Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-22
ETIQUETTE IN WAR.
Rules Which Must be obeyed by Ar.
mice of Civilized Nationa.

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mice Of Civilized Nations.
War-that is, warfare between civil
lied nations-has its code Of etiquette,
known as the customs Of war, some of
which are written. others tactily agreed
to.
Obvious examples Of fighting eti-
quette are the rules which protect the
Red Cross flag Of the ambulance, and
forbid the use Of explosive. or, within
limits, expanding bullets.
Nominally, a general may use any
means in his power to bring his foe to
subjection, but there is a well defined
boundary line. A leader may cut of
his enemy's food 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 a place Ia besieged and that
outside the walls are wells which the
besiegers cannot effectively hold, and
which the besieged can reach under
cover Of night. The besieger would be
justified In sending parties to I'LL 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 his rights.
He may be asked to give his parole to
promise not to escape; but he must
not be forced to give his parole; and is
not to be punished for refusing to do
so. A prisoner on parole who attempts
to escape is liable to be shot either
when escaping or II retaken alive.
An unparoled prisoner may also be
shot while In the act Of escaping; but
II re-captured 1t would be murder to
shoot him, and he should not be pun
ished for his attempt, though he may
be placed In more rigorous confine-
ment.
A prisoner may be compelled to earn
his keep" by working at his trade, II he
has one, or by doing work for his cap
tors not Of a purely military nature.
Thus, he may be ordered to assist I'm
draining the camp in which he Ia a
prisoner; but 1t would not be fair to
put him to building fortifcations.
The customs of war justify the en-
ployment of spies, but under certain
rules. II a soldier voluntarily turns
traitor, the other side is entitled to
make use Of him but 1t is not cricket"
90 hakx htu
side.
II thus tempted, q man may pretend
to turn traitor and deceive the enemy
with false. information. On the other
hand. voluntarily to go over to the en-
emy, pretending to be traitor or de-
serter, would be dishonorable conduct
that is, IL the pretended traitor is an
officer or soldier.
A spy, of course, has no rights. and is
at all times liable to be shot or hanged
at sight.
An officer, or soldier, however.
caught In the enemy's camp. must not
be treated as spy, but as prisoner
Of war, provided he is not disguised.
II a commander takes part in
charge, or persistently exposes himself
to fire. he must take his chance of be-
ing shot: but In big affairs It Is not the
game" to detail marksmen to try to
pick or your opponents general.
though every effort may be made to
capture him.
When a city or town Ii bonbarded,
public buildings-unless used for de-
fensive purposes-should be spared so
far as possible. When place IL cap
tured, the victorious foe Ia entitled to
seize art treasures and 30 on, and to
hold them to ransom. To injure or de-
stroy them would be the act Of a van
dal,
When a country is invaded, the inva-
der can compel the inhabitants to sup
ply him with food and other supplies,
and to act as guides, workmen and
drivers.
A person who, not belonging to any
recognised military force, takes up
arms against an invader Ia liable to be
shot when captured. Retaliation is
sanctioned by the customs Of war; 1t is
military vengeance, and takes place
when an outrage committed on one side
Is avenged by the commission Of a
similar act on the other.
Thus, an unjust execution Of prison.
ers held by the enemy may be follow
ed by the execution Of an equal num-
ber Of prisoners held by the opponents.
Answers.