The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21

about the cessation of hostiIties. No mat
ter whether the truce is effected as pre-
limnary 90 permanent peace or as
breathing spell, during which quiet pre-
paradons be made for a revival of war on
a more thorough and telling basis the
armistice has the same force and is TO
be as religiously recognized An arInlsuce
is binding once signed, and motives are
OF no consequence. The truce is effective
upon the belliserents from the hour OF
the agreed beginning of it. Officers in the
field, however, are bound by its terms
from the time they receive official intor-
nation of its existence.
Commanding generals have the power 20
declare an armistice which is binding in
the districts over which they are govern
ing, but such a truce must be ratified oy
their superiors. In case this ratification
is not given to the commanding officer,
the enemy is at liberty TO reopen hostih-
ties, even if a certain time for the elaps-
ing between given notice of cessation ana
the resuming of battle should have been
in the stipulauons governing the case
The contracting powers TO an armistice
must declare in the draft of their truce
what communication shall be held between
the armies and also what Intercourse of
traffic or business shall be permitted be-
tween persons who inhabit or occupy the
land on which the soldiers of both sides
are encamped. If no Intercourse what
ever is to be allowed this fact must be
noted i'm the armistce agreement and
strictly lived up to. If nothing of this ma
ture is mentioned in the paper the inter-
course between the armies Will remain
suspended as during actual hostihues.
An armistice, therefore, is not partial
or temporary peace; 1t is only a suspeh-
sion OF real war until the accomplis hment
of the object in view has been attained.
When an armistce, however, has been
concluded between any fortified place and
the enemy engaged in besiegng 1t IS
agreed by all the authorities on interna-
tional law that the besieging army must
at once put a stop to all extension per-
lection or advance of his attacking WORKS,
Just as much as he must cease making
sorties or other attacks by main force.
On the other hand, martial jurists are not
agreed on the point as TO whether the
besieged have the right to repair breaches
or to erect new works of defense within
the beleaguered place. 1t is the custom,
in this instance, for an express agreement
to be entered into when the armistice is
signed.
AS soon as a capitulation is signed the
commander who surenders has no right
to demolish destroy or in any way injure
the Notifications, buildings, arms, ammu-
milton or stores in his possession during
the time which elapses between the sign
ing of the surrender and its execution,
unless h is specifically noted in the terms
that he is at liberty to do as he pleases
with what is in his possession. This point
is made as a connection between the ac-
ton of a besieged officer and an arms
tice, and some men who know all about
warfare hold that If it is unlawful to
destroy after a surrender it is therefore
equally as criminal to repair broken forts
during an armistice In all cases, how
ever, il is agreed that the easiest way
to avoid complications is to have the terms
explicitly stated in the papers covering
the truce.
When an armistice Is broken by either
party to its terms the other side is re-
leased on the spot from all obligations to
observe it. Soldiers who are found in the
act of breaking the terms of an armistice
must be treated as prisoners of war, the
only person responsible to the higher an
thorities being the officer who gives the
command which causes a violation of the
truce Then the ruler of the nation which
has been imposed upon may demand in
slant and thorough redress for the break
ing of an agreement. His demand must
be complied with.
Plenipotentiaries may meet to discuss a
peace treaty without a preliminary aTmis-
tice. When this Is the case the war IL
carried on without the least sign of ces-
sation. The usual rule, however is for
the beligerents to conclude a truce while
the messengers of the rulers are i'm ses-
sion endeavoring to reach an agreement
which shall end the war.