New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
SELECTIONS FORM THE MAIL.
ONE SIDE OF SPANS RECORD
THE HUMANITY OF HER COMPARTMENT VI
v.,p,p.rso COMPARED WITH THE POL
ICY OF OTHER NATIONS.

ICY OF OTHER NATIONS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. A letter appeared in The Tribune YESTERDAY
derrecattng the attrbutng 10 the Spahla'NH -
degree OF cruelty In their trea 'ihe", - ,.,,, and
OF which they may not in reality De gun ~ an.
,.,,g instances in our own history when We nave
nor been altogether free from blame
In cose Of war with Spain II mas oeeh suiP'''
that that country would do all In It's power 'roue
It's naval forces to innict injury upon ou' %
merce and 10 exact tribute from our cods' ri.e'
oooounonied with great destruction OF properly
=, ,ha voIume Of Lectures delivered at the
Nal war College by Professor Freeman snow
and nublishcd under authority OF the Navy Depa''-
ment find this statement at page 20
In 1882 Admiral Aube, Of the French Nayy' IN a..
Revue dos Deux Mondes. expressen .ne op',,j jIi
that armored fleets in p9ssG5Si93n asT TI against
the coast towns Of the enemy without rtearu a 10
whether these fortified or nor OF ply, MN ther,
lh lay rhrn nriIassv for ransom He pointed out
thot such would he the true policy OF france ~
the cent of with England Inls a. IL, tng
ambc was vas a6 5ppi"s MnsteT Of Marine and
allowed 10 change the shipbuildng p3IloE o. Il
ooSloS ubatber this was the official view Of the
French Cabinet The French Government DIS
avoWed any official adoption Of this poicy Of war,
fare hui there was not much doubt that II was
I, fs also stated that this would have been the
pursued DN RUSSO Win ielV''''N' ~ 80
Australian seaboard cities had war broken out IN
1873 with England and within few years Il has
been held by British naval officers OF authority
against objections made. that such a mode OF at
tack would be a proper naval operation
Now. this being the state Of opinion In three Eu-
ronean nations-,wo OF them the most enlightened
let us note what course Spain actually adopted.
under provocation. more than thirty years ago:
The bomhardmont of the unfortihed city OF var
paraiso bv the Spanish fleet in March, BIO was IN
persistent refusal on the part Of the Gillian Gov,
eminent TO give any satisfaction. Inc aoInitd al
commanding. who Was also intrusted with d.p,,
lomatic functions. instructed 10 MAKE deHldIj
TO enforce the demand If necessary. by bomoaid-
ment Of Valparaiso. The demand was MADE ac-
cOmpanied bv = notice thai one month from is
late the Spanish fleet would move into the mar
hour before commencing the bomoardInent wneil
should II be- refused the vessels Woul1 open M -
directing their guns at the pubic buildings only;
Notice given that all private property WouIa ps
cd far : possible and request was mace
that al churches and hosp as shoud De dls-
tinCushei by flags in order that the fleet might
carefully avoid firing at them
Is there anything in this manner OF proceeding
which approaches the frank brutality OF the Ger
man method in the Franco-Prussian War? In
TWENTY-FIVE seges not an assault was attempted.
1t was found 20 be easier 70 invest the
places seal ali approaches 10 prevent the supply
OF provisions Ienforcements. and then by long
range siege guns keep up constant IRE beyond
the range the guns OF the besieged This 1re was
not concentrated upon the fortlncatons but was
directed upon the town and caused such ruin ana
death that the place was forced 10 surrender
through famine and excessive suffering.
Firing upon Paris. even. was begun without pre-
vious notification.