The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-26

ON THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
capt. CrO1ier Gives some Interesting
Views of 1t.

Washington, Sept. 2J.-Capt. Crozier, OF
the ordnance bureau. who was a member
of the International peace conference at
The Hague, has returned to mis- duties in
the war department.
Capt Crozer talks entertainingly Of the
proceedings of the conference. and is well
pleased with what was accomplished.
He says that it was known as soon as
the conference assembled that there could
be nothing done regarding the decrease Of
the armies and in the progress in the mat
ter of offensive and defensive warfare,
but the subject was considered and given
attention, though nothing approaching an
agreement was ever reached
To Capt CrOzer the most important and
Interesting feature of the conference which
was agreed upon is the treaty for an in
teruational code Of civilized warfare. The
basis of the code was the celebrated order
No. 100 issued by the United States during
the civil war, in which a code for the
treatment of prisoners, non-combatants,
spies, women, churches and property was
provided.
The most serious point OF difference in
this matter was the treatment
of those citizens in an invad-
ed country who, without officers,
organization or uniform fought in defense
OF their homes and country. The smaller
nations of the continent and England, es-
pecially, cOntended for the right of such
persons to treatment as legitimate SOL
diers of the nation to which they belong
ed. On the other hand, The strong mil
itdry governments maintained thai only
soldiers in uniform, properly differed and
armed, should receive treatment of SOL
diers, and all hers be subject
to be shot as guerilias without quarter.
Il was finally decided that men N
an invaded country should be considered a
soldiers if they complied with these pro-
visions: Were organized under a response
ble officer; carried guns openly; wore som
distinctive badge or emblem and observed
the laws and customs of war. These reg
ulations are not required in case of sudden
invasion, so that they cannot be complied
with provided the combatauts OBJ
serve the laws and customs of war
The protection of non-comba tants, OF
women and children and of property is
provided for The trea tment of and defini
ton of spies IS one of the articles. Works
of art are no longer considered spoils OF
war. and are not to be carried away or de-
stroyed. The Dissertation of public build
ings. and other public property IS not al
lowed unless it is absolutely necessary Tor
military purposes. Private properly is not
TO be held and seized except in cases of
necessity. and is not TO be taken
unless absolutely needed. Church proper
~ is to be respected 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, there were disagree
ments at times which made the subject
difficult to adjust
However an earnest desire TO reach an
agreement finally prevailed with the re-
suit that a treaty was drawn which re-
ce,ved the support of all the representa-
tives of the nations present.
The action of the United States in TAX
ing the lead in The matter OF humaneness
of warfare back in 1868 was fsvorabiy
commented upon by number of the dele
Gates.