Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-06-02

| combine the fortunes OF fire 70 those
of concussiol. Chain shot was even
more crue. in effect. A pair Of can
non were loaded with balls connected
by chains, the guns being close TO-
gether, but trained at such an angle
as would spread the balls apart when
the two fuses were lighted simultane-
ously. The chain was made as long
as might be desired, and by It's means
large bodies OF men could be horribly
mangled as If by the stroke II giant
scythe.
Hollow shot or hollow bullets were
considered cruel because they became
iattened and irregular after coming
in contact with bone, thus making
wounds unnecess arily painful. Lam
grel, composed Of nails, knife blades,
bits Of iron, etc., which made
horrible wounds, is forbidden for the
same reason Projectiles Of an ex-
plosiye nature, or charged with infam-
mable substances, are now considered
unlawful between nations. if weigh
ing less than thirteen ounces. Like
wise, poison is strictly forbidden as
element Of war. In ancient wars it
was customary to use poisoned ar
rows or to poison the rivers flowing
into the enemy's country.
While it would be proper for Spain
or the United States to lay waste the
standing crops Of the other merely to
temporarily reduce district, it would
be illegal to uproot vineyards, orch
ards, etc, so as to desolate the country
for years afterward.
Prisoners Of war should be very
carefully handled by a well bred ma
ton like ours. None but barbarous
general would countenance cruelty to
a war prisoner or a soldier who had
surrendered
81 nd we take the Philippines, for
example, We could not sell them to
any neutral government like Japan or
China, during a war with Spain, or
until our right to the conquest should
become properly confirmed by treaty
or otherwise.
A neutral country would get itself
entangled in war between Spain and
the United States should it furnish US
with troops, arms, or warlike mater
ial after war should be declared. Thus
is is essential that both governments
purchase their necessary ships and
equipments abroad before The first
gun is heard
1t would be an unfriendly act for
any neutral government, as one of the
Central American republics, for in
stance, to become a base Of supplies
to either belligerent nation. Some
nations have been 30 cautious as to
close their ports to two nations at
war Should no such rule be laid
down a Spanish man-of-war might
run into Central American port
merely to make such repairs as might
save her from distress, or to take
aboard sufficient coal to enable her to
soil only - tba ,,ao-c.. OBJ, .
1t would be an act unfriendly to the
United States to give a Spanish yes
sci sufficient coal TO carry her on a
mission OF war. Should such a vessel
be followed into the neutral port by
one Of our warships we would be ex-
pected to make no attack, and She
would be given twenty-four hours
start Of rs in order to avoid conflict
near by. Some nations, such as Eng
land. highly versed in the etiquette
Of war, would enforce the rule that
war vessels Of either Spain or this
country should not remaincin port for
more than twenty-four hours except
in cases Of bad weather or when dis
abled.
War between two important gov
ernments causes neutral nations deal
Of trouble. since they must suffer
numerous interferences with their
commerce. 4 Spanish or United
Stated man-of-war would have the
right search any private vessel Of a
neutral nation which it might suspect
Of carrying on eontraband trade OF
committing breach Of blockade.
Mail steamers Of neutral govern
meuj could likewise be searched. but
the Jaws ot war forbid the opening Of
a neutral governments mail bag. eX-
eer in eases Of very grave suspicion.
4 mali steamer, unlike an ordinary