The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-14
THE LAWS OF WAR.
A Game Governed By Strict Rules Which Must Be OBJ
served BY Both Sides.

I quired to sustain our Spanish prisoners
comfortably, although we would, after
| the close OF the war, send in polite
little bill to Spain. demanding that the
expense be refunded. Others besides
spies forfeit their rights of protection
as prisoners OF war, and can be exc
cuted whe-, CAPTURED Thus, one OF
| our courts-martial might sentence to
death a body of Spanish gusrrilias,
prisoners of war who have been releas-
ed under promise that they will not
fight again, or deserters from our own
army.
It would, of course, be a violation of
the accepted rules of war 70 injure nom
combatants or take them prisoners of
war, except in such CASES as sieges,
where every citizen must defend him
and children are always considered
non-combatants. In some countries
these privileges are extended to MINIS
ters of the gospel. A declaration of
war between Spain and this country
would cause all foreign nations not en-
gagged in the struggle to regard us both
with the utmost care. As soon as the
declaration should be made it would
be the duty of President Mckinley,
through our foreign ambassadors and
ministers, to Immediately notify the
ruler of every neutral nation. Unless
such formal notification should be
given. government could not be held
responsible for any breach of the neu-
trality laws. No neutral state, such as
Mexico, for instance, if so informed,
could permit an armed force belonging
TO either side to remain on its territory
while contemplating an attack. Should
the force be a defeated army of fuSi-
tves taking refuge from pursuit of the
enemy. Mexico would be simply ex-
tending re 10 h..
TO ccrne over the line. According to the
general practice, they would be dis
armed and retained by Mexico until tbs
war should close. Likewise, we could
not properly march a body Cf forces
through France into Spain. although
the waters of France in such q case
would not be considered as neutral ter !
ritOry unless France should especially !
stipulate that they should not be
passed over by either belIigerert
Should we take the Philippines. for
example, we could not sell them to any
neutral government. like Japan CT
China, during war with Spain, or
until cur right to the conquest should
become properly confirmed by treaty
or otherwise.
A neutral country would set itself 1
entangled in war between Spain and +
The United States should il furnish us (
with troops. arms or wariike material .
after war should be declared. Thus /;
1t is essential that both goverrm hts I
purchase their necessary ships and !
equipment abroad before the first gun !,
is heard. 1t would, therefore, be IN
safe for US to place a large order for !
arms or ammunition in the hands of a .
foreign power lest it be untitled at the
outbreak Ct hcstilitias. SpaIn, of couTse. !
would become much more a paUpsr !
than she is now in case of war. No neu- /
trail could oil or
its citizens 20 make her gifts of money
or to lend her money without Interest. /
Any one willing to run the great risk
could lend her the money under the /
condition that interest be paid. Money, :
of course. is an article If com -7erce.
and both Spain and the United States,
II at war, could buy it in foreign MAI
ket. just as they could potatoes.
1t would be an unfriendiy act for
any neutral government. as one of tn +
Central American republics, for ir-
stance. to become base Of supplies to
either beEigerent nation. Soma nations
have been so cautious as to clcsa their
ports to two nations at war. Should
no such rule be laid down, a Spanish
man of-war might run into Central
American pert merely to make such re-
pairs as might save her from distress
or to take aboard sufficient coal to en-
able her TO sail only to the nearest Gu
Dan port. II would be an act unfrlenC-
ly to the United States to give a Span
ish vessel sufficient coal to carry
her on a mission OF war Should such
a vessel be followed into the neutral
port by one of our warships we would
be expected to make no attack. and she
would be given "a hours start of as in
order to avoid conflict near by. Some
nations. such as England. highly versed
in the etiquette of war, would enforce
the rule that war vessels of either
Spain or this country shGu'd not remain
in port for more than "a hours. except
in cases of bad weather or when dis
abled.
War between two important govern
ments necessarily causes neutral na-
tons a deal of trouble, since they must
suffer numerous intsrferences With
their commerce. A Spanish or United
States man-of-war would have the
right to search any private vessel of a
neutral nation which it might suspect
Of carrying on contraband trade or
breach of blockade Mail
steamers of a neutral government
could likewise be searched. but the
laws Of war forbid the opening of a
neutral governments mail bag, except
in cases of very grave suspicion.
mail steamer. unlike an ordinary pri-
vate vessel, would, however, be allowed
to proceed on its way after giving I'D
only such articles as might be consid-
cred hostile by the searchers.
- c.