The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-17

as a means of defense Is one that must
have suggested itself to the earliest
s~trategists. even in prehistoric times.
Yet well attested instances of Its use,
especially In military operations of any
ma gnitude. are extremely rare, and APP
parently have never been collected by
any writer.
Among civilized nations such prac-
tees are universally condemned, and
except as an extreme measure of re-
taliation are almost unknown. In wars
between b~arbarous nations the trick
is not likely to be effective. since the
vag warriors are merely excited to
greater fury in the attack, n are sure
TO take bloody revenge. About the
only cases. therefore. are such as arise
in conflict between civilized forces and
b~arbarians who hope to gain advantage
by playing upon the more humane tenn
per of their assailants.
The most striking example of this,
and al the same time the closest par
aliei to what was imputed to the Span
fards at Santiago, is the notorious per-
formance of the Bashaw of Tripoli. In
the case of Captain cambridge. This
heroic oficer, as every reade of his
tory 10 well aware, had been captured
on the Inflated Philadelphia and was
held for ransom by the piratical gov
0TuOI. odiupEluBc hou uiitdhy pIONEu
himself q disastrously Improbable In
vestment, for II was at his secret insti-
Cation that Decatur had invaded the
harbor at night and boarded and
burned the Bashaw's prize by one of
the boldest exploits IN our navy's
splendid record: but now. when Cap
tain Preble was threatening the city
With bomba rdment. the crafty Moslem
conceived that he could use his prisoner
assumption of considerable kindness, he
kept the American close to his own
apartments In the castle taking care
that the hostile feet should not be iy-
norant of the fact
But again this intractabie captive
continued TO send a message 10 hi.
countrymen. urging them to turn their
gums full on the castle Inc TO take
no thought Of him. Just what Hob
Dor would have donei" one cannot help
exciaJming. And Captain Preble, far
seeing and resolute. realizing that var
10 stern business and that those who
60 out TO night for their country must
face death and a X their chances in
prison as well as elsewhere, followed
this advice without G~inching-the
ruthless vigor Of his policy emphasized
By the fact that Bsinbridge's own
brother was serving In the feet. So.
Wncb the GdnnOudulnE DeRan, ana the
complacent bashaw, accounting him
self absolutely safe. came out on the
balcony TO see the fun. he was greatly
startled TO note that the proiectiles
were coming his way in alarming
numbers and with characteristics Amer
lean accuracy of aim; w%hereupon HIS
Pomposity withdrew in dismay 10 a
bomb-proof chamber and proceeded TO
mediate upon the possibilities Of
peace with honor" Bainbridge had a
narrow escape. a heavy shot penetrat-
ing the room in which he was confined.
but fortunately he was not SERIOUSLY
hurt
This is the way TO meet such tactics.
To weaken before them is like paying
ransom TO rigands-sure 10 prompt
further outrages Of the same sort. And
this tact appears 10 be very generally
recognized. for the exposure of prison
ers almost invariably falls Of its end
and plays h boomerang Of those who
resort to IL. The writer can recall but
one notable instance In which the trick
proved successful.
That was the famous white aprons
affair during Bacon's revoft agains;
Governor Berkeley in 1876. This noted
virginia rebel" a true antelope o. the
revolutionary patriots who took ms
field a century later, was in momen-
tary expectation Of an attack. and
soreiy needed time to complete his
earthworks n mount his guns for de-