The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-04
ILLUMINATING THE
 RULES 0F WARFARE
Oppose American lnvio|abiIity
 of Private Property
PROPOSITIONS AT HAGUE
Volunteer Forces Must Wear Conspic- uous Uniforms, Suggests Ger
 many-Cuba on Treat
 ment of Prisoners.

The Hague, July 3.-The sub-commit- tee of the peace conference on the amelio- ration of the rules of land warfare met sided, delivered speech showing the progress made in the rules and usages of war through the working of the first peace conference.
 M. Bustamente of Cuba presented a proposition regarding the amelioration of the treatment of prisoners and the or ganizaton of a bureau to keep complete record sheet of each prisoner.
 Holland presented two propositions, one to prohibit the use of force to induce the population of a town to give an enemy the information about the armed forces of the country, and the other prohibiting the infction of capital punishment with out the sentence of a regular courtmartial having been ratified by the commander -in- chief.
 Germany made the following proposi- tions:
 1. Volunteer forces must be provided with uniforms visible at distance, except in the case of a rising of the popu- lation. In such cases the people must carry arms openly.
 9 Nobody shall be forced to fight against his own country.
 g. The involability of private property on land shall be extended to contractural obligations.
 Spain proposed that all prisoners ex- cept officers may be employed on military work.
 Germany presented to the sub-commit- tee on the proposed prize court propos- ton in six articles, asking that war ma terials be considered as contraband of war, including shotguns A list of these arms and war materials must be sent to the neutral powers with the outbreak of war. Such contraband of war and also the vessel carrying 1t are subject to con fiscation, except in cases in which the captain of the ship can prove that he was ignorant of the real nature of his cargo. If the vessel carrying contraband of war has soldiers on board are latter are to be taken prisoners. The opposition to the American proposi- tion before the peace conference on the inviolability of private property at sea is increasing. It now seems that Russia and France are not even in favor of the
 Italian amendment, suggesting that bel lgerents be allowed to capture private property at sea, but that such property be returned after the war and that the owners be paid an indemnity for the dam- age sustained.
 Japan is preparing a proposition regard ing the use of wireless telegraphy based on her past experience during the Russo Japanese war, while other powers are desirous of proposing that submarine cables be classed as neutral property. The Japanese have not presented any proposition regarding the bombardment of towns but have asked the Americans, who In their proposition desire to prohibit the bombardment of towns for not pay ing ransoms. to propose the abolition of the payment of ransoms in order to escape bombardment.
 Miss Anna Eckstein has requested an audience of President Neidoff In order to present a petition, signed by over two million Americans. in favor of a general arbitration treaty. NJ. Nelidoff will re- ceive Miss Eckstein tomorrow.