New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-23
RULES FOR FUTURE WARS.
FIRST COMMITTEE AT THE HAGUE DIS
CUSSEs REPORTS.
NEW EXPLOSIVES ALLOWED DUMDUM
BULLETS PROHIBITED-DECLARAT
AGAINST AsPHYXIATING GASES.

AGAINST AsPHYXIATING GASES.
The Hague, June 22-After short sessions o,
the subcommittee Of War and Navy. at which
reports by Mator-General den Beer Poortugael'
OF the Dutch delegation, and Count soltyk the
Austrian naval expert. were respectively ADOPT
ed. the First Committee met to discuss the same
in the above order.
The delegates declared in favor OF any state
using any new explosives new Inventions FOR
ordnance. Russia and Bulgaria alone refraining
from voting
The question Of dumdum bullets was dis
cussed, Major-General Sir John Ardagh OF the
British delegation. declaring that Great Britain
did not desire TO use any projectile inconsistent
with the principles Of modern war. and that
dumdums should only be used against an un-
civilized foe.
The Conference finally resolved in favor OF pro-
hibting the use OF bullets which easily spread
or fatten out in the human body, such as expo
sive bullets bullets in a hardened case wnlch
does not entirely cover the point. or bullets win
an incision.
The British and American delegates alone
voted in the negative.
The use OF any new explosives IN proJec''e'
from balloons was prohibited for five years
The question of restraining the introduction OF
new types OF rifles was deferred
Count Soltyks report was then taken up II
declared that the subcommittee. though unaoie
10 agree regarding the proposed aoohtioh Vi
naval rams. submarine torpedo boats ana the
use Of explosives. had declared against the use
OF asphyxiating gases which the f1rst Oo'i'''''
tee also approved.
The American demand for the protection Oh
,rivate property at sea has not yet been pre-
santad 70 the Peace Conference. Andre" ~
White head Of the American Delegation u"
Tuesday requested the president OF the conner
ence NJ. de staal. 10 submit the question 10 the
Conference. at the same time suggesting tha'
the proper way TO bring the matter up ror u''
cussion would be to assemble plenarE wi"
ference. submit the question ana nave II
ferred to a commission for examination NJ ue
c., hos M, vet arrived at a decision. as the
American proposal has not been trahs'ateu iI"
French It is the general opinion that 'he ue
eates OF the great Powers are aosoiuteH op
posed to raising the question, arguing the an
cornpetence OF the Conference to 90 50 unuei
tho terms Of Count MuravieT's circular. NJ DE
staal having declared at the opening OF 'he
Conference with the approval or the oe'eea'''
that under no circumstances would the Coh-
ference discuss any question not contained ia
the circular Several delegates declare there
,s l,,t1A chance OF the question being discussed
but that II Il is discussed America Will ne op-
rosed with the utmost energy by Great Britain
and all the great Powers
A number OF the delegates are suffering from
a mild form Of malaria, caused by the e'naHa-
tlons from the canals. which receive the sewage.
EXCITING DAY IN THE CONFERENCE.
A LIVELY CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE
RUSSIAN NAVAL DELEGATE AND
CAPTAIN MAHAN
London. June 23-The correspondent Of The
Times" at The Hague says:
This has been one OF the most exciting DAYS
n, the Conference. There was sharp contro-
versv between the Russian and American naval
delegates Captain Mahan very pertnently
asked why the employment Of gas should be
interdicted while the more cruel wholesale de-
struction OF human life aimed at by the en-
plovrnent OF submarine torpedo boats should De
permitted A shell charged with aspnyxlathg
gas need not necessarily destroy human life ne
said 'anv more than chloroform, but might only
nlacA men hors de combat for time: whereas
n submarine boat stealthiy approaching under
cover Of darkness. might send thousand sleep
ing men TO a watery grave. Why forbid retail
asphyxiation by air and permit wholesale
asphyxiation by water"
"A Russian delegate replied that the men
might he picked up when the ship sank. cap
tain Mahan retorted by recalling the case OF tne
british battleship Victoria where. as he point
ed out in a highly disciplined heet IN p'oau
daylight and smooth waters, many hundreds
OF men were drowned so sudden was the catas-
trophe and so short the available time TO pick
81 ba n r7rria si
that this happened when immense feet was
close together and intent on doing its utmost
to save life.
"Captain Mahan's arguments were altogether
logical and unassailable but this did not pre-
vent the Commission voting them down. A
suggestion. that seemed to be made quite seri-
ously was put forward by one delegate 10 the
effect that a submarine boat would naturally
do her best to save life after she had sent the
ship TO the bottom.
In the discussion regarding dumdum bull
lets the Russian delegate Colonel Jilinsky, did
not mince matters but plainly pressed the
opinion that the dumdum was uselessy cruel.
He refused TO accept the humanitarian amend
rnent proposed by Captain Crozier Of the Amer
lean delegation. which would have been voted
unanimously that no bullet should be adopted
which caused unnecessary suffering.
Although 1t must be obvious to all that CIV
ing a specific technical interdictlon to certain
features will not prevent the introduction Of
other features capable OF producing more cruel
results. this is likely 10 be the case. Indeed an
ingenious and simple means OF evadng the
Russian interdction has already been devised
What a strange commentary on humanitarian
conference that OF its results may very we'll
be the introduction OF mere cruel missile than
at present In use,
Data In md
America were left In the minority. England
and the United States therefore. are branded
by the majority az uncivilized and anti-humani-
tartan States while the Russians are TO be con-
graduated on having served the cause OF civili-
zation and humanity. At least the eccentrici-
ties OF to-day's debate have almost put matters
in that absurd light"
TO TEST LOG EXPORT LAW.