New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-25
More German Savagery.


German attack on the allied trenches north
of Ypres is reported from both the
British and the French headquarters. Ac-
cording 20 Field Marshal Sir John French,
the Germans assembled a large number
Of appliances for the production of de-
structive fumes. "The quantity pro-
duced." he says, Indicates long and
deliberate preparation for the employ
ment Of devices contrary to the terms OF
the Hague Convention, TO which the en-
envy subscribed
The Allies had received warning of this
barbarous form Of attack. In the Eye
witness" statement issued TO the British
newspapers about two weeks ago this hint
Of what was coming was given:
i has been reported that in the Argonne,
where the trenches are very close, the Ger
mans have on several occasions pumped olaZ-
ing oil or pitch on the French, but, accord
inc 20 the statements Of our prisoners, they
are preparing a more novel reception Tor US
in front Of parts Of our line. Ihey propose
to asphvxiate our men. if they advance, by
means of poisonous gas The gas Is con-
tanned under pressure IN steel cylinders, ana
being of heavy nature, will spread along
the ground without beng dlsslpated qulChIy'
All accounts agree that the Germans
carried out their asphyxiation scheme
with startling success-the sort Of success
which often follows a dastardly attempt
to iniure an opponent by breaking the rec
ognized rules Of fair fighting. Sir John
French is absolutely correct in saying
that the use of poisonous gases is VIOLA
tion Of the terms of the Hague COnven-
ton. lie probably refers to the Hague
Convention Of 1907, which expressly for
bids belGgerents "to employ poison or
pojsoncd arms" Asphyxiating fumes are
q gaseous poison and so come plainly
under the ban of the Hague Convention
l. NAV be said that the Hague treaty
of 1907 became by its own terms a scrap
of paper" when it failed to receive the
ratification of all the powers now engaged
in the war. Technically speaking, the con-
vention Of 1907 is not binding. But the
rule against the employment of poison or
poisoned arms appears also in the Hague
Convention of 1899, and 1t Is therefore
binding on all the powers engaged in the
present war, except possibly turkey
Moreover. even admitting that Turkeys
failure to ratify the 1899 convention re-
leases the other belligerents from any obli-
cation to respect it, the use of poison IN
war has been long inhibited by the law OF
nations. of which the two Hague conven-
lions were only intended to be Celebrations
and Qualifications.
If poisonous gases can be used IN war
fare the way is opened to a general relapse
TO ancient methods Of savagery. Ger
many. though Boosting Of her own supe-
rioritv in civilization (Kultur is the
synonyme used) has taken the lead in this
war I'm cutting loose from the salutary
restraints which civilization has put on
military brutality. In unhappy Belgium
she set an example Of indifference to the
standards of humanity which interna-
tional sentiment has been trying to impose
on belhgerent nations. The bombardment
of the undefended English east coast
towns was another instance of mere
ferocitv. unassociated with a legitimate
military purpose. Though not denounc-
ing the Hague conventions, Germany has
violated them in letter and in spirit, and
(what is worse) has cynically flouted the
conceptions of fair and honorable conduct
on the part of nations-even when at
war-on which the whole structure Of
international obligations rests.
might makes right" said Bismarck.
eve are violating the law Of nations,
said Won Bethmann-Hollweg, in effect re-
ferring TO the violation of Belgian neu-
trality. "but we must hack our way
through" This impatience of civilized re-
straints on the part Of a people claiming
q high degree of civilization has been the
most dscouragng revelation Of the
present war. The modern world cannot
afford to condone or tolerate such spirit.
The first duty of civilization after the
war is over ought TO be to chain down
forever the instinct Of barbarity which
Germany has shown and to create inter-
national treaties mot puncturable on
technicalities) which will array the neu-
trail world against any belligerent de-
sccnding to foul and forbidden methods.