Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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obtained theirs straight from the Ministry. At times, the information given to one group
differed from that given to the other,causing confusion and conflict. 6 I
Using soldiers in work for which they were insufficiently trained created
inevitable problems. The Commander of the Field Anny, van Terwisga, investigated the
relationship between military border guards and customs officials early in 1916. 62 He found
that the troops often did not appreciate the importance of the customs officials' role.
Because most soldiers were conscripts, received little pay and lacked enthusiasm for their
job, they had few incentives to meet the standards expected of them. Lack of clarity as to
who was in charge at the borders aggravated tensions as well. Van Terwisga suggested that
a select group of border guards be specially trained as temporary customs officials
responsible to the Minister of Finance, rather than to military commanders, leaving the rest
of the guards to patrol borders, direct traffic to customs posts, and detain suspected
smugglers.
In the course of 1916,2,000 border guards trained as temporary customs officers.
By the summer of 1918, their numbers had reached 6,000. 63 As of 1 April 1916, the
government limited direct military involvement in customs matters further, by enforcing a
so-called "first line" (eerste linie - the area directly across the border) where customs
officials held sole responsibility for the movement of goods. 64 Yet border guards continued
to help police illegal trade, as more often than not they encountered smugglers on their
patrols. Ultimately, it was impossible to remove the military from the "first line".65 In
recognition of this, after April 1916, the Minister of Finance still sent his directives to his
customs officers and to the Commander-in-Chief. 66 The two spheres never separated
completely and their relationship remained highly ambiguous.
Uncertainty regarding the military's economic neutrality role was even greater in
municipalities declared in a "state of war" or "siege".67 Officially, military commanders
61 Inspector of the K071inklijke Mareclzaussee to Commander-in-Chief, 30 August 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 34; Smidt, "De bestrijding van de smokkelhandel" pp. 62 - 64.
62 Commander of the Field Army, "De regeling van de samenwerking met de belasting-ambtenaren" [The regulation
of co-operation with customs officials] February 1916, in ARA, "Archiefvan het Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry
no. 2.l3.16, inventory no. 204.
63 Bosboom, In Moeilijke Omstandigheden p. 304; Smidt, "De bestrijding van de smokkelhandel" p. 69.
64 Bosboom, In Moeilijke Omstandigheden p. 304.
65 Ibid. p. 305.
66 Commander-in-Chiefto Commander ofthe Field Army, 11 June 1917, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 1484.
67 For further details, see: Chapter 7, pp. 231 - 257.