Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-04-07
How War Commences.
Richmond Times

we hear so much Of DECLARATIONS O
war" now that it is just as we'll to Iool
little into what we are talking abou
when discussing them.
1t is very important there should bs
declaration of war when nations
fight, because the rights Of private in
olviduals are most seriously affected
oy a state of war. The citizens of the
one Power have no right to have any
transactions of any sort whatever with
the citizens of the other Power when
the two are at war and contracts made
between them in that condition are
VOID. Many penalties of the severest
character attach to intercourse be
tween the citizens OF two Powers at
war with each other. 30 that it is Of the
utmost Importance that men should
know officially and definitely when
this country is at war with another
nation and when it is not.
Nevertheless there are but few of the
wars Of the past that have been nre>
ceded by actual declaration of war. In
a recent issue tie Baltimore Sun made
statement of the facts in regard to
the wars Of this country which was
very interesting indeed, and we shall
make free use of its material.
In the present century there is only
one instance of a European war in
which actual hositilities were proceed
ed by formal declaration of war, and
that was in the case of the Franco
German war. The Emperor Napoleon
sent his ambassador to King William
demanding that he should declare that
there was no intention to place Prince
Of the Prussian House of Hohenzollern
On the throne Of Spain and notifying
him that unless the demand was com |
piled with war would follow. King
William refused to accede to the de.
nand and two days latter formal de-
'laration of war by France against
Prussia was published at Paris on July
10Th. Some wag remarked of this war
hat 1.-THE Emperor Napoleon went to
war in watermelon season and slipped
Up on the rhine"
All the other wars of this century
lave been commenced without any
preceding declaration of war; In 1901
england believed that Denmark was
oing to place her feet Of the disposal
4 the Czar Paul of Russia and she ,
sent her fleet after the
Danish to sink and disperse it and this
1as effectually done secumdum action.
She did the same thing in 1907 when
er Prime Minister, Mr.. Canning,
bought he had reason to believe Nap
leon Bonparte was about to acquire
40 Danish fleet. In both instance she |
lade war upon Denmark, but there b
as 10 preceding declaration of war. Il
In 1906 Prussia seized Hanover with t.
ut any declaration of war and Eng n
nd forthwith retaliated by striking O
very Prussian ship in sight without T
,claring war;.
In 1927 the combined fleets of Great T
ritain, Russia and France destroyed
e entire Turkish feet at Navarinol
Ithout any declaration of war havingj.
zen made:
In 1910 England, Russia and Austria
lining in suppressing Mehemet. All
lthout giving him the slightest warn
g. There was a formal declaration
war by England and France in 1854,
'aInst Russia (the Crimean war;, but
fore it was made the British fleet
d entered the Black Sea with fight Il"
g orders and was carrying them out. "
1853 Napoleon III. entered Pied
ont with his army before he declared
II and before the Austrian army had ca
ossed the river Licino In 1866 the So
ussian army started out on its march or
Vienna before there was any de- in,
ration of war, though one was sent de
Austria some days after hostilities Re
M.
n 1912 we seized ali British vessels on
our harbors before we declared war TT,
ainst Great Britain, and the fighting St,
8 well advanced in our war with
xico before we declared war against !
1t country. ,oSe
The rule has been, therefore, to fight
It and declare war afterwards. When
comes it is most likely to come by abb
ldual approaches, and the natl ons hol
gagged are likely to be actually fight
before war is declared This will
'bably be the case if we become in III
we'd in war with Spain. which every
I'd citizen should pray may be avert !
if possible. If
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