Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-01-16
By HARRY E. HUNT

thHidHN llupItSHduliitg hdu P"oSNu away, that 400 bullets minute could be sent into troops as gardener would turn hose against a tree, that l2-inch guns will soon be as obsolete as the six-foOt bow, that the "essence of em- pires' lies at the mercy of a single airShip. that the air has become a bat tie ground, and that a large aerial ship could easily carry dozen men, five tons of ammunition 800 miles, and ob- literate any European capital. Such in stances could be numbered without end. The only man who seems able to com tinually worry about what MIGHT hap pen and still keep his health and hold his job seems to be the sensational edi- torial writer on foreign relations. His is a marvellous system.
 In 1899, when aerial navigation iY other than gas bag balloons was still a theory, there met at the Hague, repre- sentatives of the principal nations of the two hemispheres. Duly accredited, they came as official plenipOtentiaries. When they unanimously passed the dee. laration, "The contracting powers unan- imOusly agree to prohibit, for a term of five years, the launching of prOieetiles and explosives from balloons or by Oth- CT new methods of a similar nature, they bespoke a determination to limit the zone of warfare.
 Though this declaration expired in July, 1904, when Japan and Russia were engaged in hOstilities, yet, in keeping with the spirit of the conference, al though the letter of the clause was dead, Nz p,Fraipnl from, fare of this character. Balloons were used however, for purposes of obser- VatiOns
 Forty-fOur nations, in 1907, repeated that which had been accomplished by twenty-six in 1899. Permit quotation from the fourteenth convention signel October IS, 1907, at the Hague: The contracting powers agree to prohibit, for a period extending to the close of the third peace conference 19l5)), the discharge of projectiles and explosives from balloons or by other new methods of a similar nature.
 The purpose of the convention was twofold It contemplated the confne meHt of war to the earth $ surface and the protection of non-combatants, who,
 
 protection, whether or not they are within the zone of operations.
 In the light of recent inventions great importance is attached to these two conventions. Without a doubt a proiecti,e will never be dropped inten tiOnally upon the earth from an airship in war which may hereafter occur, aud should an accident of this nature hap pen, the offending government will be held to strict account.
 The airship or the balloon is not, however, under present rules of war, entirely eliminated. It may be right fully used to observe the movements 1 of the enemy and to carry dispatches.
 Balloons were used by the French at the battle of Fleurus, in l794, and by | many governments since that time. Dur ing the war of 1870 Bismarck was in | clined to consider as spies persons pass ing over the German lines in balloons. | This view met with only disfavOT. The conference at Brussels in 1874, the In 1 stitut de Droit international in 1880, | the official manual issued by France for use of her forces in the field, and ar ticles 29-3l of the second Hague con- ference, tlatly discOuntenance the Ger man doctrine. As no disguise nor sec Tecy can attend an aerial incursion, the distinction between spy and aerOnaut seems now well recognized.
 When we confront the alarmist with the fact that the Hague conferences have not only placed damper upon, but have completely obliterated any ipn Of rifYb+ fp apysig1 ha renews his assertion, But what if a nation dsobeys The Hague compact? What then?' His question is not orig inal with him. It emanates from the imagination of army officers, who are so used to armed forces as compelling medium that their eyes are closed to the existence of any other power Go compel obedience to international law. In the first place there is no danger that The Hague declaration will be dis carded by any nation. The theorist , Dorrows trouble. The people of the en. tire world are back of the convention. Nations which are progressive enough To sign such a declaration as was signed it Enc Hague have reverence for law and respect for international Obliga- .iOns. International law is part and parcel of the municipal law of every country and can no more be repudiated han that country s statutes. It is even superior in quality to the law of indi. sidual states. When we realize that no nation for century past, has repudi- tted an award made by arbitratoTs, it is folly for us to now. put on our glasses and look for a,~.' sanction. !"
 In the second place, no international police force is needed to enforce the lccrees of The Hague tribunal. The augh would be on arbitration were such admitted to be necessary Let Is admit the improbable for the sake 'f argument, and suppose that a na ion did act contrary to the express etter of The Hague compact. The na- ion would be- considered as forfeiting in the club of nations The whip of public opinion can cut as deep