The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
HOW WAR is sWAGEOl.
Rules and Customs that Must be TO


sanized. effort on the part Of two armies
TO exter1ninate each other regardless
Of the manner in which it is done 1t Is
nevertheless a fact that there are many
rules and customs governing the game
OF war that are followed with exact
nicely by those who are engaged In the
conflict To the private citizen these
questions of right and wrong, of foul and
fair, where war is concerned are some-a
what mysterious, but military men know
and study them, for they realize that If
these things are not remembered on the
battlefield they are liable to- bring their
government into disrepute.
War is properly aE armed conflict be-.
tween two Independent nations and can
only he brought b., tie soveign power OF
state When there is war between two
nations. every subject of&one nation De-
comes IN the eye of the law an enemy
to every subject of the other nation.
This principle authorizes the detention
as prisoners of war of all subjects or ole
of the hostile parties foud travelling or
residing the country OF the other. II
also authorizes this conflscation of their
goods, an extreme course that is seldom
followed, although 1t was adopted by
Napoleon in 1903 when he detained 10Q1
British subjects in prison until the peace
Of 1914 At present. however, the prac-
tice of mpdcrn warfare would scarcely
justify such an action.
War IS not a relation of man TO man.
but of state to state and its object, po--
.itically speaking is the redress by force
of a national injury. From the military
standpoint it is to procure the complete
submission of the enemy as quickly and
IS cheaply as possible. The rules that
have been adopted in the carrying out
Of this warfare are based in the general
principle that no greater harm snail De
done to the enemy than necessity may re-
nuire The one effort is TO bring the
enemy to terms and to achieve this there
must be no eratuitous barbarities nor
can there be any cruelty or insults that
might tend to increase the hatred of the
enemy without weakening his strength
or tending, TO procure his submission
AS a result poisoning is prohibited and
assassination is not permitted. although
it is permissible for a small force TO
penetrate into the enemy's camp where
ti,ey can even kill general or take him
prisoner without infringing any of the
customs of war. II such customs are
transgressed the army committing these
acts place themselves in a, position 10
be treated otherwise than as prisoners OF
war. This law. however. does not pro
hibit the use of high explosives, as 1t is
permissible to destroy the enemy by any
legitimate means.
Tre~e. are TO rI'cs as to the treatment
of non-combatants, but no humane COM
mandec will harm them.
The United States instructions say tha1
it is lawful, as an extreme measure 10
turn back non-combatants, in order TO
expedite a surrender. when the comman-
der has expelled them in order TO nave
the less mouths to feed
According to the rules or war the
.-;.-fe t1,-n oil
armed force: ~ the unarnEed popu.at!on.
The latter the immune. the former may
be DESTROYED as long they exist. IN
cases Of surrender quarters Should liol
tn denied the former combatants. unless
they have been guilty of such violations
OF the laws of war as to expose theil-
selves to the, penalty of death, and even
in such cases this penalty should not pe
imposed until, after the prisone! mas peea
tiled and convicted
Prisoners Of war cannot be competed
20 assist their captors III the carrying OUT
of their military operations but they may
be employed in any other capacity Cu-
less they have given a promise not 10 es-
cape they are justified in making the at
tempt. If they are shot while 1nahi,'s
.his atte-rnt 10 violation of the rules
have occurred, but if retaken they cannot
be punished for having made their break
for liberty.
Prisoners of war may be Daroled but
such parole is voluntary contract. Inc
captor is not obliged to offer to paroie
his prisoner and the cactured may re-
fuse to accept the parole. II ne doeS
agree to re,ease on Parole he Dedses
himslf against active service against the
enemy during the existing war, but this
does not prevent him from doing service
in drilling recruits Quellint; disturbance
or performing other duties of a SEMI
peaceful character. IT, ate making ms
p,sdse, the prisoner finds that 1T is 'ol
approved by his government he IS pollno
bv his promise TO return and surrender
himself to the enemy.
Parole is usually given through ccm-
handing officer and such an officer has
the right to give parole for himself ana
his men, All are bound by his promise
OF course the wounded of the enemy
are 10 be cared for second only to one s
cwn wounded.
The non-comatant population OF the
enemy's country cannot be made to fSh'
against those with whom they sympathise
but they can be compelled to give UP
their arms. give a bond for good conduct
and may be made to act as guides. dry
crs and workmen providing all such SER
vices are paid for. FuEitives and DESERT
ers or persons violating their parole are
liable TO the penalty of death. All or
ganzed forces announcing themselves
as enemies must be treated accordingly
and. if captured. must be accorded the
rights due a prisoner OF war
Retaliation is military vengeance: II
implies that wien an outrage. has been
committed on one side the other side
may retaliate by the commission Of
similar act. If prisoners are executed
,Iniust,y the enemy have a perfect right
to execute an equal number OF prlsoners
retaliation is the extreme right of " a
and should only be resorted to as
'ast necessity. -:
The primary object Of war IS compen-
atom for a, Injury and this may o.
nay not be FED to include the expens'
>f the war.Ir is5 lawful to take tro'
he enemy anything that 2 rond"ces t.
,.is rears of reei-toro- This does no..
include perm s=ion- TO wa.1tomly q Image
= 4