AN OPPORTUNE BOOK.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 67, 29 August 1911, Page 4

AN OPPORTUNE BOOK.

Those people who say “we have nothing to lose and nothing to fear from invaders ” will be interested io a book, “ War Rights on Land,” 1 dely published by Macmillan’s. This volume is a valuable contribution to military literature. In it the author (Mr Spaigbt) gives a clear account of the customs and laws of war on land. He takes the articles of the various treaties and conventions and illustrates them in the m st effective manner from recent struggles. It is worth knowing that the German field regulations forbid levies en masse, and that the German administration of military law, which has sometimes been held up to us for admiration, has usually been marked by extreme severity. Thus it was death in 1870 for a Frenchman to have arms in his house; it was death for -him to cut a telegraph wire or to destroy anything needed for the servicj of the German Army. If, from any village, a shot was fired at a German soldier, six of the inhabitants were seized and shot. A number of workmen were ordered to appear at Nancy and execute without pay certain 'work. It was added that if they did not come forward a proportion of workraei would be shot. Huge tines were levied on French towns and villages where the attacked the Germans. And Franc-Tireurs when captured were mercilessly shot. The moral of the book is salutary. Woe to the people that fails co prepare for war. Its sons will be shot; its houses burned; vast sums will be levied on its population ; its work--, men will be compelled to - labour without pay for the alien ; starvation will stalk abroad in its streets ; it will know the emotions of the sheep in the clutch of tbe tiger.