Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-17
MODERN RULES OF WARFARE.

MODERN RULES OF WARFARE.
LAW PREsCRIBEs GER
TAIN METHODS OF FIGHTING.
Although warfare IA a relic OF barbsr-
Ism, II must be waged between enlight-
ed nations With strict adherence to many
binding rules, prescribed from time 10
time by International law. The presl-
dent and those Of bis interiors who
would be influential factors 10 war
must be conversant with this code,
which IL fully ~ biuding between two
nations, respecting their honor, ~ IL the
code duello between two men. Violation
Of these rules on the part OF either BILL
ligerent would invite the contempt OF
dignified nations. That everything Ii
fair In love or war" Is no longer true, At
least 20 far A. war 10 concerned. Al
though warfare has become more cruel
through the development OF weapons,
the international laws governing IL have
become more and more humane. IL u
doubtful whether Spain would adhere to
these laws rs strictly ~ we would. As
race, her people are more cruel and I'm
pulsive. Furthermore, her record Is bad.
Were II otherwise, she might expect
more sympathy from other continental
nations, almost all Of which observe the
rules of war very strictly.
The object Of dignihed warfare 10 these
days, Of course, should be 10 disable the
enemy at the least cruel cost OF suffering
and death. All weapons, therefore,
which make warfare actually cruel and
barbsrous are regarded as illegal, unless
they will, by one bold stroke, speedily
terminate the war. Although hundreds
may lose their lives ut once from such
weapons AS the submarine rams, mines
or torpedoes, these are considered law
full.
Red-hot shot, chain shot and hollow
shot are considered cruel instruments
of war on the other hand, and no self
respecting nation would employ them.
Red-hot shot WAS used In the wars OF
Frederick the Great. Cannon balls were
heated to redness and fired, to combine
the tortures Of fire to those OF concus-
sion. Chain shot was even more cruel In
effect. A pair OF cannons were loaded
v it'll balls connected by chain, the guns
being close together, but trained TO such
an angle as would spread the balls apart
" hen the two fuses were lighted simuita-
neously. The chain WAS made as long "a
might be desired, and by its means large
bodies OF men could be horribly man.
gled, rs II by the stroke Of giant
scythe. Hollow shot or hollow bullets
were considered cruel because they be-
came fisttened and irregular after coming
In contact with bone, thus making
wounds unnecessarily painful. Lsngrel,
composed Of nails, knife-blades, bits OF
iron, ETC., which make horrible wounds,
II forbidden for the same reason. Pro-
jectiles Of an explosive nature or charged
with ipfiammsble substances are now
considered unlawful between nations, II
weighing less than fourteen ounces. Like
wise, poison Il strictly forbidden ~ an
element OF war. In ancient wars It WAS
customary to use poisoned arrows, or TO
poison the rivers flowing into an enemy's
country.
While II would be proper for either
Spain or the United States TO lay waste
the standing crops OF the other merely
to temporarily reduce = district to dep
privAtiOn, Il would be Illegal to uproot
vineyards, orchards, etc, 30 As to desc
late the country for wears sfterSard. A
flag Of truce, q Red Cross hospital or
fisg or signal OF distress displayed by
Spain, for instance, would have TO be
respected by our forces, and no one pro-
tected by such signal would be harmed.
should a body OF Spanish soldiers or
sailors show such signal fraudulently,
however, Il would be considered gross
act Of treachery, punishable by death.
A more treacher0us act would be the
assassination of statesman or an officer
Of hostile country. The killing OF an
officer Of the enemy, however, by COM
Blatant In uniform would not be consid-
cred as an assassination, but As leGiti-
mate act Of war, since by wearing the
garb Of soldier an enemy runs an hon
orsble risk. Ii Is also considered as le-
Ultimate warfare TO distribute lies for the
misdirection of an enemy or 70 sail under
false colors. Should Spanish prtvateer,
for example, come upon one OF our ves-
sells while sailing under false colors she
would be required by the laws Of war 20
show her own colOrs before firing. Be-
fore making an assault she would prop
eriy fire gun across the bow Of the
opposing ship as Il warning to "heave
to-"
The employment OF spies Is still con-
sidered as legitimate warfare among en-
lightened nations, but the spy, as an
individual, Ia generally looked upon AS
rather dishonOrsble character. IL would
be improper, therefore, for one OF our
generals to order man TO act as q spy.
1t Ia an interesting fact that should
spy succeed in joining his army ne wodld
cease to be spy In technical sense and
uuless captured 10 the act Of carrying
fresh information he could not be capt
ured, except as prisoner Of war. No
soldier 10 uniform could be executed rs
q spy serving the enemy, since spy IL
necessarily person 10 disguise, acting
under false pretences or secreted some
where. Men engaged Ia surveying q
Spanish fertilization or camp 10 Balloon
for instance, could not be considered %
spies, although their balloon might be
destroyed as vessel of war. II captur-
ed alive the balloonists could be held
only as prisoners OF war.-Chicago
Chronicle.