Evening star., 1900-08-11
Uncle Sans Latest Work on Wa
Etiquette. Is
INTERESTING LITTLE CODE ISSUED
Humane Treatment for Chinese
Prisoners and Wounded.
NOT THE EN- E M Y'S WAY

though the Boxers and their allies will
probably respect no iota of the general
code of etiquette binding civilized war
| methods, the Yankee soldier, struggling in
| a new arena and against an untried foe,
| must comport himself with as great dig
rity as though he were settling an affair
of honor with duelist of the most scien-
tific school.
Unnecessary cruelty against the Chinese
enemy is forbidden by this interesting code.
Our army must not infict any suffering
for the sake of revenge. Such considera-
ton will, indeed, surprise the pigtaled
foes. The intIiction of pain upon any Chi
nese as a means of eXtorting a confession
from him is emphatically tabooed, yet
such practices are strictly legitimate,
cording to the celestial notion. Poison
must not be placed in water or food of the
enemy. 1t will be proper, however, to
starve Chinese cities. towns. villages or
communities Of any size until they sur
render. Commanders expecting to bonn
bard cities and towns are cautioned to give
proper warning, whenever admissible, in
order that the women, children and nom
fighting men can be removed in time to
escape our dcath-dealing shells If it is
necessary. however. to surprise the new
enemy outright this courtesy may be
omitted.
Were the Chinese to invade America pri-
vate citizens falling into their relentless
grasp would be murdered cast into slavery
or carried off to some distant corner of
the earth. During our engagement in China
the private citizens falling within our
grasp will be as little disturbed in their
private affairs as our commanders can
prevent. Our soldiers forbidden to
harm any property belonging to Chinese
temples of religion, hospitals. universities,
schools, academies. observatories. mu-
seums. libraries, art galleries or scientific
institutions. Death VIII be dealt to Amer
lean soldiers caught robbing. pillaging,
sacking or destroying Chinese private prop
erty. Their superior officers will be
thorized to shoot them on the spot when
so discovered. The same fate can be dealt
to those who rape. wound, MAIN or kill
Chinese citizens. The death penalty is
further recommended for all such crimes
as the burning of Chinese houses, assault,
highway robbery. theving, burglary, fraud
and forgery committed by our soldiers in
China, regardless of the fact that they
would not De so punished at home.
Treatment of Prisoners
Prisoners of war captured by our troops
from the Chinese ranks will be dumfound-
ed at their humane treatment. Every last
one of them falling alive into our hands
will expect to be mcrcilessly slaughtered.
They know of no other tactics. Only such
persons armed against us or who
accompany the Chinese army will be taken
by us prisoners. An exception to this
rule Will be made in cases of high officials
of the Chinese government. The emperor
and dowager empress may themselves be
arrested and held as prisoners, if we can
readily lay hands upon them. The royal
princes. viceroys and governors may be
treated in the same way. But the chances of
capturing such big game the emperor
and empress are meager. Forty years ago
when the allied armies of England and
France fought their way to Pekin they
failed To find the then emperor. His majes-
~ left his regrets that he had been obliged
to depart upon a hunting trip, which by law
he was compelled to attend.
Our Chinese prisoners Of war must be
well treated and well fed. If sick or wound
ed they must be given the best medical
attention possible. They must be subjected
to no punishment. disgrace or neglect.
Money, jewelry, other valuables or extra
clothing carried by them when captured
must be regarded as their private property
and must not be taken from them. There is
an exception to this last order If a large
sum is found upon a prisoner of war it
may be appropriated for his support and
for the use of the army. Any Chinese pris-
oncr may be made to perform work accord
ing to his rank. a Chinese general, for ex-
ample, would hardly be set to the task of
splitting kndling wood. Chinese prisoners
of war can be shot or otherwise killed while
escaping, but if caught unharmed they can
not be punished for attempting to escape.
Our soldiers will be prohibited from ex-
torting from their prisoners any informa-
ton about the Chinese army. 1t will be
considered more honorable for the Chinese
captiVeS to give false information liable to
distract our plans than true information
liable to harm their own cause Hence they
will not be punished for lying to us when
piled with questions.
Quarter Must BE Given.
The German emperor has brought down
upon his head storm of criticism by an
nouncing that he would give the Chinese
no quarter'-in other words, that their
soldiers surrendering on the field would be
slaughtered by the Germans and not taken
as prisoners. Chinese who throw away
their arms and ask our soldiers for quar-
ter will be simply captured They will not
be harmed in any way. 1t Is against the
usage of modern war SO Uncle Sans
blue book reads, Ito resolve. in hatred and
revenge, to give no quarter" General Chat
fee may, however, direct his troops to give
no quarter in great emergencies when 1t
will be impossible for him to burden HIM
self with prisoners. In such an unhappy
event it will be objectionable for our men
to attack disabled soldiers.
Our army will be entitled to execute Chi
nese convicted by court-martial for any of
number of offenses. Scouts or individual
soldiers disguised in our uniform or in any
costume other than their own will be killed
as spies If found lurking inside our lines
in search of information. The punishment
of death will be inflicted also upon armed
Chinese caught prowling within lines
attempting robbery. killing of our troops
or the destruction of bridges, roads, canals
VI teltSIdpH nelu by us. ANY person,
Chinese or otherwise, discovered seeking
information for the enemy will be hanged
as spy whether not he succeeds in
obtaining his information But if he sue
cessfully returns to the Chinese forces and
Is later captured by our soldiers he can be
held only as a prisoner of war All such
considerations refer, of course, to incidents
outside of open battle. While guns roar
ing and active fighting is in progress our
soldiers will be directed to kill iall Chinese
who oppose them with arms.
Prisoners Are slaughtered.
But what courtesies can We expect from
the Chinese? That calls for quite another
story. In the first place, they will spare
few, If any, soldiers who throw down their
arms and ask for mercy. Surrendered
troops of the American and European
mics who escape slaughter on the battle
field will most likely be bound with tight
cords. placed in cages or open carts and
hauled into Pekn. There they will proba-
bly, be brought before the board of punish
ments, tribunal which concocts tortures
for criminals of special classes. The par
ticuar torture having been prescribed, the
prisoners will probably be turned over to
cruel jailers and specialists in the art of
pr0lOng1nR the est