"Crucifixion"

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 4

"Crucifixion"

The British Government, acting,, on the advice of high military office tb, haa refused to abolish "No. 1 Field Punishment," commonly known as "crucifixion," which consists of epreadeagUng a soldier on a gun carriage, or pegged out on the ground, for a specified time, remarks Melbourne "Truth." Sir Douglas Haig Is reported to have said that the punishment Js necessary to preserve discipline, and that to abolish it would lead to an increase m tho number of death sentences. So far as we know, there la only one instance of this punishment being inflicted on an Australian soldier. This was at Broadmeadows m the early days of the war, when Major (now Lieutenant-Colonel) Lo Maltre ordered a man to le "cruelfled" for refusing fatigue duty and Using offensive language to his superior ofllcors. The sentence was carried out, the soldier being sprcadeaglod on tho broad of his back and pegged out m a tent for several hours; but the incident caused such an uproar m camp, and led to such tjuoetlons m Parliament, that tho Minister for Defence gave orders that this particular form of punishment was not to bo employed njjain. Of course, Australia being a free, country (more or less) militarism dare not peep at what it can do with impunity In conscript countries. Ono of tho groat advantages of voluntaryism Is that It ensures considerate treatment of tho aoldlcrs, because cases of harsh treatment, on becoming public (as they will do desplto tho moat stringent censorship) have a prejudicial effect on recruiting.