Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-23
THE RULES OF WARFARE.

st. Louis GIoDe-Dt tmocrat, IL muSU De
waged between enlightened nations
with strict adherence to many binding
rules, prescribed from time to time by
international law. All weapons which
make warfare actually cruel and bar
barous are regarded as illegal unless
they will, by one bold stroke, speedily
terminate the war.
Red hot shot were used in the wars of
Frederick the Great. Hollow shot or
hollow bullets were considered cruel
because they became fattened and ir-
'egular after coming in contact with
none, thus making wounds unnecessari-
ly painful. Langrel, composed of nails,
Rulle blades, bits of iron, etc. which
m-de horrible wounds, is forbidden for
he same reason. Projectiles Of an ex'
.losive nature or charged with inham
Unable substances are now considered
unlawful between nations, if weighing
ie-s than II ounces. Likewise, poison
strictly forbidden as an element of
war. In ancient wars it was customary
ase poisoned arrows or to poison the
ive's flowing into an enemy's country
While it would be proper for either
spain or the Uni ed States to lay waste
he standing crops the other merely
to tempo ari y reduce district to de-
,.rivation, it would be Illegal 10 uproot
vineyards, orchards, etc, so as to desc
atethe country for years afterward.
A lag of truce, Red Cross hospita
II ,y or a signal OF distress displaVed bv
; ain, for instance, would have to be
rcspecied by our forces. and no one
protected by such signal would be
h,rmed. Should body of Spanish
soldiers or sailors show such signal
traudulently, however, it would be con-
-idered gross act of treachery, punish
able by death.
The employment of spies is still! con-
sidered as legitimate warfare among
enlightened nations, but the spy, as an
Individual, is generally looked upon as
rather dishonorable character. It
would be improper, therefore, for one Of
our generals TO order man to act as
spy. All spies must be strictly volun-
,rars. 1t is an interesting fact that
should a spy succeed in joining his
army he would cease TO be spy in a
technical sense, and unless captured in
the act of carrying fresh information he
cou d not be captured except as q plis
oner of war. No soldier in uniform
could be executed as spy servlI G ithe
enemy, since a spy is necessarily per
son in isguise, acting under false pre-
enses or secreted somewhere.
A man in uniform of the United
States caught 10 the act of carrying in
formation to a Spanish commander
would be executed, if caught by US,
since be would be either spy or
traitor. Traitors have always been re-
earded as the lowest OF the low by
soldiers.
Prisoners of war would be very care
fully handled by we'll bred nation like
ours. None but barbsrous General
would countenance cruelty 10 wal
prisoner or soldier who had surrender
ed. Late into the Middle Ages death
or slavery was the only prospect OF a
prisoner of war. Should parcel OF
our forces surrender to Spain or be CAP
,ured, not only all combatants, but such
nor. com batants as newspaper cores
pondents, guides, messengers, balloon
lists, telegrsp piers, or contractors, either
present with the army or assisting it,
might be- taken as prisoners OF war,
Should the Spanish force their way to
Washington they might take any of our
statesmen prisoners of war, including
the President. The international laws
demand that all prisoners of war be
subjected to only such restraints as
would be found necessary to prevent
their escape. They would be given as
great liberty as possible and could be
punished only for breach of discipline
or attempted escape. Some nations
provide money allowances for pris-
oners of war. They must also be
fed and clothed by the country
OBTAINING them. Thus we would
be required to sustain our Spanish pris'
ouers comfortably, although we would,
after the close of the war, send in po-
lite little bill to Spain demanding that
the expense be refunded. Others be-
sides spies forfeit their rights of protec-
ton as prisoners of war and can be ex-
ecuted when captured. Thus, one OF
our courts martial might sentence to
death body OF Spanish guerrlllas,
prisoners of war who have been re-
leased under promise thet they will not
fight again, or deserters from our own
army.
1t would, of course, be violation of
the accepted rules of war to injure non.
combatants or take them prisoners OF
war, except in such cases as sieges,
where every citizen must defend him.
self as best he eau. Old men, women
and children are always considered
non-combatant In some countries
these privileges are extended to minis
ters of the gospel.
a declaration of war between Spain
and this country would cause all for
eign nations not engaged in the strug-
gle to regard us both with the utmost
care. As soon as the declaration
should be made it would be the duty OF
President McKinley through our for
eign ambassadors and ministers, to
immediately notify the ruler Of every