THE RULES OF WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RULES OF WAR.

FOR ALL COUNTRIES. ':' '- EXCEPT GERMANY. The nation which has so completely cast to the high winds of heaven all the semblance to honour which it once may have possessed, and which has absolutely no regard.for any law whatsoever,, need, not now be expected to pay any attention to the rules of war which were drawn up at The Hague in 1399. A brief glance at a few- of those regulations which are under the sanction of all the civilised countries of the world, and are designed to insure fair play for the combatants, shows how completely Germany has broken every pledge and violated! every law. The* game of war is hedged round by as many restrictions as a boxing contest under Queensberry rules—that is when a nation. is out to "play the game," fairly and squarely. Poisoning Wells. The poisoning of wells and streams is strictly forbidden under the international rales of war. It is, however, just as permissible to cut off your enemy's water as it is to cut off food supplies. No poisonus or poisoned weapons shall be used, and reasonable quarter must be given if and when asked. It is a contravention of the laws of war to order that " no quarter will be given." Making improper use of a flag of truce, or any ensign or banner, is also against the rofes of war, as is dressing up in uniform of the enemy. The wounded and sick of an enemy must be properly cared for, and, where crippled or incapable of further fightings "be sent back to their own country at the first opportunity. Penalty for Robbery on the Held. Any soldier robbing or mutilating an enemy i* liable to be shot without trial; and death is the penalty for wounding or killing » disabled man. The use of "softinosed" and dum-dum bullets, whch open out when they hit a man, is now forbidden. Neither is it etiquette in battle to endeavour to shoot the commander of a force* unless he persistently or unnecessarily exposes himself to fire. Still, every effort to capture a commander may be made. The Red Cross is regarded as sacred in war. It may never be fired on. All attendants on the sick and Wounded must wear a Red Cross badge or an armlet, and ; hospital ships must be painted green with a red streak. War correspondents, press artists, and photographers must, if taken prisoners, be treated as captured officers. Private property on land is respected unless military exigencies demand its destruction. The inhabitants of an invaded country, however, may be requisitioned for supplies, and any of their property capable of direct assistance in the prosecution of hostilities be confiscated. When a town or city has been captured, the wanton destruction of historical monuments, works of art, and science, and religions, charitable, and educational institutions is regarded as vandalism, and is strictly forbidden. The victorious foe is. however, allowed to hold the art and other treasures of a captured city to ransom. Notice of Bombardment. Formal notice must be given by the commander of an attacking force of his intention to bombard a place, so that noncombatants may leave. But the bombardment by naval forces of undefended towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings is forbidden, Civilians captured in possession of arms, or soldiers not in -uniform, may be shot after being court-martialled. : Private property at sea is liable to capture, but not so neutral goods on an enemy's ship .or an enemy's goods on a neutral ship, subject to certain qualifica- , tions by the law of contraband. A neutral : ship, however suspicious-looking she may ! be, cannot bo searched if she keeps within three miles of a neutral shore. Only private ships may be searched, and the search must be conducted by a properly commissioned ship of war. A ship taken as a prize must be towed into port by her captors. If the captors are unable to tow her she must be allowed to go free. A battleship belonging to a nation at war may enter a neutral harbour, but she must not remain there more than twentyfour hours. Vessels employed exclusively in coast fisheries, or small boats employed in local trade, together with their appliances, rigging, tackle,' and cargo, are exempt ■ from capture. Seaside resorts may, however, be ordered to provide foodstuffs and necessities for an enemy's fleet, but such contributions must be paid for. The Pate of Spies. The laws of war as applied to spies are of peculiar interest. A state of war must exist before any person can be executed as a, spy. He must in the first place be caught inside the enemy's lines. To be treated as a spy it must be shown that at the time of capture he was in dress other than the adopted military uniform of his country. A spy, even if taken in the act, must be offered a fair and proper trial: he cannot be shot at sight, except' in self-defence or if attempting to escape. If a spy escapes and rejoins his army he cannot be punished for any previous acts of espionage. If he is subsequently taken he can only be treated as an ordinary prisoner of war.

Soldiers in uniform who are obtaining information and aviators are not regarded as spies, and if captured are treated as prisoners of war. Not every person pass ing secretly through the enemy's lines need necessarily be a spy. When captured, if the prisoner can show that his errand in getting through was of a personal nature, he can only be held as a prisoner of war. Trading with the enemy, or attemptir to enter his camp with letters of a personal nature does not constitute spying. To be treated as a spy it must be clearly shown that the object of the accused person was to gain information for the enemy which it would be to their advantage to know.. . ° All the countries engaged in the present war have agreed to the above rules, and it is the duty of neutral nations to see that they are observed.