The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-06
WHENWARBRlAES0Bf
Contingencies Provided For In
international Law.
WHAT IS coSrRABAND OF WAR.


WASHINGTON. April 6.--[SpeciaL War
10 a great game. Fully one-half of all the
written international law has direct or In
direct bearing upon hostilitiss between ma
tions. Most OF the wars Of history have
come without previous formal deciara-
ton thereof by either party. Previous to
| the present crisis the United States had
| formally declared war only once, and that
was against Great Britain In 1879. A lin
| tied or inferentiAl declaration against
| France was made In 1898, when that
country was barassiDg our commerce and
ievying unjust duties upon our ships In
her ports. But after congress had author
lied the president TO equip an emergency
army the evils complained Of were abated,
and no hostilities followed.
The war Of 1919.
In 1919 the expressions of Great Britain
had become intolerable, and after pro-
ionged and bitter debate congress, on the
| 18th of June, passed an act declaring war.
| There was opposition In both houses. The
Mexican war began without any formal
| declaration, as OF course did the war be-
| tween the states. This war was actually
In progress from March TO May, 1S46, but
the first congressional recognition OF 10
was In May, when the two houses passed
law authorizing the president to raise an
army. After the cessation Of wars which
start without formal declaration the courts
are always called In to decide tho exact
date on which hostilities began, as impor-
tant settlements of admiralty and other
cases depend wholly upon the date OF out
break of war.
Some of the best writer's on interna-
tional law hold that when war breaks out
1t is the duty of each of the powers to give
safe conduct out of port to any vessels Of
the enemy which may chance to be visit
ing there. This applies more especially to
war which comes through formal declara-
ton and Is based wholly upon justice and
humanity. If naval vessel Of Spain were
in New York barbor, for instance, 1t
would be the duty of our government to
give her safe escort out to sea, because she
had come into the harbor upon a friendly
mission and should not be trapped and de-
stroyed In barbaric manner simply be-
cause the two nations CHANGED to go to war
while she was there. 1t would be just as
indecent to regard q ship as legitimate
prey of war under such circumstances as
it would be to attack and kill or capture a
naval or military officer of Spain who
might happen to be in this country when
war broke out
Our Experience With France.
1t is a rather strange circumstance that
the only wars with a European power In
which the United States has hitherto en-
gagged were with Great Britain, our moth
er country, and now the nation with which
we are least likely to have trouble. True
| we were dangerously near to war with
, France 100 years ago. Technically wal
did exist, for in February, 1899, thu
French frigate L'Insurgente captured thu
. American schooner Retaliation and wa
, in turn herself captured by the United
| States frigate Constitution, "Old Iron
y Sides" Later on the Constitution had al
: engagement with another French frigat
D of 80 guns, and, though the American hat
but 80 guns, the Frenchman struck hi
colors after a loss of 100 men, killed ant
wounded. In the night, however, tn
Frenchman escaped. Though there wa
q no declaration Of war on the part OF tn
Y United States or France, captures wer
!. made and prisoners exchanged. Yet n
| general war followed, and these were tn
: only collisions Of any seriousness betwee
q the naval powers of the two nations.
a The supreme court of the United State
has held that war does not extinguis
debts due from the citizens OF one belligei
emit to those of another; 1t merely suspend
q the remedy for their recovery. lnteres
. ceases Partnerships are suspended. Ais
!; contracts, which may be resumed in peace
In war all the intercourse between cit
q Gems of one belligerent with citizens OF Tn
D. other is illegal unless sanctioned by tn
+. authority of the government or In exerci'
:. of the rights of humanity.
Every nation at war with another
justified by international law in Selling
oh m
movable property of the enemy of any kin
M or nature whatsoever wherever found.
10 Whatever conduces to the support
20 either belligerent may be seized, eith'
ne upon land or water.
ir Seizures at Sea.
ba Seizure of goods at sea, when carried
neutral ships, Is a source of endless tro
BILE to nations during wars. 1t is here TIL
O. danger of complications with foreign po'
bit ers exists. While international law
=. cloudy as to some of the points OF RICH
. the general proposition Is sound that goo
eir intended, directly or indirectly, for Il
CT enemy's support may be seized wherev
found. But ordinary trade not In articl
contraband of war may be stopped only
blockade, and this blockade must be som
thing more than mere paper blockade.
must consist of actual physical closing
I'm tho ports of the enemy by means OF VIZ
=, ships.
e'' An important point is as to supplyi
IN coal. The practice of nations Is not W
se. settled, and trouble is at any time like
al, to arise over this phase of naval opel
tions. The ships Of the United States c
run into our own ports for coal, but wh'
er- could Spanish ships get coal In case tn
,st bunkers were empty while on this side
Atlantic2 In Cuban ports, II there was G.
% enough there and II the United States fie
'or had not blockaded them; In our own por
ug provided the Spaniards could capti
them, but not In the ports of neutral
tiops-not In Brazil or Central Amer
ith or Mexico or the Bahamas.
The best authorities agree that coal n
'"e be sold to the ships of n belligerent u
neutral port, but only for the purpose
enabling the ships to reach their no
OF ports. Any supply beyond this Is lilies
NJ For instance, II Spanish ships operat
along our coasts run out Of coal they n
get at Halifax or Nassau o new sup
sufficient to take them back to Spain,