NOT "CRUCIFIXION"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 6

NOT "CRUCIFIXION"

FIELD PUNISHMENT NO. 1

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION

A good deal has been said and written of late about "Field Punishment Number One," and the attempt has been made to make it appear that this punishment is used a great deal in the New Zealand Forces, and that it is a cruel form of torture. The Minister of Defence has had the matter inquired into very thoroughly, and lie has given for publication the result of the inquiries that have Ireen made.

The punishment has been referred to ns "Cruciiixion." It seems that the punishment is known among the men themselves by this term, but as used bjM'heiu it does not pretend to be a descriptive one. It is a slang lerm, loosely used, and it does not describe the actual punishment.

The Army Act, lo which all British and colonial troops serving in this war nre subject, enacts that soldiers on active service may be awarded such field punishment other than flogging as may be directed by rules made by the Secretary of Stale.

Following are rules mado by the Secretary of State on July 9, 1907:— When an offender is sentenced to Field Punishment No. 1 ho may during the continuance of his sentence, unless the court-martial or the commanding officer otherwise dirccts, be punished as follows :—

(a) Ho may be kept in irons, i.e., in fetters or handcuffs, or both fetters and handcuffs, and he may be ( securcd so us to prevent his escape.

(b) When in irons he may bo attached for a period or periods not exceeding two hours in any one day to a fixed object, but ho must not bo so attached during more than three out of any four consecutive days, nor during more than twentyone days in all. j

(c) Straps or ropes may bo used for tho purposo of these rules in lieu of irons.

(dj He may be subjected to the liko labour, employment, and restraint ns it lie were under a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour.

Certain additional rules have been made in order to ensure that the method of inflicting tho punishment shall never vary in different forces, for the rules apply to all Dominion troops as well as to the British Army. Following are the rules

(a) Fetters should be attached to a man ill view of his comrades, but not in view of the public. He must be standing firmly on both i'oet for a period or periods not exceeding two hours iu any one day attached to a fixed object. His feet, if tied, must not be more than twelve inches apart, and it must be possible for hiui to move each of his feet at least three inches. If he is tied round the body there must not be any restriction of his breathing. If his arms or wrists are tied there must ba sis inches play between them and the fixed object to whicli they are tied. His arms must hang either by the side of his body or behind his back. He must not be so attached during more than three out of any .four consecutivo days, nor during more than twenty-ono days in all. As far as possible the punishment will take place between 2 p.m. and -t p.m. (b) Irons should be used when available, but straps or ropes may lie used in lieu of them whon necessary. Any straps used for the purpose of these rules must bo of sufficient width that they inflict no bodily harm, and leave 110 permanent mark on tho offender.

Tho punishment carries with it certain other disabilities, such as the stoppago of tobacco and rum, tho stoppago of pay and leave, mid the imposition of nil possible fatigues.