When the Spy is Caught.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue VI, 6 August 1904, Page 60

When the Spy is Caught.

'As all cousins know, a spy is a person sent into an enemy’s country or camp to inspect his works, ascertain the strength, and report on his movements. By the laws of war among civilised nations a spy is subject to capital punishment. A state of war must exist before any person can be executed as a spy, and 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 the offender was wearing dress other than the adopted military uniform of his country. A soldier caught within the enemy’s lines wearing his rightful uniform can only be held as a prisoner of war. Not every persqq passing secretly through the enemy’s lines is necessarily a spy. Wlien the captured person is able to show that his errand in getting through was of a personal nature, he can only be held as a prisoner of was’. Trading with the enemy or attempting 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 the if advantv to obtain, z