Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-12-19
CUSTOMS OF war
Rules That Contending Armies
Are Expected to Obey.
A GRIM CODE OF ETIQUETTE.

~ ~''s'ss SSSs ~ -
The Enemy Nay Be Starved to Death
or into Yisidins by Stopping His
Supplies. but His Food Must Not es
Po,soneo-Prisonsrs OF War.
War that IL. warfare between civi.
iiztai nations has It's code OF etiquette
known as the customs of war, some Of
which are written. others tacitly agreed
to. and these rules and regula lions con-
tending armies are supposed to regard
rs sacred and to obey them rigidly.
Obvious examples OF lighting eti-
qnette are the rules which protect the
Red Cross Tag OF the ambulance and
forbid tue use Of explosive or. within
limits. expanding bullets.
\oniiUaily a general may use any
means In his fWwer to bring his foe to
subjrctiOn. but there II q well defined
boundary line. A leader may cut of
his ei,elny's fond and water supplies
He may subject him to all the horrors
OF famine and thirst. but he must not
poison his food Or water.
suppose place II besieged and that
outside the walls are wells which the
b+siegers cannot effectively hold and
which the besieged can reach under
cover Of night. The besieger would be
Justified In sending parties to Oh up the
wells with earth and stones or to de-
strOy them. With dynamite. On the
other hand. to pollute the wells with
poison or to throw dead animals into
them would be an infamy.
A prisoner Of war" has bis rights.
He may be asked to give his parole
/. e.. to promise not to escape-but he
must not be forced to give bis parole
and Ia not to be punished for refusing
to do 10. A prisoner on parole who At
te,"pts to escape II liable to b shot.
either when sscaping or II rstaken
alive.
An unparoled prisoner may also be
shot while In the act Of escaping, but
n recaptured II would be murder to
shout him. and he should not be pun
isled for his attempt. though be may
be placed In more rigorous con6ne-
lnent.
A prisoner may be compelled to earn
bis keep" by working at his trade. II
he has one. Or by doing work for his
captors not of a purely military nature.
Thus ne may he ordered to assist In
draining the camp in which he Ii
prisoner. but 1t would not he fair to
put him to building Notifications.
The customs Of war justify the EN-.
plOyment Of spies. but under certain
rules. II soldier voluntarily turns
traitor the other side Is entitled to
make use Of him. but It is not honor
able to tempt soldier to betray his
own side.
II thus tempted man may pretend
to turn traitor and deceive the enemy
with false information. On the other
hand. voluntarily to go over to the
enemy. pretending to be traitor or
deserter. would be dishonorable con
dnct--that IL. II the pretended traitor
Is an officer or soldier.
A spy. Ut course, cOmprehends the
hazardous nature of the mission be-
undertakes and. Ia painfully aware
Of the fact that he carries his life In
his hands. no to speak. Courageous
and daring though he may he. the spy
has no rights and Is at all times liable
To be shot or hanged at sight. Now
adays. though. he il usually given the
benefit Of trial by court martial.
An officer or soldier. however. caught
In the enemy's camp must not be- treat.
Ell AS spy. but as prisoner OF war.
provided be Is not disguised
IT commander takes part In
charge or persistently exposes himself
tn IRE hp must take his chance of be
Ing shot. but In big affairs 1t Is not the
game" to detail marksmen to try to
pick of your opponents general. though
every effort may be made to capture
him.
When u city or town Ia bombarded
public bnildings-unless used for de
fensive purposes-shOuld be spared as
far as possible. When a place is cap
tured the victorious foe is entitled to
seize art treasures. and so on, and to
hold them to ransom. To injure or de-
stroy them would be the act of
vandal.
When country Is Invaded the In.
vader can compel the Inhabitants to
supply him with food and other sup
plies aud to act as guides. workmen
and drivers.
A person who. not belonging to any
recognized military force. takes up
arms against an Invader Is liable to be
shot like dog when captured Re
taliariot' ia sanctioned by the customs
OF war. 1t is military vengeance and
takes place when an outrage commit
ted on one side rs avenged by the com
mission OF similar act on the other
Thus an unjust execution Of prison
ers by the enemy may he followed by
the execution Of an equal number of
prisoners held by the opponents. and
this act of retaliation has been fire.
Qnently enforced. even In recent years.
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