Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-16
|AlL LAWS OF WARFARE
VIOLATED BY ENEMIES
Austria. Hungary. I'm Red Book, Sc
yerely Arrnigns Methods OF
Hostile Nations.
GIVES seoREs OF INSTANCES
Serbian and Montenegrin Troops Are
/ Charged With Unspcakable Out
+ Observation-Disclosures of Evidence"
Purports Not to BE Complete.

turpOrtS Not To lie Complete.
WASHINGTON July l5.-Austria-
Hungary's indictment of the methods
OF warfare OF her enemies. giving
scores of instances of "barharous treat
sment" OF nationals and prisoners and
breaches of international law, was
made public to-day in a rcd book
issued by the Austro- Hungarian Min
fistry OF Foreign Affairs through its
embassy here.
The publication is called "Collcc-
ton of Evidence" and is divided into
four parts
The first Two parts" says a prefa-
/ tory note introducing numerous depo-
sitions and afidavits. contain evidence
concerning the treatment OF Austro-
{ Hungarian diplomatic and consular Of
ficers by the government officers OF the
hostile countries. The cases adduced
deal with tho violations OF the most
elementary rules Of tho right of hos
pitality. Il right consccrated since the
remotest antiquity, and respected even
by the uncivilized nations or tribes
violations Of this right been instanced.
In several cases the illegal expulsion
or arrest has preceded the actual state
of war, n fact which still further ar-
gravates the offcnse. The expulsion
of the Austro- Hungarian diplomatic
agents from Morocco and Egypt which
is irrecorcilable with existing interna-
tional treaties, has been made the sub
ject of protests lodged with the ncu-
trail powers.
The third part contains evidence of
the treatment 10 which Austrian and
Hungarian citizens have been sub
jected-in most cases before the open
Ing of hostilitios--in hostile countries
Even If il he conceded that the pre-
vention of the cnemys nationals from
joining the war Is to n certain extent
tustihahle tho methods employed by
the hostile countries. and especially
the arrest and the Incarceration of
aged men. sick persons. women ana
children. are contrary 10 the element
airy usaEcs of humanity II was
French professor of law who ,hus de.
hned such conduct TO innict suffer
inEs on defenscless citizens of the
enemy without imperative reasons is
to revert TO barbarism.'
PROOFS OF VIOLATIONS
OF LAWS OF WARFARE
The fourth part comprises authentic
proofs of violations OF the laws of war
fare. From tho evidence published
herewith the conclusion is inevitable
that there IS hardly rule OF warfare
which has not been violated repeatedly
by the hostile armies. To the numer-
Gus cases of disregard of the regu!a-
lions concerning the use OF prohibited
projectiles, contained in The Hague
agreement about the laws and prac-
ices OF warfare on land ana of the
Geneva convention. must be added the
unspeakable outraEes OF which the Ser
bian and Montenccrn troops have been
guilty. This ruthlcssly illegal way Of
conducting war operations and the
cruel and rcachcrous participation of
the entire population in acts Of war,
certify once moro the lapse from civili-
cation which the people of these coun-
tries have undergone.
THE Collection of Evidence does
not purport TO be complete in any rc-
spect. !, Is naturally restricted to the
exposition of facts which have been
either officially investigated or au-
thentiratcd in an unimrcachablc way.
:. lin proportion to the number Of
cases which have actually occurred. the
number OF The proven t,.Stanct-s is cx-
ceedinsly small Uprto This day. tho
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still
without Information concerning the
fate OF several consmlar officials who
have been arrested The Aus,riane and
Hungarians who are being detained in
hostile countries can he counted bv
the thousands. Amos, all of them
still endure IN silence the outrageous
methods wherein the governments of
hostile countries set human dignity at
naught. The breaches of the laws of
warfare, as compiled in par, Of this
collection. must likewise be considered
however. as on individual evidence
FOR the time being, we cannot have
anything approaching a comprehensive
Rnowle6Ge OF events in the territories
beyond tho enomy's lines. Ana vet.
from the reports which reach us aud
from trustvorthy news published in
foreign daily papers, IL is possible 30
draw the wcll-fouuded conclusion that
thousands OF shocking Violations of the
Law of natione have occurred. csroci,l-
j. in IN" districts of our country oc-
cupied hy the enemy
INTERNATIONA tGREEMENTs
WIETtIIY VIOLATED
1T may be conceded that certain
breaches Of International law seem 10
be an innvi'abl, consequence OF the
rnassinE Of troops on so huge a scale
as this war has produced Blu, II is.
nevertheless, most disappointing that
the international agreements assuring
the protection Of lives, tho honor. the
freedom of the religious faith OF peace
full citizens. and the arts and sciences.
should be wilfully violated hv the
troops and officials Of the very govern
ment under the aegis Of which The
Hague conferences reformed and con,
pleted the laws Of warfare. one Of
the main causes for this unfortunate
situation must be ascribod 70 the on.
pioyment OF troops wholly unable 10
perceive the legal restrictions applied