The western recorder., 1898-07-21
A New Spectacle in War.

States received the surrender of
Santiago introduces new principles
into the practices of war; Santiago
was at the mercy of the American
army and navy. The city could
have been destroyed by the CON-
bined artillery attack from the
land and the water and its garrison
Killed with comparatively slight
loss to the American side. Or if
a siege had been decided on instead
OF ali attack, the Spaniartls could
have been starved to death or into
submission in short time, for
very little food was left in the city
and the chances for getting sup
plies from the outside were cut off.
These were tremendous advantages
for the Americans, but the only
way they were employed was in
the merciful way of showing the
Spaniards by repeated conferences
the hopelessness of resistance. and
thus brought the surrender which
saved the lives of the Spanish SOL
diers. The Americans had the
giants strength, but they refused
to use it like giant.
But the part of the terms of sur
render which will create the strong
est impression on the world is that
by which the captured army is to
be transported to Spain at Ameri-
can expense. This will be a new
spectacle in warfare. In the ex-
tent to which it is to be carried
out, in the distance which is to be
traversed, and in the general con-
ditions under which it is undcrta
ken, it is without example in the
worlds history. Here indeed is a
wide departure, not only from the
usages of Americas enemy; but
f,om the practices of all the other
European nations. 1t is not long
ago since the theory of individual
enmity-that is, that all citizens
OF a warning state were enemies of
all the citizens of the other bellig-
erent-provailed throughout the
world. Bynkershoek, n well-known
writer on international law, said a
century and third ago that "all
force in war is Just" nnd added
that "it is legitimate to dies troy
the enemy even when unarmed, or
by poison or assassination Upon
that theory, as shown in Cuba and
the Philippines, the Spaniards car
ry on war to this day.
Aside even from its humanita-
rian aspect, this concession by the
United States is wise. 1t will con-
vince Europe that no selfish con-
siderations actuated this country
in going to war with Spain. 1t
will impress the world with the
power. resources and enlightened
spirit of the nation which sees it
can afford to be thus considerate
to its foe. 1t will convince the
Spanish people of the folly of con-
tinuing the war with n nation that
can thus rise superior TO the adj
vantagcs and chances which its
enemy's fecbleness presents. The
first sight of the returning Spanish
prisoners which Spain gets will
expose the falsity of the Spanish
newspaper tales about the alleged
victories of their troops and the
alleged weakness of the United
States. The arrival in Spanish
ports of the unarmed Spanish SOL
diers on American ships, or ships
chartered by the Americans, will
be a concrete evidence that Span
ish military fortunes are at low
ebb. Whom Spain gets glimpse
of Toral's beaten army as it steps
off from American transports and
lands on Spanish soil it will grasp
the fate that awaits Blanco il the
war is kept up. Then the truth
will flash into SPANS darkened
mind that a continuance of the
war means ruin, and she will prob
ably sue for peace.-Globe-Demo-