Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-06-18
WITH WARS HONORS
Defeated Soldiers Who Are Ac-
corded distinction.
Defenders Forced Through CIrcum.
stances to Surrender Fortified
Places Usually Treated With
Generosity by captors.

When Przemysl, the great fortress
on the Hungarian frontier, fell into
the hands Of the Russians, the terms
OF surrender provided that the garrison
should be accorded "honors Of war"
AS a consequence, the defenders
marched out with their colors flying,
and surrendered to the commander Of
the attacking forces to the sounds Of
drums and bugles. The prisoners were
neither deported to Siberia nor sent to
concentration camps. but we're placed
en- parole in a certain town Of Russia,
aud the officers were allowed to retain
their swords.
1t is interesting OF recall that at Port
Arthur. the greatest siege ever known,
at the end OF seven months investment
the Russians made various offers OF
surrender If they could Qarch out with
all the honors Of war, but the Japanese
demanded unconditional surrender.
Ordinarily. In ell these siege opera
lions, a surrender Of a fortress is un-
conditional, and the vanquished tacitly
agree to accept whatever terms the
victor, In his wisdom. may impose. re.
lying upon the latter's magnanimity
for good and lenient treatment. The
usual course is this: The garrison Ia
disarmeo. They are made to fall in.
all so many prisoners, and escorted to
wherever their conquercrs decide they
shall be detained.
The conquerors. Of course, see that
the escort is a strong guard. properly
armed, able to put down at once any
attempt on the prisoners part t. es.
cape or disobey orders. Worst of all.
and certainly the most CALLING to any
real soldier, the almost sacred trophies
Of the different regiments becsme the
spoils Ct the victors.
Guns, ammunition, colors and such
like things all lave to be given up.
men have given their lives to
defend them. Fer the future they
grace the homes Of the enemy, or are
against their old owners in the !
held; ~
It is in these things that the humilia.
ton Of surrender becomes COMPLETE:
yet all of 1t is saved when the beaten
is granted the "honors OF
war" as the Austrians were at Pre-
mysl That mean the defenders were
defeated, but not d~isgraced."
BY its use, the successful hesiegers
admit to the world that the garrison
were able to make something better
than an unconditional surrender. Their
heroic defense had not left them at
their last gasp; they could maintain
hostilities for some time yet; and. al.
they would undoubtedly be
beaten at the finish, the fortress could
only be taken after more or less had
been suffered.
In suck a cas- all that is demanded
the beaten men is that they should
evacuate all their positions. These
The enemy take possession ef, as what
they have been striving for. All the
,olors and other trophies are retained
BY the garrison. The defenders are
not prisoners Of war. compelled to sur
render. They are simply beaten men.
giving up the unequal COLI.
.est.
They are not disarmed and escorted
by guards. Mastering under their own
leaders,, as they did at Przemysl, they
nave no enemy owe them giving or.
lers. Headed by their OWE bands, with
heir own colors flying above them,
and no foreign flag near, they march
tut" Of the positions they have SO
lobly held, saluted by their success.
ors and acclaimed by the world as he.