Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

of law And this code is re
markable in that its newest
ramitications agreed upon i'll
a civilized age admit of the most
hideous atrocities that man can con-
ceive to inflict upon his fellows. Its
only eXtcnuation in regard to these
atrocities is that they must always be
inflicted in good faith, and not treach
erouSly.
See, then, what amazing horrors war
may leave in its trail. It's implements
which may be lawfully used against
the enemy are not confined to those
which are openly employed to take
human life, as swords lances and fire
arms. They may include all secret
and concealed means, as pits and
mines, which take the enemy OFF his
guard and serve to surprise him when
he is unaware of danger.
BY this decree. agreed to by the
nations. are permitted All terrifying
bomb droppingS from aeroplanes and
submarine explosions. The belligercnts
aim, to subdue their combatants, is
furthered when they destroy their war
machine and devastatc their country
The means to this end. therefore, ma y
be as horrible as mans intelligence
and cunning can make them; the law
of war winks its eye and says that all
is fair.
= :.
Furthermore, it is not only allowab BILE
to invent military machinery of various
kinds and to employ 1t against the
country of the enemy. but it is also
justtiable, if possible, to conceal it's
mechanism from the general public.
Is f1a ir1li or
public attention as the most startling
surprise of the present European war,
apparently received the charter for
their construction iii this clause Of
the law The Germans have planned
these guns ana constructed them in
absolute secrecy. 1t is said that many
OF the ka!serS officers were ignorant
OF their existence. Consequently they
arc used against the enemy with ap-
palilng success, thoungh the fact that
their use was not anticipated and not
prepared for. While they Immediately
put the enemy at a tremendous disad-
vantage. they We're legitimate weapons
and had to be combated on such
ground.
Thus. devastation of towns in an hours
bombardment, deprivation of thousa nds
upo thousands of human beings of their
homes and livelihoodS, innictiOn of COM
p!ete annihiiation upon organized cities
lneSe things and others o. like character
may be carried on with impunity ac-
cordlnS to the twentieth century inter-
national law OF war. But while the laws
OF war allow the use of new Inventions
of arms. there is Il limit beyond which
belllgerentS cannot go. The world has
agreed that there is no necessity for in
tiicting injuries that will not contribute
to the decision of the contest. Hence
all use of poisoned weapons is forbidden.
II is said that the enemy may be wound
ed in order to disable him. but that his
life may not be taken when he is so dis
abled
Into the category of these weapons
come the poisoned bullets. which are 50
made that the poison contained in their
composition begins to ulcerate a wound
as soon as it is inflicted causing length
ened or permanent disablement of SOL
dters. To accuse a belligerent of using
dumdum bullets Is to penalize him under
The Hague code Of warfare. for the most
important feature of the treaty enacted
at the Dutch capital during the confer
ence relating to the conduct of war on
land and sea was the prohibition Of the
employment of these bullets. Relevant
to this stipulation, The Hague treaty
condemns the use Of all projectiles or