Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1932. AERIAL WARFARE.

liie limitations imposed on aerial uarfaie Ly internationai jaw iiave ot lat « ljuo, ‘ m-eiving tile attention of le.icung intej iiat.um.i la wye. s. At tiie instigation of the German lied Cross they were asked to state definitely the ru.ey of international law which protect civil combat, again, st different types of bombardment. Eight jurists gave their opinions, which, by their varying nature, showed how real a problem faces the nations of the world, in the past, international Jaw, as it appertains to warfare, has been honoured almost as much in the breach a,s in the observance. Nevertheless it is generaJy agreed that the. law regarding aerial- warfare must be settled in peace time. The opinions of the eight jurists showed that at present there is no certainty among international Jnwyci'o as to me limits which are imposed!. 'f h® say that tilie {principles designed years ago to regulate the use of artil.ery on land and sea hardly touch the fringe of the subject. Indeed, it is held that, apart from vague generalities, there is no existing doctrine of international law which 'regulates' the practice of bombardment. Several of the authorities couple a pessimistic view with, ‘the hope that the present nullity of international law on the point may be a factor working toward tb c total abolition of war. To picture squadrons of ,aerop ane® sweeping from the skies and showering death on innocent millions of women, children, and old men, .to imagine their wholesale destruction of the things on which life depends—these, they say, are perhaps the strongest arguments that can be put before the world in support of the limitation or total abolition of armamentis. However, there were some jurists who, while admitting that it is impossible to forbid the use of aircraft ntlogsther, hold t'hiat it tfs capable- of regulation. The viewpoint of Professor Sibert, of France was typical. He believes that it is possible to effect a reconciliation between the precepts of humanity and the demands of military necessity by#a universal acceptance of the single principle that aerial bombardment must be confined to military objectives. His., definition of a mi.itary objective is “any thing or pardon that in fact contributes to the preparation or execution of hostile acts of destruction.” No immunity, he says, can be claimed for private property, nor a human life to be spared, for nowadays, “the workers participate in every war.” But the definition, he maintains, would have the effect of rendering unlawful any bombardment designed merely to terrorise the inhabitants or to destroy the economic life of any enemy people. Since the term “military objective” implies some particular locality, Professor Sibert holds that no projectile can be lawfully used if its effects would spread beyond the objective affected. On this ground, lie contends, as a matter of legal argument and not of mere sentiment, that the use of any form of incendiary or poisonous bomb should be absolutely prohibited. He puts forward, too, the ’view that tlio manufacture of poison gas and the like during peace time should be subject of controlled rationing. The entire matter of aerial warfare is receiving full consideration abroad at present, and perhaps tile time is not far distant when the air forces, of the nations, and not their navies, will provide, the hone of contention' at disarmament conferences

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19320527.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1932, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
572

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1932. AERIAL WARFARE. Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1932. AERIAL WARFARE. Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1932, Page 4

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert