SNIPING.
LTO MR EDITOR Or rag " snicarcat."] Sin,—Will you allow an old and constant reader of the Spectator to make an earnest protest against the line you are taking with regard to the urgently important question of what is concisely called " sniping " ? It is true that the Hague Convention has condemned the summary execution of snipers, and of all in the house, village, or district where sniping takes place, but the Germans evidently disregard this rule. Every man, boy, or woman who, as things are, is encouraged to shoot at the enemy without visibly belonging to a recognized military corps is encouraged to risk not only his or her immediate execution, but that of the entire house- hold of which they are members, or even of a whole village or district. It is a happy suggestion of yours that President Wilson should protest against the German disregard of the Hague Convention ; but I fail to see what good could be expected from your other suggestion that, if there have been breaches of the Hague Convention, the Allies should formally protest against the German action, and warn them of what may be the consequences. What does such a warning mean? Is it possible that the Spectator means that we should retaliate in kind ? Even if we could bring ourselves to such a dreadful method of warfare, we are not in Germany, and they, or some of them, may be in England.—I am, Sir, &c., J. C. CARTER.
[It is a question of the meaning of the Hague Convention. If it has been violated, we surely ought not to endure that violation without protest. We never dreamt of suggesting retaliation in kind on German villages. Humanity and justice are not matters of barter, but must be observed for their own sake. No ill deeds on the part of our enemies can ever set us free to do evil.—En. Spectator.]
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