New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-16
CIPLE-CTTTJNG IN WAR.

TIL, gallant exploit of our forces at Glen
fuegos last week has led to some discussion or
tbe status OF submarine Geographic cables IN
tjmc of war and Of the right Of bclligerents 10
destroy them or TO interfere with their work
ing. 1t Is generally recognized that Govern
ment NAV properly suspend or control the use
of cables landing upon It's own shores as this
Government has done with the cables from
Havana 70 Key West and from NcwI0rk to
Hayti. But the case of cables running to
neutral lands and owned by neutrals IS differ
emf The cable which was eat nj Clenfuegos.
for example runs from that place to kingston
Jamaica. a British port. and is the property OF
the Cuba Submarine Company, British con
Germ. with offices in London. The other lire
from Cienfuegos. along the coast TO Santiago
de Cuba ard thence to Holland Bay Jamaica,
is the property of the West India ana fanaiha
Company. also British concern. The lnes-
ton then arises, Ivy what right sncii property
of neutrals can be seized or destroyed. Should
no The same protection be afforded to cables
that is given to neutral merchandise;
The obvious answer is that cables. though
neutral property. arr 10 be regarded as contra
band of war. and are therefore subject 10 seiz-
ure and destruction The phrase "contrahand
of war" is difficult TO interpret fully on hard
and fast lines OF universal application. But IL
nav certainly he said that anything Is contra
band which is all engine of warfare. or which
is directly used for the promotion Of Deliigerent
operations. Thus an army marching through
The country would not be justincd III destroy
ing property public or private. which was used
and could be used only for peaceful purposes
But il would he justified In burning a bridge
or blowing I'D a railroad tunnel which was
about 10 be used a path of advance by the
enemy's army 1t would not modest men who
were going about their peaceful vacations. But
Il would arrest and detaln any who were carry
ing messages for the opposing army ON exact
ly the same principle 4 cable that IS used, or
is likely to be used. for the transmission OF bel
ligerent messages. orders for the movements oI
fleets and armies. etc. may properly be treated
a contraband OF war.
This principle is. indeed. generally recog-
nlzed The Russian Navy IL well known 10
have NJ least one ship fitted out with graphing
apparatus for the express purpose of binding
and cutting cables, and It is probable that other
European navies similarly equipped II
will be remembered. too. that The International
Gable Convention. which provides for the pro
lection OF cables from wanton damage. express
" provides that the stipulatons do
mot in any way restrict the action of belliger-
"ents" Evidently the diplomats who framed
that document were persuaded tina, cables were
TO be reckoned con;raband Of war. There can
thus be no diplomatic objection 10 such action
az that at Cienfuegcs. Whether the owners or
the cable will have a valid claim for compensa-
ton for the damage TO their property IS doubt
full or more than doubtful. Their property was
on belligerent territory. and II Is sound rule
that ncutrals domiciled on bclligeren territory
are subject to the penalties Of beiligeren's 1hat
is rule which our British friends have them
selves promulgated. and which they VIII not
repudate, even when 1t bears against their
own interests