The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-09-29
THE PEAcE CONGRESS.
Capt. Crozier, q Member, Talks Entertatn-
ingly OF the Proceedings at Tho
Hague-InternationarT Treaty.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-Capt. Crozier,
Of the ordnance bureau, who was a
member of the international confer
ence at The Hague, has returned to his
duties in the war department. Capt
Crozier talks entertainingly of the
proceedings of the conference, and
is well pleased with what was accom-
plished. He says that it was known
as soon as the conference assembled
that there could be nothing done re-
garding the decrease of armies, and
the cessation of invention and pro-
gress in the matter of offensive and
defensive warfare, but the subject was
considered and given attention, though
nothing approaching an agreement
was ever reached.
To capt. Crozier the most important
and interesting feature of the confer.
ence which was agreed upon is the
treaty for an international code of civ
ilized warfare. The basis of the code
was the celebrated order No. 100, issued
in 1868 by the United States during
the civil war, in which a code for the
Treatment of prisoners, non-combat-
ants, spies, women, church and prop
erty was provided.
The most serious point of difference
in this matter was the treatment of
those citizens in an invaded country
who. without officers, organization or
uniform, fought in defense of their
homes and country. The smaller ma
tons of the continent, and England
especially, commended for the right of
such persons to treatment as legit-
innate soldiers of the nation to whicI
the strong military governments main
tanned that only soldiers in uniform,
properly Differed and armed, should
receive treatment of soldiers
and all others be subject to be shot as
gucrillas without quarter. It was
finally decided that men in an invaded
country should be considered as sol
diers if they complied with these pro-
visions: Were organized under re-
sponsible officer; carried guns openly;
wore some distinctive badge or en-
blem and observed the laws and Gus
toms of war. These regulations are
not required in case of sudden inva-
sion, so that they can not be complied
with, provided the combatants OBJ
served the laws and customs of war.
The protection ofnon-combatants, of
women and children and of property is
provided for. The treatment of and
definition of spies is one of the arti-
Giles. Works of art are no longer con-
sidered spoils of war and are not to be
carried away or destroyed. The de-
struction of public buildings and other
public property is not allowed unless
it is absolutely necessary for military
purposes. Private property is not to
be seized and held except in cases
of necessity and is not to be
taken unless absolutely needed;
church property is to be respect
ed and the rules of the Red Cross
now used on land are extended
to maritime warfare. While nearly all
the delegates agreed that there should
be more humaneness in warfare, there
were disagreements at times which
made the subject difficult to adjust.
However, an earnest desire to reach
an agreement finally prevailed with
the result that d treaty was drawn
which received the support of all the
representatives of the nations present.
The action of the United States in TAX.
ing the lead in the matter of humane
ness in warfare back in 1858, was
favorably commented on by a number
of the delegates
MIICT CTOD MORIT IZTNH