The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-05-17

| Qonce OF the heQ Cross naVl0R De0I
deliberately misused for offensiv,
purposes, and seemingly under or
ders, on some, though not many
occasions.
ABUSE OF THE WHITE FLAG.
Cases of this kind are numerous
1t is possible that a small group OF
men may show a white flag without
authority from any proper officer, il
which case their action is, of course
not binding on the rest of the pla.
toon or other unit. But this will not
apply to the case of a whole unit ad-
vancing as If to surrender, or LETTING
the other side advance to receive
the pretended surrender, and then
opening fire. Under this head we
find many depositions by British sol
diers and several by officers. In some
cases the firing was from a machine
gun brought up under cover of the
white flag.
The depositions taken by Profess
sor Morgan in France strongly cor
rebate the evidence collected in this
Icountry.
The case numbered m 20 may be
noted as very clearly stated. The
German, who had put. up a white
nag on lance and ceased fire." and
thereby induced company to ad-
vance in order to take them prison.
ers, dropped the white flag and
opened fire at a distance of 100
yards" This was near Nesle, on
Sept. 6, 1914. 1t seems clearly
proved that in some divisions at least
of the German Army this practice is
very common. The incidents as re-
ported cannot be explained by un-
authorized surrenders of small
groups.
There is, in our opinion, sufficient
evidence that these offenses have
been frequent, deliberate, and in
many cases committed by whole
units under orders. All the acts
mentioned in this part of the report
are in contravention of The Hague
Convention, signed by the great pow
ers, including France, Germany,
Great Britain, and the Uuited States,
in 1907, as may be seen by a refer
ence to Appendix d, in which the
provisions of that convention relat-
ing to the conduct of war on land
are set forth.
CONCLUSIONS.
From the foregoing pages it will
be seen that the committee have
come to a definite conclusion upon
each of the heads under (which the
evidence has been classiffSA
1t is proved
G.) That there were in many parts
Of Belgium deliberSae and systemat-
ically organized massacres of the
civil population, accompanied by
many isolated murders and other
outrages.
di) That in the conduct of the
war generally innocent civilians,
both men and women, were MUIR
Tered in large numbers, women vio-
ated, and children murdered.
(iii.) That looting, house burning,
md the wanton destruction of prop
'rty were ordered and countenanced
~ the officers of the German Army,
hat elaborate provision had been
made for systematic incendiarism at
he very outbreak of the war, and
hat the burnings and destruction
we're frequent where no military ne
essity could be alleged, being in
eed part of a system of general
(iv.) That the rules and usages of
var were frequently broken, partic-
larly by the using of civilians, in
luding women and children, as a
hield for advancing forces exposed
fire, to a less degree by killing
ne wounded and prisoners, and in
ne frequent abuse of the Red Cross
nd the white flag.
Sensible as they are of the gravity
these conclusions the committee
)nceive that they would be doing
ss than their duty if they failed to
cord them as fully established by
lie evidence. Murder, lust, and
llage prevailed over many parts of
elg1um on scale unparalleled in \
ly war between civilized nations
lring the last three centuries.
Our function is ended when we
I'VE stated what the evidence es-
blishes, but we may be permitted
express our beief that these dis
osures will not have been made in
I'm II they touch and rouse the
nscience of mankind, and we ven
re to hope that as soon as the pres
It war is over the nations of the
orld in council will consider what
cans can be provided and sanctions
vised to prevent the recurrence of
ch horrors as our generation is
w witnessing.
We are, etc., :
BRYCE,
F. POLLOCK,
EDWARD CLARKE.
KENELM e. DIGBY. r
ALFRED HOPKINSON,
H. A. l.. FISHER,
HAROLD COX.