The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-04-14

lations readsI "The ultimate object Of |
all modern war is a renewed state of |
peace. The more vigorously wars are
pursued the better it is for humanity. |
Sharp wars are brief. No conventional
restrictions of the modes adopted to ia
jure the enemy is any longer admitted,
but the law of war imposes many limi-
tations and restrictions on principles of
faith, justice and honor"
Following this, and dealing with the
stern exegencies of war, it is asserted
"War is not carried on by arms alone.
1t is lawful to starve the hostile bellig-
erent, armed, or unarmed, so that it
leads to the speedier subj of the
enemy. Military necessity admits of
all direct destruction Of life and limb Of
armed enemies and of other persons
whose destruction is incidentally una
voidahle in the armed contests of war.
1t allows of the capturing of every
armed enemy and every enemy of i'm
portance; it allows of all destruction of
property and the destruction of the
ways and channels Of traffic travel or
communication, and of all Withholding
of sustenance or means of life from the
enemy and of such deception as does
not involve the breaking of good faith.
Men who take up arms against one an
other in public war do not cease on this
account to be moral beings, responsible
to one another and to God"
The expulsion of Spanish subjects
from the United States would not neces-
sarily follow a declaration of war with
Spain. The regulations provide that
foreign subjects may communicate
with foreign parts or with the inhabi-
tants of the hostile country so far as
the military authorities permit and no
further. Instant explosion from the
country would be the least penalty for
communicating information calculated
to injure the American cause or benefit
the enemy.
Here is a paragraph of which heed
might we'll be taken by those patriotic
Kansas ladies and other exponents Of
} the ambitious new waman worriol
type: "The law of war, like the Grim
inal war regarding other offenses, make
, no distinction on account of the differ
ence Of sex concerning the spy, the wal
traitor, or the war rebel.
{ REGULATIONS REGARDING COMMANDMENT
5 Commanders, whenever admissible
inform the enemy of their intention tC
3 lombard fortified city, SO that non
+ combatants, and especially women ant
children, may be removed from danger
BIT it is no infraction Of the common
laws OF war to fail in thus warning the
enemy of its danger. Surprise is hello
in some cases to be necessity. Only
r fortified places are liable to lombard
ment tbs customary when city il
to be bombarded to design ate hospitals
E and like institutions by flags, usually
yellow, SO that the besieging enemy
may avoid firing on them. The same
is done in battles where hospitals are
located within the field Of engagement
An honorable enemy respects these
:. flags of protection so far as the fgh
will permit, and it is justly considered
an act Of bad faith, or infamy, ant
fiendishness to deceive an enemy by
= such flags. The besiegiRg enemy oft
en- requests the besieged to designate
the buildings containing collections o
, art, scientific museums, Or precious
libraries; so that their destruction may
. be avoided.
The use of poison in any manner, b.
y it to poison wells, food, or arms, il
wholly excluded from modern warfare
o "He that uses it" says the regulation
. "puts himself beyond the pale of Law
, and the usages of war. But the law o
q wsr cannot dispense with retaliation
: Civilized nations acknowledge retalia
q tion to be the sternest feature of war
: yet reckless enemy often leads to hi
). opponent no other means of securing
a himself against the repetition of bar
= barous outrage. Retaliation therefore
!. will never be resorted to as measur,
a of revenge, but only as a means of pro
v tective retribution.
a AS regards confiscation, the Ameri
8 can army is authorized to appropriate
r all public money, seize all public aAt
movable property, and sequester for it
e own benefit alt the revenues of rea
! property belonging to the hostile gov
! eminent. AS general rule propert,
= belonging to hospitals, churches. char
h liable institutions, and seats of learn
q ing is not considered public property
I and is therefore exempt from the NE
/. cessities of war, except in extremel,
I urgent cases. If works of art, libra
= ries,, scientific museums, ETC., can b,
/ removed without injury the American
r commander may order them to b,
seized and removed. Ultimate owner
, ship will then be decided by the ensu