Weapons.—­Not “all things are fair in war.”  Though ingenuity may properly tax itself to produce death-dealing instruments, underhanded means, such as poisoning springs or spreading a plague, are condemned; nor is it now regarded as consistent with right for a civilized nation to employ against another, persons accustomed to an inhuman mode of warfare.

Heralds and Spies.—­Heralds bearing flags of truce are inviolable—­they must not be molested.  Spies, unless in their regimentals, are subject to the death penalty if caught.

Pirates and Privateers.—­Pirates, acting under no authority, having no purpose to serve except to enrich themselves at the expense of any one else, are not protected by any nation, and may be put to death by any one capturing them.  But privateers, acting as an arm of the government and by its authority, granted by its letters of marque and reprisal, must be treated as prisoners of war.

Prisoners of War.—­Prisoners taken in war were formerly the property of their captors, to be used for their pleasure or profit as slaves.  Modern usage requires that they be merely detained; that they be fed and sheltered with reasonable comfort, and not treated with any unnecessary harshness.  A common practice, worthy of encouragement, is that of exchanging prisoners, thus restoring them to their own side.  Sometimes, too, prisoners are released on parole, that is, on their word of honor not to re-enter the army.  If a paroled prisoner breaks his word in this respect, upon recapture he is liable to be put to death.

Termination.—­Peace comes by treaty.  There is usually a preliminary treaty, containing the general statement of conditions to which both parties will consent.  When all the details have been arranged, a definitive treaty is concluded.  Treaties of peace go into effect as between the parties, when they are signed; as between individuals of the belligerent nations, when they are notified.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF NEUTRALS.

When intercourse between the countries of the world was small, owing to lack of facilities, the rights of neutrals were regarded as unimportant.  But intercourse has increased so enormously, that no great war can be waged without interfering with the interests of almost all the rest of the world, and the rights of neutrals are assuming more importance in international law.

The great obligation resting upon neutrals is “to allow nothing to the belligerents which either would object to as being adverse to his interests.”

What Neutrals may do.—­The common instincts of humanity may be complied with.  Thus a ship of war in distress may run into a neutral port.  Soldiers running into neutral territory may be disarmed and then protected as non-combatants.

Things Contraband.—­It is a breach of neutrality to lend money or furnish troops or munitions of war to a belligerent, or to allow ships of war to be built by citizens of the neutral power within its borders, if it knows (or should know) that they are to be armored and used in the service of one of the belligerents.