The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMRER 21, 1914. PRISONERS OF WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 29, 21 September 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, SEPTEMRER 21, 1914. PRISONERS OF WAR.

The question of dealing with prisoners of war in the colossal opera.tunic ol the present war is one which no doubt is causing wonderment to people, the Christchurch Press, discussing the subject, remarks that it may bo interesting to remember that the Hague Convention re-asserted most of the articles of the Brussels Declaration on the subject of prisoners of war, and points out that it is laid down in Hr K. It. Smith’s useful little hand-book on International Law, tnat they must be humanely treated, and that all their personal belongings except arms, horses, and military papers remain their property. They may he interned in a town, fortress, camp, or any other locality, and bound not to go beyond certain fixed limits, but they can be only confined as an indispensable measure of 'safety. The State may utilise the labour of prisoners of war according to their rank and aptitude. Their. (asks shall not be excessive, and shall Pave nothing to do with the military operations. The wages of prisoners shall go towards improving their position, and the balance shall be paid them at the time of their release after deducting the cost oi their maintenance. The Government into whose hands prisoners of war have fallen is bound to maintain', them. Failing a special agreement between the belligerents, they shall he treated as regards food, quarters and clothing on the same footing as the troops of the Government which has captured them. E-reaped prisoners recaptured before they have succeeded in rejoining their army, or before quitting the teiiitoij occupied by the army that captured them, arp liable to disciplinary punishment. Prisoners who, after succeeding in escaping, are again taken prisoners arc not liable to any punishment for the previous flight. Prisoners may he set at liberty on parole if the laws of their country authorise it; the punishment for breach of parole, is death. The chief dilficnlty in the present great war will be to find quarteis and guards for the immense number ol prisoners taken, in the Napoleonic war a large number of prisoners taken by the British were imprisoned on Dartmoor, and in many an old-fashion-ed house in England may be. found articles, such, as carved bone spoons, etc., made by those prisoners and sold on their behalf. A number of Boer pri Conors in the South African i\ar were interned at St. Helena, a very convenient place on account of the difficulty of escaping from such a remote island, and it quite possible it may be used again for the same purpose. the same writer considers.