COLLECTING THE PRISONERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 262, 2 November 1918, Page 15

COLLECTING THE PRISONERS.

A NI-X'KSSAHY BVIU Prisoners especially Hun prisoners—it is Benerally ailrmttwj by those who capture I here iiic. of course, instances where primmer* are needed for Identification and "ther purpwps. Hut tbe UiklDß of prisoners in bulk -luring an advance or aa attack L, reearded ns » necessary erll. The reason is ihat one has to be pund to them and deai .'. iih (liPin nccordlnj; Ui X It. and 0. It does not mean simply takinc a batch of prisoners and seudliifi Uiem down the line. According io reKUlatlous th<- troops " il " takp prisoners "are rmponsible for thi-ir m«tody and Hubsistonc p unUl iustmr-I tkme arc nveiTod for Uieir dLsDosal." In Bciicral priiwlple t.lje Adjutant-<;ene-ral's branrl] ( ,f the StalT Is responsible, in consultation with the Generai Staff, for the arrant:omr>nt.s for the collection, safe cdstrKlr, and dlKpoeai of prisoners and for huryiUK the drad. It us thLs branch which' controls ihi> searrhlns of unwounded ! prisoners and of tbe dead, and the collec-' tlon of Identity discs and personal effects. I Itecelpts have io be given to all for the! money taken from them. Military papers \ have <o be forwarded u> the Ceneral Staff I as as Losslble «-iUi short de-scrlpUve | rolls showing from, wbom tile prisoners were inaj be found If tbey are to undergo eiainiPorsnnnl effects of |>rLsoners. says the regulations. ":ire to be strictly preserved. ' Tliose of unwounded and wonnded follow them to tin- platen of Internment or to hospital. Those of the dead are sent to the Adjulant-ileneral'e office »t the base. If n dead prisoner—or a llvp one —b<? not In possession of an identity dine his clothing Is s<>an-hed for Identification merkß, and tl.ese are recorded. The officer in charce i of each t»atrh of prisoners is sn-pposed to | ln-form them personally t'tiat any attempt to resist the escort or to escape will f« treated by rifle (Ire. The dpiid nre buried by fatlpne parties on the bnttleftVld. ami even here all Identity discs and [mp«>n> are taken from each body anc! a romplete re.-orrl nf eac-h man and tis possessions is entered later <M 1 a terrible i ikM'iimcnt cltlhk every Item possible—age heigl t, weipht. mmplPiino. hair, eyes. marks, wounds, nnme, rank., nnniber, home address, etc. If the Htm is a live one he later finds himself in Knctend, where no doubt he gets H lob to suit his temperament ami disposition.