New-York tribune., 1904-10-02

Enpire
barred by necessity from lis use, were energetic
ln denouncing it. The Knowledge OF its compost
ton. however. gradually spread and az the begin
ming 0f the guCpowder era it formed q recognized
defensive ana offensive eIemeGr ~ most wars
from Western Europe TO Asia Minor.
IT thc so-caled days Of ohival-y certsiu qu.zc-ic
ideas prevailed 70 the kinds OF weapons ana
methods or circumstances oG using them Uut when
f. came % a Lse and death struggle the gallant
knights tha period dit NOT sc--pe 20 avail ,hern-
selves ot every possible device for !niuriug and kill
ing The eueaac such molten lead and boiling OF
poured tho heads ~ the foe without regard 20 The
quality 0t the adversary. Tne battIeaxe would be-
used 70 Top or arm leg. ana the victim be Isf-
% bleed 90 Gelyh upon the Held oc honor The iron
mace studded 0ith knobs spikes would re-
brought down wien stunning effect gron The heads
@, tas untoTt1na-es within reach, and with bruised
Drains and m4rs3el features they gave m t-,
ghost a:Jcr prolonged as0ny.
Whcr. however. ea-ly 'l the thirteenth century
ta.S valiant chlvaI-1- oc Europe began 70 fan be-
meath TIE lcvei-g ver 0i gunPoVder il raise, d
great ouCcry against this new weapon rs beine an
invention ot the devil an1 its use unworthy or
'TGe knight As l-earms became more general
he slaughter of battles diminished Tor an o-r,v
oCruanceuvrsd was an army 1T the e7er,v.e me-,
md therefore beaten. The minds o. mankind 500,
became familiar with this new explosive 7-er- ~.
"ne ali civilized nations quickly adopted the 7r,
'ecthe weapon many continued 70 regard as ,f-7
awful certain forms Of Proect!is and methods ~
~ 1~.a-
arms or manner e. employing them was bitterly
fought By the so-caIeG humane sentiment OF RE
dse' Ihls sentiment. as history proves. was rs
r-'e. only pretcxt. for as soon as she knowledge
q them became general opposition ceased
The French vice-admlraI. Marshal Co7ror. a.
eFcicted the use OF hollow shot against the enen,,
'S being unusual and Internal weapor ~
herelore not 70 DO used by polite nations Within
20 years the use OF hot shot grape canister. sprr
aus etc was severely denounced BY rha writer's
" u'e day as illegal and unmilitarv. A. the naval
'attle Of the Nile the English were charged with
no % unlawful and informal machines po,.,,-.
1Aey succeeded IN blowing UP the French line-or
eattie snip / Orient with all On board A hor si,,+
/ ""a probably penetrated the magazine. At this
period there seems TO have been a distinction mada
between the use 81 certain missiles -r land ard
sea. The OF chain shot on In. eal4 vas 7eare5
unlawful. but ahoat no objection vas mad, AZ r
vas designed FOR cutting the r1asrs ard rie~inr ~
'eSse's' regardless o. The equal liability or having
mems bodies torn in TWO by the proiectues In
those days great commander exercised his ar
thority frequently upon the sea a r-7o, ~
land, and while he would hesitate long before using
against vessel IN the open ocean any device ,-b,I,
would at one blow destroy the enemy he withheld
not MS hand from resorting 10 such engines ~,
land. II was inquitous 20 send shl, IN -ha
cotton. giving the crew earthly chance for cal
Fatlon. but II = thousand men could be caught con
VerIently gathered over the prospective crater OF
mine II was considered grand stroke TO fire thar
riors skyward with mutilated bodies OF bury rba-,
under the falling debris. Al this period also the
better Judgment OF military mankind continued ~
forbid the of poisoned weapons. and this n-o
hbiton held against those not Intentionally,
SO prepared, for instance bullets OF conner a.
other metals liable 10 nfame the wound or Der-
manenty injure the health OF the wounded The
argument was that enemy may be wounded in
order disable HIM, but there was no right to take
his life after being disabled
In the earlier and more barbaric ages. when Two
nations engaged IN war It appears to have raan
the custom 20 destroy not only the armed forces
OF the enemy. but also many nou-combatsr,g
possible regardless Of age. sex or condition
This custom. a great extent arose from two
causes-the tribal organization OF nations and m.
inferior social condition Of women The trfba uras
the family enlarged; the nation only loose agsre
CATION OF nomadic tribes The adult male tnernfer-
OF the family the warriors and the women
and children their As such they did +ba
work and bore with she drUdEery OF the caup IN
peace and in war tended the docks and raised a,d
Rarnered the supplies. When their masters we're
defending their rudely fortified towns or encar,r
ments they worked on the ramparts. when on
the offensive assisted in the siege by their man
ual labor Their destruction or in a m,as
urs the aggressive or defensive resources of
the enemy. and also deprived them OF their