The times., 1898-07-11
PRISONERS OF WAR.
The Famous General Order No. 100
on This Subject stiII in Force.

The Famous General Order No. 100
on This Subject still in Force.
In the search among the dusty and for
gotten documents of the Civil War IN
spired by the enlistment of a volunteer
army and the invasion Of hostile ter
ritory. many laws and orders relating 70
military affairs are discovered that have
never been repealed. The muster out OF
great army was accomplished with
very little legislation and acts that were
originally intended for temporary
condition have survived and are capable
of serving the uses Of the present OF
such IS the act TO enable soldiers 10 send
home their pay by system not unlike
the postal money scheme Of several Eu-
ropean countries. Another is the famous
General Order No. 800 issued in 1856,
and relating to the treatment and ex-
change Of prisoners Of war Ii is in strict
accord with the regulations adopted by
most nations. As 20 he status and treat
ment OF prisoners the order recites:
4 prisoner Of war, Icing a public enemy Is ths
prisoner of the Government and NOT OF me cap
tor. No ransom be paid by a prisoner III
TO his individual captor or 70 any ONO
IN command Tne Government alone relieves cap-
tiyes according TO rules prescribed by itself
frlsOueEs Oi war are subject 70 confinement Vi
Imprisonment such as may be deemed Necessary
on account OF safety They Dc subjected
to no other intentional suffering or indIgnty.
The mode Of treating prisoner may be YaIisd
during his captivity according 70 the demands
Of safety.
Prisoners of war shall be led upon plain and
wholesome food whenever practicable and treated
with humanity. They may be required to work
for the benefit of the captOrs' government aeco- d
ing TO their rank and condition.
A prisoner Of war who escapes may be shot on
9th EaF II l.
nor other penalty shall be inflicted hiIa simply
fer his attempt 70 escape which the lag OF Wal
does not consider crime
Stricter means Of security shall be used after
an unsuccessful attempt at escape. IT, however
a conspiracy IS discovered, the purpose OF which
Is a united OF general escape. the eonspua;OIs
may be vigorously punished, with death, and
capital punishment may also be inflicted upon
prisoners OF war discovered 10 have plotted re-
beillen against the authorities OF the eaptor,
whether in Union with fellow prisoners other
persons
II prisoners Of war. having given no pledge nor
made any promise on their hOlOr, T5reIDIy
otherwise escape and are captured gain in b-ttle
Ii-er having reJoIned their army, they
shall not be punished foc their escape. but shall
be treated simply Is prisoners oI -af, although
they viii be subjected to stricter confinement
Every captured wounded enemy shall be nedi.
eaiy treated according 70 The ability Of the mdI-
cal staS
Honorable men when captured shall abstain
from giving 10 the enemy information conc=rn-
ing their army, and the modem laW II war
permits no longer use Of any violence against
prisoners IN order 10 extOrt the desired infOr-
nation or TO punish them for having given false
information
On the subject Of exchange Of prison.
ers the famous order says:
Exchange Ct prisoners takes place number fol
number, rank for rank and wounded for wounded,
with added conditions
number ii priyates or none commits stoned Cifi.
GERS may be eoGnted equal to an officer. and l
nunher q officers OF low rank may b. count d
for one OF high rank
The term parole designates pledge OF indi-.d-
ual god faIth and h-nor 70 do oc emit do 3
certain acts after ne who has given his parole
shall have been dismissed wholly partially
from the power % the Captor. The pledge 4
the parole Is always an individual and not
private act
Tee parole applies chiefly 70 pris-n mrs Of war
whom the eaptCr allows 10 return their eoun-
try CT 70 live IN greater freedom within the Clp-
tors country conditions stated in the parole.
Breaking the parole J. punIs. cd wiki Death
when the person who breaks the parole /, cap
tured again. Accurate lists Of the paroed must
on that account be kept by the DeIligerents.
Commanding ciceis alone are allowed 10 give
the parole, and they can give II Only W.T. ,Ec
permission Of their Superior. long q superior
IN rank i within reach The parole cannot 0s
given the battlefield No part OF entire b. dis
OF troops the battlefield can he rs-Oled snI no
dismissal CT large numbers OF prisoners with the
general deClaT2.f,n that trey are par led per-
mitted Il any value.
In eapItulat:Uns OF the SUITE nder OF strong
places or fortified camps tine commanding officer
in cases Of urgent necessity may agree that the
troops under his command shall not ight sga,n
during the unless exchanged.
The usual pledge giyea in the parole Is MT
to serve during the existing wax unies eN-
changed
Among the many mendacious state
ments Of Spanish officials is one that IS
particularly exaSperating. namely. that
war vessels OF the United States were
used TO fly The Spanish flag in order 20
enter the enemy's harbor or approach
his ships On this subject General Order
No. 100 says;
The use Of the eneuIs's standard. flag or other
emblem Of nationality for the purpose Of deceiv-
ing the enemy in battle Is act of perfdy by
which they lose all claim the protection Of the
laws of war.
1t has been noted that the Spanish
prisoners are invariably surprised by the
kind treatment they receive from the
Americans. 1t is obvious that they ex-
pected to be maItreated, and especially
that they would be poorly fed if allowed
10 live at all.