New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
PART IL.
FOURTEEN PAGES.
TROOPS OF THE ORIENT.
ENGLAND ANNOUNCES THAT SHE WILL
USE HER AsIATIc AND AFRICAN
SOLDIERS IN EUROPEAN
WARFARE
WARFARE.

one Of the most important announcements tha.
have been made in the British Parliament for
MANY years is the declaration last week of
-oseph Chamberlain. the Colonial Secretary. that
she English Government will not hesitate hence
forth 10 employ in Europe or elsewhere her Ind
,an and African troops. It is an announcement
~ the most profound interest to the entire civil
tied world but more especially to the great
movers. such as the United States. Russia.
France and Germany. which have millions Of
ssroi-barbarous races subject 10 their rule.
1-ncle Sam alone has some eight million Filipinos
IN whom the military instinct Is strongly devel-
ored the males preferring warfare TO industry.
with a characteristic Oriental disregard for
death or injury. and possessing almost incredible
movers Of endurance. they would rather fight
Than work. Indeed. the Philippine Islands will
furnish TO the United States practically mex
haustible recruiting ground for its army, now
that the compact which has hitherto existed be-
tween civilized nations against the Of ORR
entail or African troops in civilized warfare is to
be broken by Great Britain. SO sensational IN
deed is the announcement made by the English
Government that an international congress is
likely 10 be summoned 10 discuss the matter.
Curiously enough the Peace Conference at
The Hague two years ago, when the rules Of war
were subjected 20 a revision. carefully avoided
anv reference TO the matter. No steps were
taken toward specific engagement by treaty
70 refrain from the employment OF Asatic and
African troops in civilized warfare, and the only
action by the delegates that can be considered as
in any way hearing upon the question was the
declaration of their adhesion to the accepted
laws Of warfare among civilized nations" These
laws include a restriction prohibiting the use Of
bodies Of troops composed Of individuals Of saw
age or serni-clviIized races. Neither England,
Russia nor yet France is desirous Of binding her
self 10 abstain from the Of dusky soldiers in
the event of 2 war in which national existence
was likely TO he AT stake. The matter, by a sort
Of tacit agreement. was therefore kept out of the
discussions at The Hague
II has until now been generally understood,
however. by these three powers that II native
troops were employed ii would be only in the
last extremity. This view has been strength
ened by the extraordinary pains which the Eng
Iish Government has taken 10 prevent the war
like Basuto tribes who are under British rule
and most loyal to the English flag. from taking
part in the war against the Beers. In the war
of 1870 the French brought few native regi-
rnents of Turcos from Algeria. But so great was
the outcry raised not only in Germany and else
where in Europe. but even in France, against
their employment that they were hastily shipped
hack 10 Africa long before the close Of the war,
although they were magnificent fighters, and,
from a military point Of view. Of infinitely
greater value than the unframed levies of Mob
lots" the majority Of whom had never handled
a gun.
This shows better than anything else how
strong has been the prejudice in the past against
the use Of semi-civilized races in the wars OF
Christian states with one another. and the ex-
tent 20 which the practice has been condemned
by that species Of unwritten and underlined code
known as 1.-The law OF nations" II is sentiment
that found expression in the eighteenth century
at Westminster, when the great Lord Chatham
denounced with such eloquent Indignation the
employment by the British commanders in this
country Of Red Indian tribes against the Ameri
can revolutionary forces. There are few news
papers. either in the United States or in Europe
that did not express their adherence Of the use
Of Cossacks and Circassians by Russia in sup
pressing the Hungarian insurrection Of 1S4S. and
Of the Sultan's action IN endeavoring to put