New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-21
EXCHANGE or PRISONERS.

The Spanish authorities refuse 10 release
Lieutenant Hobson ard bis comrades by eX-
change That is the unpleasant news. runoreu
some days ago and now repeated with di7ec'-
ness that makes IL convincing II VIII give T''
10 widespread regret for more reasons thah ol'
There is especial Interest in lionSon. because III"
performed one Of the most gallant iratS III u"
var No doubt-and this may be said without
in the least detracting from the high honor due
IN hirn-thcrc are thousands of other men III
the Navy inst rs brave as he. who would nave
undcrtakcn his task without hesitation Hu' ne
was selected for the enterprise. ana periornieu
II with success and the glory OF II comes 10
him For that reason the American people anu
tho world would ike to see him set at liberty
ovcn # il were on parole that would restrain
him from taking further part in the war Oh
that account there will be much regret at the
decision Of the Spanish Government to reverse
the oene,ous intentions of Admiral Cervera
There will he regret. too. for another reason
and more regret than surprise This decision
shows on how low plane the Spanish Govern
mont means to conduct the war. That intention
was manifested at the outset when Spain. after
some hesitation and equivocaton. declined to
for.go the use of privateers. She was under no
commission to foregO such use any more thah
was the United States But this country
nromDtly and in the most direct terms pledged
itself not TO resort to privatecrinG. That SPAN
did not do the same was not to her credit In
the present case she is not compelled by any
law of nations to exchange prisoners. lherc IS
no such compulsiOn upon any nation. save as
II has laid il upon itself ny special treaty Bu'
the general sentiment and practice of the civil
lied world have long been in favor of eXchang-
ing prisoners. and Il Is not TO SPANS credit
that she makes herself an exception To the rule.
The case would be aggravated If It were
found to he true rs reported that the prisoners
in question are kept confined In fort that Is
particularly exposed TO the fire OF American
sh,ns The MORO fort at Santiago commands
the entrance to tn. harbor. and must be re-
ducad before the harbor can he entered. To
loon the prisoners there would mean that the
Americans IN reducing the fort and entering the
borhor must fire upon their own comrades. II
would be sh~ewd trick, but the ShrcwdncSs
would be that OF savagery not of civiliza-
ton II would he n gross breach Of the spirit
~ international law. Civilized nations are
agreed that prisoners OF war must be treat
cd bumaney They must not be murdered
nor confined in VIGOROUSLY unhealthy place.
nor otherwise treated so to endanSer wan
tonlv their lives and health 1t would be reck-
oned \ monstrOus thing 10 place them ret
tered before the front rank Of an advancln-
army. whore they would he exposed 10 the
fire Of their own friends in battle. II is every
whit as bad to place them in an exposed ioit
which is used as fort and not merely ms
prison If the Spanish Government resort"d I"
such tactics revolving to every instinct Of hu-
panitv # would not only have to answer 10
the United States in this war. II would Fave
10 answer to the outraged moral sense Of tine
civilized world