PRISONERS MUST NOT TALK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2870, 7 September 1916, Page 6

PRISONERS MUST NOT TALK

GERMAN GENERAL'S ORDERS NOT'TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. / The following is a translation, says Router, of a printed notice found in a German trench. It is issued to all subordinate ranks', and is signed by General von Stein:—

"German prisoners, when interrogated in tho first bewilderment of capture,, sometimes give' answers- which awake in our enemies tho hope that they may yet bo able to conquer us. Any bravo and' honourable soldier may have the misfortune to bo taken prisoner. Even then he can still help his Fatherland by fulfilling his duty. In this case his duty consists in giving no information when questioned by the enemy. Even the disclosure of his age, training, and service may be harmful to our interests. Other things which he must not tell the enemy are:

"What part of the line his vriitheld previously; "How and' when he came to his present sector; "What.units are in the neighbourhood; "Tho ' position of Headquarters, dumps, and depots; "The strength and morale of his own troops. . "A German officer says nothing when captured, but remains silent. Brave German soldiers must do likewise. Our enemies in their unfavourable situation endeavour, by repeating prisoners statements, to raise their own hopes and those of their people at home. That naturally prolongs their resistance. Prisoners are tho people who suffer most thereby, for they have so much the longer to wait for their liberation. He-who says nothing and betrays nothing shortens'- the war and the duration of his own imprisonment."