The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-02-05
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 His
Supplies. but His Food Must Not Be
Poisoned-Prisoners Of War.
War-that is. warfare between ciTi.
lized nations-has its code OF etiquette
known as the customs Of war. some Of
which are written. others tacitly agreed
to. and these rules and regulations con-
tending armies are supposed to regard
as sacred and to obey them rigidly.
Obvious examples Of fighting et-
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 bis power to bring his foe to
subjection. but there IS we'll defined
boundary line. a leader may cut of
bis 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 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 lnfamy.
a prisoner Of war" has his rights.
He may be asked to give his parole
i. e.. to promise not to escape-but be
must not be forced to give his parole
and is not to be punished for refusing
to do so. a prisoner on parole who at
tempts to escape is liable to be shot.
either when escaping or If retaken
alive.
An unparoled prisoner may also BE-
shot while in the act Of escaping. but
If recaptured it would be murder to
shoot him. and he should not be pun
tshed for his attempt. though he may
be placed in more rigorous con6ne-
ment.
A prisoner may be compelled to earn
bis keep" by working at his trade. II
be has one. or by doing work for bis
captors not Of a purely military nature.
Thus he may be ordered to assist IN
draining the camp in which be is
prisoner, but it would not be fair to
put him to building Notifications.
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 it is not honor
able to tempt soldier to betray his
own side.
II thus tempted q man may pretend
to turn traitor and deceive the enemy
with false information. On the other
hand. voluntarily to 80 over to the
enemy. pretending to be traitor OF
dPegeer. would be dishonorable con.
duct-that is. If the pretended traitor
Is an Officer or soldier.
A SPY. Of course. comprebends the
hazardous nature Of the mission he
undertakes and Is painfully aware
of the fact that he carries his life in
bis hands. so to speak. Courageor
and daring though he may be, the spy
has no rights and is at all times liable
to be shot or hanged at sight Now
adays. though, he is usually given the
benefit OF trial by court martial.
An officer or soldier. however. caught
In the enemy's camp must not be treat
ed as spy. but as prisoner Of war,
provided be is not disguised.
II a commander takes part In
charge or persistently exposes himself
to fire be must take his chance of be-
ing shot. but in big affairs it Is not the
game" to detail marksmen to try to
pick off your opponents general. though
every effort may be made to capture
him.
When a city or town IS bombarded
public buildings-unless used for de-
fensive purposes-should be spared as
far as possible. When q 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 a
vandal.
When a country is invaded the in
vader can compel the inhabitants to
supply him With food and other sup
plies and 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 q dog when captured. Re
taliation is sanctioned by the customs
of war 1t is military vengeance and
fakes place when IN outrage commit
ted on one side is avenged by the COM
mission Of q slp''lor act on the other.
Thus an ur' st vecuton Of prison
ers by the r % = be followed by
the execu: n a equal number OF
prisoners l.. opponents. and
this act Of Ion has been ire
quently enforced. even In recent years.
Answers.