the Milouna Pass. Capt. Tagaras,
who had been wounded in the struggle to hold
the block houses. mmit suicide to avoid
falling alive into the hands OF the Turks.
The Princess Sophia. in an interview with
the Athens correspondent OF tho London
Daily Chronicle, stated that while she
vas in the hospital the wounded Greeks told
how the Turks treated the wounded who fell
into their hands. They built fires around some
OF them and roasted them to death. and inflicted
horrible tortures upon others Of their prisoners
before despatching them. Another report,
dated April 10, said that the Turks had killed the
Greek irreRulars who had been recently captured
at some OF the points on the frontier. On April
% 1t was stated that stories OF Mussulman
atrocities were current in Arta. One eyewit-
ness said that a number Of women who were
captives in the hands of the Turks were marched
in front of the Turkish lines in the hope that
their conntrynen would not fire lest they kill
the women. On the other hand the Greeks
treated the Turkish wounded as they treated
their own. Turkish prisoners in the Greek
military hospitals express themselves as amazed
ct IHE III SUE vi uCillB Shol.
Our old time Indian lighters made it a point
I, not fall into the hands Of the redskins alive.
ridge at the enemy; keep it for yourself" These
words give a hint Of their dread OF the mutila-
were taken, and make plain their conviction,
that under the circumstances suicide was justi.
fable. as It was preferable. Our Indians. how
ever. took another view of the matter. They
not seek to avoid by seif.siaughter the fate that
hands Of enemies of their own kind. When an
Indian realized that capture was inevitable. he
scalp lock for the hand Of his foe. II he were
not killed and scalped on the field, he made IT a
pc Re' Ma 81 spp rb5as go e stoicaily th and 1Gr W ' a 20 show wR:S Of
indifference. and thus to deny his enemies the
grstifcation Of seeing signs OF weakness:
peoples the torture Of enemies taken in battle
his long existed and still continues. and that
it Is not snso!dieriy to prefer suicide to other.
have not been publicly advocated. that are not
generally known to exist; but it is evident that
selves. or al least among those whose fate it is
to fight with the armies of the uncivilized.
shown may By S0 s aotistn Ia e"s shas the' sn III hHs G rste
among soldiers under all circumstances Is high
In mall conntriesmgre ATTY in excess Of hat in any
the fact that drinking is common among soldiers.
and. as the proportion of suicides Is next great
y considered a sound reason. Another is the fact
that soldiers have always at hand the means of
since medical men and chemists. who likewise
are familiar with means Of self.destruction. have
Ancient history throws much light upon the
custom OF suicide in battle, as Il has emerged
sssiPtn in cur w Sw nrs tim ,"ia i In the o nne T selisnra's
suicide, that OF Achithopel, and in the New Tesla
ment that of Judas. But in the Old Testament
Atthe battle of Mount Gilboa the Philistines de-
feated the armies Of Israel under King Saul;
himself was hard hit BY the archers. and. real.
izing that the defeat was final. and that he. be-
called to him his armor bearer. ordering him TO
draw his sword and despatch him, lest, as he said.
1Rs r anmo1iSssr saS %as afrsid h tn XIII fnf tb "e Kins ei% So
Saul placed the hilt of his sword on the ground
and tsll upon its point and died. He became q
of his captors. The history Of his nation was
not without precedent in this kind. and Saul
out the eyes OF Sampson. and made him grind
corn in their mills, and had made snort ofhim.
zlmrii is also tod: he was Captain Of hSIt the
chariots under Elah, the King Of Israel. When
Tirzah, he was on ono occasion engaged in a
drunken do6anch. when Iimri: taking, advan;
seized the throne. But the army Of Israel,
which was at that time besieging a Philistine
town; pr roc red omri King: Under U T, this lead,
with the Philistincs and laid siege to Tirzah.
After a vigorous assault the city was taken.
the Kings palace and set fire TO 1t. perishing in
the flames.
1t is told of S%ardanapalus. though this is not
now considered good history. that when ho was
against him.. and. taking the Held. he gained
three victories. but was finally defeated and
driven into his capital. There he endured a pro-
longod siege. Atlast when he saw that the city
was to be taken he ordered a pile of wood to DO
made IN his palace. and setting lire to it burned
himself. his women. and his treasures.
In ancient times captives were either en-
shaved, degraded. or tortured. The Romans had
a special dread OF being compelled to grace a
triumph. and their enemies came to have a SINH.
lar dread: Tacitus and Dion Cassius tell the
story Of the British Queen Boadicea, whose hus.
band. on his death bed. in order to obtain the
appointed the Emperor heir TO his treasures, In
conjunction with his own two daughters. But
his wishes were not respected and the officers
Of Nero seized everything. For her opposition
to these actions orders were given that Boa
daughters exposed to tho soldiers. Upon this
began, a massacre Of the Romans. She would
haye been successful in. freeing her country II
1t had not been that achievements came for the
assistance OF the Romans. Suetonius Paulinus
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