The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-19
GERMANS TOLD
TO KEEP Silent
Captured Orders Show That
Enemy Realizes Danger ]
from Talking
NEW INSTRUCTIONS
RECENTLY ISSUED
Examples of Information Revealed by
Unsuspecting Prisoners Quoted in
Communication Recently Taken by
American Silence, the Word.

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES /
IN FRANCE, Sept 10 Correspondence
of The Associated Press) Since the
Americans took part in the offensive of
july IL new instructions have been
issued to the German soldiers remind
ing them that silence is the best poll
CIV when taken prisoner.
@Keep silent, know nothing and
shrug your shoulders suggests the
German instructions.
A copy of the German communication
recently came into the hands Of Amer
lean officers 1t says in part:
.'The new prisoner is. valuable pos
session in the hands of the enemy. In
him lie hidden possibilities that may
mean muea more than bare facts con-
corning battaHons and regiments. From
the highest commander to the lowest
wagon driver, every one of us carries
with him remembranees, observations,
overheard discussions, or the greetings
of neighboring troops.
Combining all these things, they
become valuable asset of military in
formation One very seldom realizes
how mucl one. really does know One
thinks little of it, But the enemy knows
> better He spares no pains to get pos
session Of such treasure. 1t may be
gin with friendly and pleasant greet
. ings, with coffee or ciearetts; it ends
with sarcastic smile, with short ra'
: tions and solitary confinement.
; 1.-The last few weeks have brought
us fresh and painful evidence Showing
: how easily the German soldier, the mo
{, ment he drops his arms, succumbs t
! the false impression given by the word
for me, the war is over lie has don
his duty on the battlefield with riff
and grenade until fate grew stronge
than he, and lie becomes a prisoner wit
u the idea, i have done my duty; now
am defenselGss, and captured. no long
e er warrior, it no longer depends VI
II on me.
e We have examples in which the OF
9 ponent while talking with unsHspectin
l. German prisoners successfully drel
II from them a German order of battl
: and attack down to the smallest detail
= One stone upon another; what the on
ie did not know the other would tell.
le Is quite possible that they did not kno'
y whot important information they wei
+ giving when they would say:
: Last evening several artillery me
= came into our trench and the batter
= went into position about geo meter
: behind our trench. This afternoon W
= were to draw three days iron ration
a They had forgotten that the w;
y was not over for them, but only b
.. ginning. Following the war of rif
:, and grenade. follows the war CT word
- questions and conversations. Fac
word that seems harmless enough
in itself becomes an enem S weapC
,o bringing death to hundreds of comrade
II moi Becoming a prisoner does n,
of end the war. It continues with da
he gerous and subtitle weapons Again
er these we lave only ono protective me
ng sure: Silence. Assumed with pride an
BY common sense no one can take tn
he from yoa, least of all should you
oe unfortunate enough to be taken priso
es er. Keep silent. know nothing a
er shrug your shoulders -