The Detroit times., 1915-08-14
When Great Forts Fall

When Przemysl. the great fortress
on the Hungarian frontier. fell into
the hands OF the Russians. the terms
OF surrender provided that the gar.
rison should be accorded "hohors Of
war" As q consequence. the de-
tenders marched out with their col
ors fying. and surrendered TO the
commander OF the attacking forces
to the sounds OF drums and bugles.
The prisoners were neither deport-
ed 10 Siberia nor sent TO, concentra-
ton camps. but were placed on pa
role In a certain town of Russia. and
the officers were allowed TO retain
their swords.
II is interesting to recall that at
Port Arthur. the greatest siege ever
known. at the end Of seven months
investment the Russians made va
rious offers of surrender II they
could march out with all the honors
OF war. but the Japanese demanded
unconditional surrender.
Ordinarily. In all these siege OPP
erations. q surrender OF fortress
Is unconditional and the vanquished
tacitly agree to accept whatever
terms the victor. In his wisdom.
may impose. relying upon the lat
ter's magnanimity for good and len
lent treatment The usual course
Is this: The garrison is disarmed.
They are made TO fall In. all so
many prisoners, and escorted to
wherever their conquerors decide
they shall be detained.
The conquerors. of course. see
rat the escort Is a strong guard.
operly armed. able to put down at
'ce any attempt on the prisoners
RI to escape or disobey orders.
orst of all. and certainly the most
,alling to any real soldier. the al
most sacred trophies OF the different
regiments become the spoils OF the
victors.
Guns. ammunition. colors and such
title things all have to be given up.
hough men have given their lives
~ defend them. For the future they
grace the homes OF the enemy. or
are turned against their old owners
In the feld.
II IL In these things that the hu-
initiation OF surrender becomes COM
plete. yet all OF II Is saved when the
beaten garrison Is granted the hon
ors Of war;" as the Austrians were
at Przemysl. This means that the
defenders were simply defeated,
but not disgraced"
BY Its use. the successful besieg-
ers admit 10 the world that the gar
rison wac able TO make something
bitter than an unconditional surren-
der Their heroic defense had not
left them at their last gasp; they
could maintain hostilities for some
time yet: and. although they would
undoubtedly be beaten at the finish.
the fortress could only be taken ar
ter more loss had been suffered.
In such case all that Is demand
ed OF the beaten men Is that they
should evacuate all the positions
These the enemy take possession or
as what they have been striving for
All the colors and other trophies
arc retained by the garrison. The
defenders are not prisoners OF war
compelled to surrender. They are
simply beaten men. voluntarily Civ,
ing mp the unequal contest.
They are not disarmed, and ga.
corted by guards. Mastering under
their own leaders. as they did at
Przemysl. they have no enemy over
them giving orders Headed by
their own bands. with their own col.
ors flying above them, and no for.
eign flag near, they march out" OF
the positions they have so nobly
held. saluted by their successors
and acclaimed by the world as he.
roes.-Pearson's Weekly.