The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-05-23
CRUELTY IN WAR.

Sioux City journal: Maj. Gen. O.
o. Howard. retired, in the current
Independent offers a discriminating
discussion of the question OF cruelty
in war. Gen. Howard has drawn
upon the fund OF his own experiences
in the civil war, and is enabled to
make a clear distinction between the
avOidable and unavoidable cruelties
of war. AS a matter Of fact, he finds
that nearly everything in connection
with war involves the essence Of
cruelty. considered from the peace
standpoint. The killing and maim-
ing of men is cruel, but no one who
admits the inevitableness Of war
would condemn it as cruelty on the
battle field. The only real cruelty in
war is avoiding cruelty, such as the
killing of wounded prisoners. the tor
turing or starving Of helpless men:
women and children, robbery, rapine
and the like. Such unnecessary cruel
ty was in evidence in the civil war.
1t cropped out in our Indian wars.
1t has been complained of by both
sides in every war. 1t is not to be
defended Gen. Howard's conten-
tion is that in the battles and mill
tary operations of our country this
species Of cruelty has been the eX-
ception and not the rule.
But as to cruelty, which may be
defended as justitiable.and necessary
part of war. Gen. Howard quotes Gen.
Sherman has having said to him
often: ''Goward, war is cruelty and
you cannot too much refine it,"
There is the treatment of spies for
instance. The spy is one of the BRAY
est and most efficient agents OF the
army. Often it would be impossible
TO carry on an intelligent campaign
without his invaluable assistance
But it is the common usage of war
to treat the spy as a diShonorable
creature. whose life is forfeited the
moment he is apprehended. Guerril-
las, carrying on acts OF war outside
the pale of an army, often render
effective aid to one side or the other.
but they are given no standing under
the laws Of war. Operating in vio-
Iation of the rules of war. they are
given short shrift when captured
This summary treatment of spies and
guerrillas may seem harsh, but it
has been found to be justified by long
years of military experience.
The main question now under de-
bate concerning the operations OF our
army in the Philippines is the JUS
titication of retaliatory measures in
dealing with a foe who disregards the
usages of war. After citing some in
stances in the civil war Gen. Howard
says:
II have used the incidents on our
side. Doubtless confederate COM
manders could name as many where
they believed that they had to retail
ate. These things are incident to
war and seem part of it. In deal
ing with savages often great severity
of the helpless and innocent. AS the
methods. If we employ Indians or
Macabebes, unciviliZed or half civil
lied people. to be our scouts or allies.
we shall always be subjected to the
charge of cruelties and methods of
warfare which every true American
abominates: but l think when we
have rising up against our flag and
country OrangiZed mObs and robbers
who bury their enemies alive, sub
ject them not only to horrible deaths.
but to preliminary tortures. and
when those so-called ''enemies'' are
worthy people, hurting nobody. but
looking to our army for protection,
that we ought to be very careful not
to condemn the army for severe
measures which appear to be neces-
Sary. An army Or a police means the
exercise Of force. If we mean that
it shall never exercise force. then
why have an army or a police at
all?''
Now ism that a fair presentation
OF the issue about which such an out
cry has been raised? In attaching
due weight to Gen. Howards' opinion
it might be well to bear in mind
that this retired veteran is not a
''heli roarer. He is a mild man
nered Christian gentleman, who has
always taken great interest in uplift-
ing the moral standard of the army.
He has deplored the evils Of the can
teen, and he has encouraged church
and Y. NJ. G. A. work, both within
the army and without. But Gen.
Howard's trade has been war, and
he knows his trade. At best it is
cruel one. Gen. Howard cannot but
deplore the cruelties Of war, but he
knows the hOpelessness Of the effort
to carry on successful war without
cruelty.