The Washington times., 1906-04-15
Modern Barbarisn1 IN War

IT HE highest energy IN war may
hs called humane in this tha; IL
serves - finish wars quickly.
Compare. fer instance the short
and energetic var OF 1856 with the Thirty
Years War. with its few battles and
Sl1irTnishes aid its far-reaching de-
SyrzIC live eject
In The var between Prussia and AUS
ira forty years ago she Red Cross
Society was seen IN active service for
The firSt time IL now protects in all
wars soldiers Who have been wounded
ard are unable 70 fight. but the society
marks only tee first steps toward hu-
nlsneness IN war-there are many
weapons used today. which must bs
abolished before We MAJ truly say that
We are not b.Jrbariaus-
one Of the most beautiful things En-
UtTOT Alexander II ever did was his
calling together the St. Petersburg con-
ysntion on November = Isss- where all
IJtiOns agreed not 20 use explosive bull
lets. abOhshing all shells Weighing less
tEsn 80 gramues-
But new weapons equally cruel have
come Bp which do not come under this
category though they main and tear
cruelty Hand grenades and hand tor
p@does as used repeatedly in the Russo
japanese war should never be allowed
IN civilized armies
The question whether floating mines
are permissible might well be taken up
hy an International conference. Those
of them that are not anchored ought 70
he abolished al any rate. as they are a
great danger 10 neUtrals and 10 mer-
chaRr vessels especially in waters where
the tides are strong.
More difTlcuIt II would probably be 70
regulate the strength Of these mines.
though one must admit that the battle
ships PetrOpavlOvsk and Hatsuse would
have been sunk as quickly II the mines
had only been One-third as strong as
they were To blow a large vessel 70
atoms. destroying every living soul on
board. Including non-combatants. IS TO
exceed what should be permitted in a
modern war.
I am told that a contact mine at Port
Arthur on one occasion annihil2ted
whole japanese regiment. tearing the
bcdy OF every man in hundreds OF pieces
This did not prevent further assaults.
bui * would undoubtedly have served 10
make he last assault exceedingly bloody
for Gne Russians had not General StoeS-
sci surrendered.
To destroy transports carrying troops
with tOrpeGoes may seem very useful
and effective Dut a. IS not C-IivalrOus,
and seems 10 me like numbering from
an ambush. since the troops are not able
to defend themselves
When the kinshu Marn was sur
rounded near Gcnsau by three Russian
men-Of-War the troops on board de-
Tended themselves - their last brea IN,
keeDing up a useless fre from their
rifles. These men should have been
r1lsts- prisoners and their ship captured.
The same refers TO coal and collicrs,
which. rule. are not manned bV
marines but by civil crews II IS. OF
course. no more than right that they
should be forced to give I'D their ship
and cargo. but there IS absolutely no
reason why they should perish.
Many unnecessary crueltieS N war
might Ue prevented il we would adopt an
international dag 10 be carried by sup
Div vessels OF all kinds.
The range Of modern naval guns.
which IS over twelve kilometers. IS so
great that towns and villages. some dis
tance from the coast. are easily hit and
destroyed, while they were formerly
beyond tn, danger line and now they
cannot be rebuilt or fortified