Show AN IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSITION Gen Gel Horace Port Porter r ex to the French FrenchI Republic Republic I and now a delegate of th the United States to to The Hague conference would h have v the co conference declare that the bombardment of undefended an and d unfortified towns and places by way of punishment shall with certain limitations be forbidden But Bu t this may not cover damages to undefended towns town s where t the e damages occur in destroying naval establishments establishments establishments of public depots of munitions of war orwar or orwar orwar war vessels in harbor He lie makes another reservation reservation reservation reserva reserva- tion that is is when reasonable requisitions i ions for Ifor provisions provisions provi provi- and supplies cs at the time time essential essential to the hostile naval force making such requisitions are made an and ana denied i We do not believe Ge Gen Porter will succeed in passing his resolution for the reason that war means the destruction destruction on both sides of so so l much life and property that tha one side or the oth other r will have to submit For instance We will suppose suppose that Cervera's Cr- Cr veras vera's fleet had sailed direct j from om Spain Jo to New NewYork NewYork NewYork York City had captured all aU the he fortifications around New ew York and then had levied an an immense tribute upon the city we believe that it would have been justified under the laws o of war With Gen Porters Porter's idea crystallized into law it would only be e necessary necessary for a nat nation on like ours to fortify one place on 1000 m miles les of coast one ori one place for rend rendezvous for ships and leave all the rest unprotected d. d The two things that carry on i war are money money oney and armed forces It is just as legitimate for au an an enemy enemy to attack the money of the country country as it is to attack the armies and navies of f a country The destruction of f a 1 city might be more effect effective ve in making peace than the d destruction of f a great army There are many ways which the horrors of war may be mitigated mitigated mitigated miti miti- gated but not on Gen Porters Porter's lines |