The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-02
RUssIA's OPPOSITION TO A sUBMA-
RINE CABLE.

A dispatch from St. Petersburg says
that If an attempt is made TO lay cable
from the Island of Guam to Japan during
the continuance of hostilities it will be
regarded by Russia as contraband of war
under the proclamation recently pro-
mulgated. This implies that Russia would
protest against the act violation of
neutrality and one that she would have
right to resist.
The question is a new one with the
weight of argument decidedly against the
Russian contention. AS reference is made
to the rules of war recently promulgated
by Russia, it is worth while to quote the
one defining what is contraband Of war,
viz:
(a). Every kind of small arms and guns,
complete or In separate parts, and arnnor;
(b) parts Of firearms and ammunition. fuses,
shells and bullets; (c) caps cartridges, cart
ridge cases. powder. saltpeter, sulphur, ex-
plOsives materials for purposes OF ex-
plosion, such as mines, dynamite, pyroxilin,
various explosive substances. conductors
and everything for exploding mines; (d)
everything appertaining to artillery, en-
cheering and troop trains. such as gun
carriages. limbers. cartridge ammunition,
field smithies. field kitchens, instrument
wire, horse harness for transport service.
ETC.; (e) material for equipment and cloth
Ing OF troops, such bandoiers, KNAPP
sacks, sword BELTS cuirasSes, intrenchtng
tools, drums, field kettles, saddles, har-
ness, uniforms, tents, etc; ~ ships bound
for the enemy's ports. even If sailing under
neutral commercial flags, If their cOnstruc-
uon and internal arms or any other 1ndlca-
ton makes IL apparent that they have been
built for warlike purposes or are for sale
or are destined to be handed over TO the
enemy on reaching their destination; (g)
every kind Of ships machinery or boilers,
mounted or in parts; CHI every kind of fuel,
such as coal. naphtha, spirits. etc; ID tele-
graph and telephone materials; (lx) every
thing intended for warfare on land or on
sea: also rice. foodstuffs, horses. beasts of
burden and any other animals intended for
war purposes. If they are sent at the
enemy S cost or order.
This is a much more specific and detailed
definition of contraband of war than has
ever been made by any government before.
In the main it is correct, because for the
most part, it includes only articles that
could be used in prosecuting hostilities.
That all such articles are contraband OF
war and that neutral may not ship them
to a belligerent is undoubtedly true But
the definition above quoted goes beyond
this in at least one respect. Telegraph
and telephone materials are as necessary
to peaceful pursuits as they are to war
and cannot fairly be considered contraban6
of war unless there is something about
their shipment to indicate that they are in
tended for military use.
submarine cable seems to be still more
outside a fair definition of contraband OF
fata al
plies. Such cable is far removed from the
scene of hostilities ard is controlled al
both ends by civil authorities 1t is &
means of communication between far sep
arated countries. a cable from Japan t.
| Guam could not possibly be used for mil
IDENTIFY commercial. 1t stands on the sam,
| footing as mail steamers, which, although
they might carry military correspondence
or even orders for contTaband goods, coulc
never be themselves held as contraband o
war. A cable from Guam to Japan woult
give the latter free means of communica
ton with the rest of the world and wouIC
promote worlds commerce. For Russia I,
hold it contraband of war would furnish ad
ditional evidence of her narrowness ant
| iliberality.
| Permission to lay the cable from Guam
has not yet been granted, and if Russi;
should enter a protest perhaps this gov
| ernment would think it better TO with
hold permission for the present rather thai
have any controversy over it. The cabl
can wait, and the United States can nue.
better afford to waive it's rights in the mat
ter than Russia can to go on record as OBJ
posing an ocean cable as contraband O
war. 1t takes the consensus of nations t
make international law, and it is doubtful
if any other power would sustain the Rus
sian view.