The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-18
Rules Of War.

The Rochester POST Express pub
fishes an interesting summary Of some
of the rules which. under the code of
civilization would be expected to gov
ern a modern war, as for example,
war between Spain and the United
States. Spain has at one time or an
other broken every one of these rules
in Cuba, but she would not have dared
to had the Cuban insurgents received
diplomatic recognition. We note be-
low some Of the points in our contem-
porary's article
BY the agreement made at Geneva,
on the 22d of August, 1864, by the rep
resentatives of France, Switzerland,
Belgium, Portugal Holland. Italy,
Spain, Denmark, Baden and Prussia,
the Red Cross society was made the
agent of mercy amid the scenes of
battle and its ministers, protected by
its symbols. are permitted to bind the
wounds of the field. within the lines of
both cOntending armies That agree
ment eXcmpts also from seizure all
vehicles and buildings devoted to the
care Of the sick and wounded, and
every army surgeon and nurse be-
comes. in the line of duty, a member
of the society and a wearer of its
badge. Since the first signers, other
peoples have ratified the concord SO
that it is now of Worldwide signiti-
canoe, but Spain has only lately per-
mitted the Red Cross society to do
merCiful work in Cuba. Spain has in
bly, put to death the inmates of
captured insurgent hospitals.
a conference of prominent nations
held in Paris in 1856 decided D that
privateering is and remains abolished
(2) that the neutral flag covers enemy's
goods, with the exception of those con-
traband of war, (3) that neutral goods,
with the exception already noted, are
not liable to capture under an enemy's
flag, and (D that blockades, in order
to be binding, must be effective, and
not merely on paper. These declara-
tions are, by their terms, binding only
on those powers which have acceded,
or shall accede to them. Singularly
enough, neither the United States nor
Spain has agreed to all of the fOrego-
ing declarations and the United States
especially has not surrendered the right
Of privateering. But it is believed that
in a war with Spain each Of the fore
going principles would be enforced save
that relating to privateering. Here
Spain might at first enjoy a slight ad-
vantage but it would not be perma-
Of To- or,,io, 4
in ships dying other flags, and Spanish
privateers would challenge these at
their peril.
Among the other rules of war which
are commonly observed our Rochester
contemporary notes the following
Each nation has the right to buy
armed ships antecedent to war, but
cannot buy them from neutrals during
its pendency. a neutral nation cannot
loan money to a belligerent for the
purpose of carrying on war, but this
is a rule not strictly observed and often
circumvented. The employment of sav.
age or half-civilized troops is not per.
mitted, nor does military necessity ex.
cuse acts of cruelty or torture, nor is
the devastation or an invaded district
permissible. Prisoners of war are t.
he humanely treated; officers may be
paroled, but deserters and guerilla'
need not be tenderly regarded. Nava
engagements cannot take place in neu
tral waters, and even privateers mus
treat prisoners taken by them kindly
The trouble with a decayed power
like Spain is that it is not amenable t.
any of the conventional rules of civil
ization. 1t lacks the manhood to b'
decent in either peace or war. Fo
that reason the reputable nation whicl
should decide to tackle it would nee,
TO prepare to attend to its case speed
lily and have the nauseating task sool
completed.