The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-02-18
CUSTOMS OF WAR
Rules That Contending Armies
Are Expected to Obey.
A GRIM CODE OF ETIQUETTE.

The Enemy May Be Starved 70 Death
or into Yielding by Stopping His
Supplies, but His Food Must Not Be
Poisoned-Prisoners Of War.
| War-that Is. warfare between civil
lized nations-has its code OF etiquette
known as the customs of war, some of
which are written, others tacitly agreed
| 10, and these rules and regulations con-
lending armies are supposed to regard
as 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.
Nominally a general may use any
means IN bis power to bring his foe to
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 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
1. 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. 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
II recaptured it would be murder to
shoot him. and he should not be pun
ished for his attempt, though he may
be placed In more rigorous confne-
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
captors not of purely military nature.
Thus he may be ordered to assist in
draining the camp In which he Is a
prisoner, but 1t 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 a soldier to betray his
own SIDE
II thus tempted a 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-
duct-that is. II the pretended traitor
| Ia an officer or soldier
| A spy. of course. comprehends the
hazardous nature of the mission he
undertakes and is painfully aware
of the fact that be carries his life in
his hands. SO to speak. Courageous
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 camp must not be treat
/ ed u a spy, nut as a prisoner of war.
provided be is not disguised.
IL commander takes part In a
charge OF 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 city or town Is bombarded
public buildings-unless used for de
fensive purposes should be spared as
far as possible. When a place is cap
tnred the victorious foe is entitled to
seize art treasures. and so on. and to
hold them to ransom. To lnjure or de
stroy them would be the act of a
vandaI.
When 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
Rrnls against an invader Is liable to be
| shot like dog when captured Re
taliation is sanctioned by the customs
of war. 1t is military vengeance and
takes place when an outrage commit
| ted on one side is avenged by the COM
mission of similar act on the other.
Thus an unjust execution of prison
ers by the enemy may be followed by
the execution of an equal number OF
prisoners held by the opponents. and
! this act of retaliation has been fire.
Quently enforced. even In recent years
London Answers.