It was therefore a precautionary order for such happenings. It is imperative that such measures be taken. An officer could hold a court-martial on the spot, but, according to this paragraph, he could also, if he thought fit and had evidence that the opponent was making attacks from the rear, have him shot on the spot. That has always been done. A. That is laid down in the articles of war.
Every officer commanding a unit can hold a court-martial at any time.
It states that he alone can decide what to do with the civilian. He could act alone or use a court-martial on the spot. All he needed to do was to call two more people. He could reach a decision in two or three minutes if the evidence of the attack was available. If I catch a man flagrantly shooting on my troops from a house in the rear, then the matter can be settled very swiftly by a court-martial.