The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-07

From the New York Evening Post.
washington, May 2.-The near approach
of very active and possibly very bloody,
bostihties lends a special interest to the
provisions made in the international con-
vention of 1864 and 1868 for the amellora-
ton OF the condition of the wounded in
war" The original signatories were Swift
zerland. Baden, Belgium, Denmark, Spain,
France. Italy, the Netherlands and Por-
tugal. and some of the then separate Ger
man states. The principal remaining Ger
man states, Sweden and Norway, Greece,
Great Britain, Turkey, Austria, Russia,
Roumania, Persia, Salvador, Montenegro,
seryia Bolivia Chill, the Argentine Re-
public, Peru, Japan, and the United States
afterwards acceded to it.
The chief provisions of the two conven-
lions are that ambulances and military
hospitals shall be neutral. and as such
shall be protected and respected by bellig-
erents as long as any sick or wounded
may be therein, but this neutrality is to
cease if they should be held by military
force. Persons employed in hospitals and
ambuances, comprising the staff for SUI
perrin tendence, medical service, administra-
ton, transport of wounded, as well as
chaplains, are to participate in the benefit
of neutrality while SO employed and as
long as there remain any wounded to bring
in or to succor. These persons may. more
over, even after occupation by the enemy
continue to fulfill their duties in the hos
pital or ambulance which they serve. or
may withdraw in order 10 rejoin the corps
10 which they belong; and when thew
cease from their functions of mercy they
are to be delivered by the occupying army
10 the outposts of the enemy For the
purpose of this provision, it is understood
that the term ambulance shall apply to
field hospitals and other temporary estab-
lishments which follow the troops on the
field of battle to receive the sick and
wounded. AS the equipment of military
hospitals remains subject to the laws of
war, persons attached to such hospitals
cannot, in Withdrawing, carry away any
articles but such as are their private prop
erty; but under the same circumstances
an ambulance SHALL on the contrary, re-
tain its equipment.
Inhabitants of the country who help to
bring in the wounded will be respected,
and remain free. The generals of the bel
ligerent powers must make it their care
TO inform the inhabitants of the appeal
which is addressed to their humanity
and of the privileges of neutrality which
they will enjoy in consequence of 1t. These
privileges may be important. Any wound
ed man entertained and taken care of in
a house shall be considered as a protec-
ton thereto Any inbabitant who shall
have entertained wounded men in his
house shall be exempted from the quarter
ing of troops as well as from part of the
Of xxrbio 1 ho
posed; in such cases, account only shall
be taken in an equitable manner of the
charitable zeal displayed by the inhabi-
tants.'
Commanders-in-chief are empowered to
deliver Immediately to the outposts of the
enemy the hostile soldiers who have been
wounded in an engagement, when circum-
stances permit this to be DONE and with
the consent of both parties. Those who,
after their wounds are healed, are reeog-
nized as incapable of further military SER
vice, must be sent back to their own coun-
try. Others may be sent back, on condi-
ton OF their not again bearing arms dur
ing the continuance of the war.
For the navy, like rules of mercy are
made. The boats, which, at their own risk
and peril, during and after an engagement
pick up the shipwrecked or wounded, or
which convey them when picked up, on
JOY a neutral character until their mission
is accomplished, at least as far as the po-
Sltlons of the ships engaged, and the other
conditions of the battle, will permit. The
appreciation of these conditions is intrust-
ed TO the humanity of all the comhatants;
but the wrecked and wounded must not
serve again during the continuance of the
war. ANY merchant ship, to whatever ma
ton she may belong, if charged exclusively
rv.,1 - = IL
ed' is privileged as a neutral; but the mere
fact, noted on the ships books, of her hav-
ing eeen visited by an enemy's cruiser, rem
ueIs the scl; and wounded aboard of her
incapable of serving during the continu-
ance OF tile war, their status in this res
pect being like that of paroled prisoners.
me cruisers shall even have right to put
aboard an ef1cer TO accompany the con-
Noy and thus verify the good faith of the
operation. If the merchaptman carries also
cargo, her neutrality will protect that
|hess II contain articles contraband of
war
Bel'lgerens retain the right to intectlict
a reItalized vessel from all communlca-
uoh, and from any course which they may
u'em preJudicial to the secrecy of ;!eir
operations. IN urgent cases, the comn1aEl-
ers~ln-chief may enter into conventions lor
tne temporary and special neutral alton
- 'N29SiS lAltiiuSu Icf the removal or TIE
sch aud Wounded. 2 he sick and wo luGed
"hen embarked, snail be protected nnd
cared Tor ~ their captors, no mater 10
what hatlen they may belong.
Military hospital ships must be painted
"h.te, with green strake. They remain
Under martial law in all that concerns
'uer stores They become the property
81 their captors, who however, must not
u'Vert them from their special purpose
curing the continuance of the war. Hos
PItal ships which are equipped at the ex-
peuae OF aid societies recognized by the
soVcrnments signing the conventions, and
Wmcn are furnished with commissions,
Sished by the sovereign, expressly author
i@'ns their ftting-out, as well as with
PROPER certificate from the chief naval
~uthoHty showing that they have beeen
unper HIS control during their fittlng-out
ana their departure, and that they are set
"part exclusively for their mission of
\ mercy, shall be considered neutral, to-
eiher with all their staff, and be recog-
anzed and protected by the belligerents.
hey shall be painted white with red
S'faBe They must take care not to in
'srlefe in any way with the movements of
ne combatants, and must do their duty
Il y ?, oil