THE RULES OF WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 249, 20 November 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RULES OF WAR.

WHAT NATIONS AND THJiIR ARM--ILS MAY AND MAY NOT DO. The poisoning of wells and stre«m« is strictly forbidden under the international rules of war. It is, however, just as |>ei missible to cut oil your enemy's water supply an ,t lj, (_ut off food supplies. 1 A battleship belonging to a nation a t war may enter a neutral harbour, hut she must not remain there more than twenty-four hours. It is not etiquette ui battle to endeavour to shoot the commander of a toice unless he persistently and unne<x>ssanly exposes himself to fire Still, every effort to capture a commander may Ih> made. A person not belonging to any recogunxxl war force may not take up arum •itfa.n.st an invader. I| lie dot* so and 'a captured, lie may bo executed at once. In time of war the militnrv authorities may requisition any liotis# or dwell* ing they wish to, but the presence of n "ick or wounded combatant in n house exempts it from having troope fiunrtered in it. It is .against tlie rules of war to order that " no quarter will I*. Riven." Jteu*oKinblo QU.irtor must bo an enoniy it asked for. -Making improper use of a flag of truce, or any ensign or banner, in also against the rules of war. as is dressing up in uniform of the enemy. A spy, even if taken in the aft. must be afforded a fair and proper trial: ho cannot be Jint at sight o *cept la **jf•Jefence or i| attempting to escape.

Where a town or citv has l»<>rn ni|>111 red. the wanton destruction of historical monuments. works of art and science. iind religious, cliMiitablo, and i'ducat innnl inM it unions iv rouyiixlini hh \"«n<]«l i>in is strict!y forl>i<|(]<» n . Tlio \ let oHouk foe is. liowrvrr, :illnu#vl to liolrl 11 u» ;irf :in<l oth<»r of ;i captured citv In ransom. War enrrct,pondents. pi '-vs artists, and photographers must, ii mkon prisoners, Ikj treated a> captur«>d officers. I lie Red Cro*s i»> regarded ay sanod in war. It may never lie fir«<d on. All att«*iulanhs <">n the sick and wounded must wear ji Rod ( ro.ss badge or an annlet, and hospital ships must l>o pained green with a re I streak. Doctors medical hel|>ers, stretchercarriers, nurses, and chaplains must not lit» made prisoners or in any way injnr<xj. ''lie wounded and pick of all etifm.T uinst lu< properly eared for and. where •rippled or incapable „f further fight•ug, he sent hack to tlicit own eoutilr/ at the first opportunity. Any soldier found robbing or inutilat—ing a wounded enemy i* lialile to ho shot without trial, and death is also the lot of anyone who kills or further wounds n disabled man. Before hnrial the bod'es of all dead combatants must 1>«» searched in order that any identitication papers present may lie forwarded to the proper (juai" tors. A neutral »diip. 1i«»\\«-v»»r suspiciouslooking v|| ( . may lie, cannot Ik> searched if vlie keep* within three miles of a neutral bliore. Only private ships may he searched, the search mu.-t l»c conducted hy a propellv com missioned ship of war. A iliip taken a& a priz« nitist lie towed into port hv her captors. If the raptors me ur.ahle to tow lior she must no allowed to go free. I lie use of "soft-noM'd" and dum dttm bullet s. uli i ii spread <>ut v, hen they hit •i is now forbidden. II in against the rules of war to bombard towns. villages, habitations, or tniijdi'igs whcli are unfortified or uuJoU tided. A .spy who escapes • inll rejoins his (trim cannot I*' puni bed loi any prei-iou# at ts o| 'y Kikeu lie can onlv be ireated »s aa ordinary prisoner (if war.