The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-17
"KRIEGSBRA UGH"
A War Code Published by the German
General Staff, 1902.
From "Brtsin az oermanvs rassaI" 6y

UencrnI StaH, IVOZ.
From "Brfdin az Germdny's rdssdl." 6y
Friedrich ron BerHhdrdi.
To conduct war wit. energy 1t must
be made not only on the Coinbltant
forces of a hostile State and its fort
resses. Equally strong endeavor must
be made to destroy it's entire INTEL sctual
and national resources. The claims of
humanity, the sparing OF human lives
and Of property may be considered only
In so far al the nature Of war per-
mits. Attn ugh The purpot OF war
allows a state which is at war to en-
ploy all means suitable for attaining It's
purpose. experience has taught us that
II is in our own interest to limit the
use of certain warlike measures and
entirely TO omit others. The spirit of
chivalry and of Christian morality. the
advance of Culture. and last but not
least the recognition OF ones own ad-
vantage. have led to a voluntary llmi-
tation In the means employed In time
OF war.
In the curse OF the nineteenth CEN
tury various attempts ave been made
to formulate and modify tho existing
customs OF War. TO lay down laws
OF Wal binding upon all nations and
armies, IN other words. TO create an in
tcrnational Law OF War, a C. dex bolli.
However. hitherto. a few points ex-
Crptcd. all these attempts have failed.
II, nevertheless. the words Rights Of
War are used IN the following pages.
1t must be remembered that W. are
not referring to u lex scripta which is
based upon International treaties 5u;
only to a mutual. though not expressly
c~ovenanted. agreement Of nations regi-
lat!ng warfare whica Is intended to set
limits IN arbitrary action. limits which
have been established 10y custom. ira
dit.on. humanity n calculating ego
ism, limits which are respected not he
cause of The existence OF - me sup, rior
force controlling the action ~ States.
hut because OF the fear OF rerri-
sails"
The modern customs Of war are not
merely founded upon tho tradition OF
former ages and upon ancient military
customs and views. They are the pre-
cipitate OF the currents Of modern
thought
The study Of the history of War viii
prevent officers forming views OF exag-
eerated humanity. II will teach them
that wars cannot he conducted without
certain seventies that rigntly consii.
cred true humanity lies often in their
unsparins Use. To understand
the Right OF War we must study 4, not
only from the point Of view OF the mill
tary historian. but We must acqui'ut
ourselves with the fundamental views
Of m dern international law. Tbs i4
the object y tn, prcscn, work
The prejudice against the use OF IT.
regular troops Is fouudci "n this. FRAT
he lack ~ a tHoruiEH military ;raiu-
ing and the absence % r. sever dlscI
nllno easily INDUCES Thorn to reip,'ra'c
crimes ard 80 disregard the customs OF
war. 80 According u In. irrational
Law. no state is compelled 20 limit it,
military forces IN case Of war 20 its
standing army. on the contrary. "a
state is perfectly justified % arm al
tha Inhabitants able 10 tetr arms. ana
20 authorize them to take part In tho
war. Therefore. up 20 tho most recent
times. authorization by th- state has
been the absolutely necessary cond tiun
~ recognizing irregular troops as com
batants.
The organization OF irregular troops
In military formations. and their con
tr7l by responsible officers. does no. SUI
ice to ,ntitle them to he treated as
combatants. More important thai ~"
foregoing condition Is that by their out
ward appearance they can easily ia
recognized as soldiers and that they
carry their arms openly
Guid- 10y the view That one can never
deny 20 tho people their natural right ~
defending their country. ard that smaller
states. possessed OK inferior power. can
only protect themselves by arning the
people. by a levee en- masse. the ma
jorlty Of authorities on international
Law nave demanded. IN making PRO-
posals for oodlfy'ng the Laws " War.
tina they should, on principle, be rec
ognized as comha'auts.
~ r. 1900
tcithou' uhich the p.~poSc Of 'ydr can
not be achieved on the Other hand.
,rcrp net of r@ioi"ucc aud destruction
lchtch is not demanded ny 'hc purpose
al wGr mast b. condemned THE italics
ar, bernhard 3
Among tho means ~ warfare which
are not permissible are: The use a.
poison against individuals n against
masses OF the enemy. the Ilisoring ~
wells or Of food and the spreading 81
infectl us diseases murder in every
form the use OF arms or mi ssllcs witch
cause unroces suffering the killing
Of inca pacitRted wounded men and Of
prisoners. tho killing Of soldiers who
have laid down their arms and have
surrendered themselves
Closely connected with means ~ war
fare which are not permissible Is the
employment of uncivillaed and harha-
rian peoples In Eur pean war. Consid-
cred from the point ~ view Of right. u
Is evident that no State can be prohih-
ted to omploy troops taken from rs
uon-European colonies. However. with
he modern tendency To- humdrlge
warfare and 10 diminish tho SufryriuG~
caused by war. the employment OF sol.
dirrs who lack the kuowleig, Of evil
ICED warfare. and who consequently per,
nefratc crueltics and n.umauitlr ur,,-