Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/333

LEFT WAR 285 WARBECK tage or of revenge. Formerly, war was waged at the will of despotic monarchs; noW wars usually arise, in the first in- stance, from disputes concerning terri- torial possessions and frontiers, unjust dealings with the citizens of one state by another, questions of race and senti- ment, jealousy of military prestige, or mere lust of conquest. Civil wars arise from the claims of rival competitors for the supreme power in a state, or for the establishment of some impoi'tant point connected with civil or religious liberty. In all cases, the object of each vontending party is to destroy the power of the other by defeating or dispersing ANTLERS OF WAPITI his army or navy, by the occupation of some important part of his country, such as the capital, or the principal administrative and commercial centers, or the ruin of his commerce, thus cut- ting off his sources of recuperation in men, money, and material. An interna- tional or public war can only be auth- orized by the sovereign power of the nations, and previous to the commence- ment of hostilities it is now usual for the state taking the initiative to issue a declaration of war, which usually takes the form of an explanatory mani- festo addressed to the neutral states. An aggressive or offensive war is one carried into the territory of a hither- to friendly power; and a defensive war is one carried on to resist such aggres- sion. Certain laws, usages, or rights of war are recognized by international law. By such laws it is allowable to seize and destroy the persons or property of armed enemies, to stop up all their channels of ti-affic or supply, and to appropriate everything in an enemy's country necessary for the support or Cyc subsistence of the invading army. On the other hand, though an enemy may lawfully be starved into a surrender, wounding, except in battle, mutilation, and all cruel and wanton devastation, are contrary to the usages of war, as are also the bombarding of a defenseless town, firing on a hospital, the use of poison in any way, or torture to extort information from an enemy. WAR, PRISONERS OF, in general persons captured from the enemy dur- ing military or naval operations. In former times the entire people of a van- quished city, state, or nation became the absolute property of the victors; the men were either put to death or with the women and children became slaves. By later usage the combatants or fighting force are the ones com- monly considered and treated as prison- ers of war. The young, the sick, the aged; Sisters of Charity, physicians, nurses, and others regularly engaged in attending the sick and wounded ; clergy- men, representatives of the Red Cross and other recognized humane organiza- tions; musicians with an army; and a variety of other people are considered noncombatants, and are exempted from the treatment accorded to captured com- batants. The status of prisoners of war, as far as laws, rules, and customs go, is exceedingly complicated. Where it is desired to weaken an enemy by depriv- ing it of its fighting material, a nation may hold its prisoners of war till after peace is declared. In such a case it will place them in more or less large bodies in or near cities where they can be kept under surveillance. During the time they are held they are entitled to food, medical attendance, and necessary clothing. As long as they do not disturb the quiet of the place or plot mutiny or resistance to their guard, they must be treated without violence or harshness. WARBECK, or OSBEC, PERKIN, a pretender to the English crown; was the son of a Flemish Jew, and was set up by Margaret of York, Dowager- Duchess of Burgundy, as claimant of the crown of England against Henry VII. For this purpose she recognized him as her nephew, Richard Plantage- net, Duke of York, the younger of the two princes who were murdered in the Tower by Richard III. He was patron- ized by France and Scotland, married a kinswoman of the Scotch king, James IV., made several fruitless invasions of England and Ireland, was taken prison- er after an attempt on Cornwall (Octo- ber, 1497), and confined to the Tower, where, his plotting being continued, he was executed, Nov. 23, 1499. Id VoL X