The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-12-21
CUSTOMS OF war
Rules That contending Armies
Are Expected to Obey.
A GRIM CODE OF ETIQUETTE.

The Enemy May 6e starved TO Death
or Into Yielding by Stopping HE
Supplies, but His Food Must Not Be
Poisoned-Prisoners of War.
War-that Is. warfare between civil
lied nations-has its code of etiquette
known as tae customs of war, some of
(Which are written. others tacitly agreed
10. and these rules and regulations con-
tending armies are supposed to regard
us sacred and to obey them rigidly.
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.
NominaIly a general may use any |
means In his power to bring his foe to |
subsection, but there Is well defined |
boundary line. A leader may cut off |
his eIiemy'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 place is 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 fill 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
I. e.. 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. prisoner on parole who at
teinpts to escape is liable to be shot,
either when escaping or if retakeD
alive.
An unparoled prisoner may also be
shot while in the act of escaping. but
II recaptured It would be murder to
shoot him, and he should not be pun
ished for his attempt. though he may
he placed in more rigorous confne-
1nent.
A prisonpr may he compelled to earn
his keep" by working ut his trade, II
he has one, or by doing work for his
captors not Of purely military nature.
Thus he may he ordered to assist In
draining the camp in which he is a
prisoner. bnt 1t would not be fair to
put him to building Notifications.
The customs OF war justify the en-
plnynient of spies. but under certain
rules. lf a soldier voluntarily turns
traitor the other side is entitled to
make us.. OF hin, but 1t is not honor
able tn tempt IA soldier to betray his
own side.
II thus tempted man may pretend
to thru traitor aud deceive the enemy
with false information On the othel
hand. voluntarily to so over to tut
enemy, pretending to be traitor Of
dnserter, wnuld be d!s!onorable con
duct that is, if the pretended traito
ia an officer or soldier.
SPY, of course, comprehends tn
hazardous nature of the mission n
undertakes and is painfully awar
of the fact that he carries his life i
his hands. so to speak Courageou
and daring though he may be. the sp
has no rights and is ut all times liaDl
to be shot or hanged ut sight. Nov
adnys, though he is usually given tn
benefit of trial by court martial.
An officer or soldier. however, caugt
in the eIlemy's camp must not be trea
ed AS a spy. but rs a prisoner of wa
provided he is not disguised
II commander takes part In
charge or persistently exposes hmse
to fire he must take his chance of b
Ing shot. hut in hig affairs 1t Is not Il
game" to detail marksmen to try
nick off Your opponents general, thous
every effort may be made to captu
him.
when Il city or town is bombard
public buildings unless used for
fei,>ive lmrI,nses should be spared
far as possible When place Is ca
lturpd the victorious foe Is entitled
seize art treasures, and so on, and
hold them to ransom. TO injure or
stroy them would be the act OF
vandal.
When country is invaded the
Noucf VIII tOtHIUi tut
supply him with food and other 81
plies and to act us guides. workn
and drivers.
A person who. not belonging to
recognizrd military force, takes
arms against an invader Is liable to
shot like Il dog when captured.
tnliation is sanctioned by the custo
OF war. 1t Ii military vengeance
takes place when an outrage CONT
ted on one side is avenged by the c.
mission of u similar act on the Othe
Thus an unjust execution OF pris
ers by the enemy may he followed
the execution Of an equal number
prisoners held by the opponents.
this act of retaliation has been
qnently enforced. even In recent We
-lnhdon Answers.
Ooctorin9 a Doctor.