New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
RULES LAID DOWN IN THE FAMOUS
GENERAL ORDER NO. 100"

In view Of the fact that number of prisoners
have been taken by the United States forces oper-
atng In Cuba. and that some OF these already
their way 10 Northern points, much speculation
| has been INDUCED in 10 what Will be done with
| the Spanards. Men who remember the days of the
civil War have been called upon for stories on the
subject. ana old documents have been ransacked
for Information
Major Andrews. Assistant Aduant-Ceneral at
Governors Island. when asked for information on
the matter. said that General order No 100 which
was prepared by Or. Francis LeDer I'm 1863, and
approved by a board Of officers OF which General
T.. i. Hitchcock was the chairman still In
force and the points which 1t contains on the SUBJ
jet Of prisoners of war have been adopted By
many countries. The order states:
\ prisoner II war being public enemy, IS the
prisoner Of the Government and not OF the captor.
No ransom can be paid by prisoner OF war TO his
lndivi iual captor, or to any officer In command
The Government alone relieves captives according
to rules prescribed by Itself.
Prisoners OF subject TO confinement or
Imprisonment such as may be deemed necessary
account Of safety They are TO BE- subjected 10 no
other Intentional ffcring or indignlty. The mode
OF tIeatiLs prisoner may be varied dutlLg MS
c%itNily according To- the demands OF s1Ie ty
wholesome food whenever practicable and treated
for the benefit Of the capors' government according
70 their rank and condition
\ prisoner Of war VINO escapes may be shot or
otherwise killed In his flight, but neither death nor
other penalty shall be indicted on him simply for
his attempt 10 escape, which the law of war does
no consider crime.
Sricter means OF security shall be used after
Unsuccessful attempt at escape. II. however. a
conspiracy IS discovered. the purpose of which is
united or general escape. the conspra tors may be
punishment may also be inflicted upon prisoners
u war discovered TO have plotted rebellion against
the authorities of the caDtOrs, whether in union
with fellow prisoners or other persons.
II prisoners or war. having given no pledge nor
made any promise on their honor. forcbly or other
wise escape ard are captured again in battle after
nn,t 5'JS..e. TX" OWI "4 ny ~ I'm M 49, lay
punished Tor their escape, but shal De treated
smply as prisoners OF war although they VIII be
Every captured wounded enemy shall be medically
treated according to the ability Of the medical
staT
Honorable men when captured shall abstain from
giving TO the enemy Information concerning their
no longer Use Of any violence against prisoners I'm
order TO exiort the desired information or to punish
them for having given false information.
ON the subject Of exchange Of prisoners the
famous order s.y5:
Exchange of prisoners takes place number FOR
number. rank for rank and wounded for wounded.
with added conditions
\ number Of privates or non-commissioned off,
GERS may be counted equal to an officer. and
number Of officers OF low rank may be counted for
ono Of high rank.
Tho term parole desgna.es n pledge OF individual
good faith and honor 10 30 or omit DONG certain
acts after he who has given his parole snail have
Of ih capior The poGge OF tn parole is always
az Individual. ana not a private. act
whom ihe captor allows TO return to their country
10 I've In greater freedom within the captors
breaking the parole is punished with death
whom the person who breaks the parole is captured
again. Accurate lists OF the paroled mast on that
account Dc kept hy the hc!llgercuts.
Commanding officers alone are allowed to give
the parole. and they can give II only with the
emission OF their superior. long superior
iu rank Is within reach. The parole cannot be
given on the battlefield. No part OF entire bo!ics
Of troops ou the battlefield can be- paroled. and no
dismissal of large numbers OF prisoners with the
general declaration that they are pdroled IL per
mifI'd or ~ any value
In caplfulati0us the surrender Of strong places
or i0r'lN.. camrs the commanding officer In cases
~ urgent necessity may agree that the troops
under his command shall not fight again during
th, war unless exchanged.
Tho usual pledge given In the parole "a not 10
%. I'd during the cNis'ing war unless exchanged.
During the Cly War there was a number of
prison camps whore Confederate prisoners were
kept until they could be exchanged and old Army
officers who mbcr these places say that thou
sands OF Coufcdcrates who had become out
and exhausted by hard service and scant fare
yiyoi and recuporatcI In t"e prison camps. and IN
some Instances men We're sorry to leave them and
resume their places I'm the army
II ls generally believed that the prisoners IN
the hands Of tine United States authorities will he
surpr. I'D at the treatment which will be accorded
10 them. because from remarks dropped by some
~ tho Spanish sailors and marines IT was inferred
that the impression prevailed among them that
the United States troops would butcher their cap
lives or ualtreat Thorn.
one section Of order 30. Loo says:
Tho use of the cn'my's standard flag other
emblem ~ nationality FOR the purpose OF tccclyinS
the ,rcmy in BATH. is an act 81 I"rddy 10y which
'n"r lose an claim 10 the projection OF the laws
~ war.