The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-06

Every one knows the fate reserved in
time of war for SPIES But few are aware
that the same capital punishment is as
signed to those providers, armed and IN
armed, caught within the lines of the hos
tile army for the purpose of stealing. kill
ing, robbing or destroying mall cutting
telegraph wire or destroying bridges, roads,
canals or railways.
It is strictly forbidden by the rules of
war to make use of poison in any form
whatsoever, special reference being made
to the poisoning of wells and drinking wa
ter. 1t is likewise forbidden to keep as
sassins in pay, or to make or feign sur
render for the purpose of obtaining adj
vantage of the enemy. Equally reprehen-
sible is the concealment of the distinctive
signs of an armed force in the attack upon
enemy, while the improper use of the ma
tional flag, uniform or other distinctive
signs of the Geneva convention are suf-
ncient to entail the forfeiture of bellig-
erent rights, and to expose those who Of
fend in this respect to the most drastic
penalties.
Further, it is forbidden to use rifle bull
let's that are explosive or charged with
Illuminating substances, to kill or injure
an enemy who has surrendered or is dis
abled, or to declare in advance that quar-
ter will not be given even by those VINO
do not ask for it themselves.
1t is hardly necessary to inform an
American soldier that the robbing or the
mutllation of the bodies of the dead lying
on the battlefield is strictly prohibited. The
bodies must not be buried until they have
been carefully examined, and all articles
which may serve 70 fix their identty-such
as names, medals, numbers, pocketbooks,
etc.-have been secured. The articles thus
collected from the enemy dead should
be transmitted to their army or govern
ment.
Ii is forbidden to pillage or loot even
places taken by storm, and it is equally
reprehensible 10 destroy public or private
property, unless such destruction is de-
manded by urgent military necessity. In
cases of bombardment all needful meas
ures must be taken to spare, if possible,
buildings devoted to religion and charity,
to the arts and sciences hospitals and de-
pots of sick aid wounded.
Prisoners of war attempting to escape
may be fired upon, but if recaptured are
only liable TO ordinary disciplinary penal
ties.
Impositions in kind or acquisitions levied
upon communes or the residents of invad-
ed districts must bear direct relation to
the generally recognized necessities of war,
and must be in proportion to the resources
of the corporation or individual thus i'm
posed, and the invader cannot levy extra
ordinary contributions of money save as
equivalent for fines He may levy, however
in the way of dues and imposts, such as
are already established for the benefit of
the state revenue. Means of transportation
telegraph lines, Handing cables, ETC., can
only be temporarily appropriated by the
| invader, and their destruction is forbidden
save in cases of military necessity.
individuals who accompany an army, but
| who do not form a part of the regular
| armed force, such as, for instance, news
paper correspondents traders, suffers, etc,
| who fall into the hands of the enemy can
| only be detained for such length of time as
is warranted by strict military necessity.
Guides, when it is proved that they
| have misled intentionally, may be put to
| death, and the same fate Is awarded TO
any one be he official or private citizen.
who betrays information to the enemy or
who holds any intercourse with the lat
| ter. Foreign residents or visitors of the
| invaded or occupied territory can claim
no immunity from this law, and instant
expulsion is the very least punishment
which they can expect 1t is, howeveS.
| forbidden to punish a bona-fide prisoner
of war for having given false information
concernig the military forces TO which
he belongs.
Money and other valuables on the per-
son of a prisoner are his private prop.
| erty, and the appropriation thereof is
! considered dishonorable, and is prohibit
| ed, save when very large sums are
| found upon their persons, when a certain
portion thereof may be applied to the
war chest of the invading army. The
enemys chaplains, medical officers, am
| bulance men, etc. are not prisoners of war
and should not be detained as SUCH
Reprisals can only be resorted to with
| n Ii
chief. They must conform in all cases
| to laws of humanity and morality. This
rule is of particular importance in the
! present case, as the Spanish methods OF
warfare are characterized by so much
| savagery that the American troops will
be frequently exposed to the temptation
| of retaliating in kind.
In conclusion, l would point out that the
! United States, in carrying on a war with
nation so partly civilized as Spain. and
which has repeatedly demonstrated that it
| neither understands nor cares to observe
| the rules of modern warfare, has peculiar
! duties and respons bilities toward its OPP
! ponents. The VIGOROUSLY barbarous usages
| of the latter must be carefully studied
and the operations undertaken against
them should be so planned and arranged
as to render it impossible for serious viola
ton of the laws of war to occur. In the
case of the Spaniards the violations of
! these rules take chiefly the form of their
cruel treatment of wounded and unwound-
| ed prisoners, and in their tendency to in
| discriminate slaughter, pillage, outrage
| and destruction, While passing through
| inhabited districts. To remedy this, which
is NOT a task of insuperable difficulty, the
American forces employed against them
should be sufficient in number to accom-
plish the legitimate purpose of the war as
| a. n af