Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury
Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury
Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury
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operational comm<strong>and</strong>er (without "civilian" jurisdiction) out-ranked <strong>the</strong> local "state <strong>of</strong><br />
siege" authority, a matter that was never satisfactorily addressed.<br />
Aliicle 4 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new instruction also reinstated <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> delegation in all but<br />
name. 119 Consequently, Snij ders took charge <strong>of</strong> "state <strong>of</strong> war" <strong>and</strong> "siege" matters from<br />
November 1916 onwards. On <strong>the</strong> 10th, he declared that intemment camp comm<strong>and</strong>ers<br />
could make military decisions for <strong>the</strong>ir locality <strong>and</strong> that van Terwisga could appoint<br />
subordinates to administer his vast area <strong>of</strong> control. 120 Not only could authority be delegated,<br />
but unifonnity could also be imposed across <strong>the</strong> various "state <strong>of</strong> siege" regions. 121 This<br />
was especially important for tackling smuggling, <strong>and</strong> Snijders banned known smugglers<br />
from all "state <strong>of</strong> siege" regions nationwide. The instructions enabled local military<br />
comm<strong>and</strong>ers to take on far more responsibility for <strong>the</strong> day-to-day running <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> "state <strong>of</strong><br />
war" <strong>and</strong> "siege" in <strong>the</strong>ir area. 122 Of course, as <strong>the</strong> High Court restricted <strong>the</strong> actual powers<br />
enjoyed in <strong>the</strong> "state <strong>of</strong> war" <strong>and</strong> "siege", <strong>the</strong>se responsibilities diminished in importance.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
The High Court rulings on <strong>the</strong> "state <strong>of</strong> war" <strong>and</strong> "siege" reflected general public<br />
opinion. 123 Many citizens believed that <strong>the</strong> staat van beleg <strong>of</strong>fered too many inappropriate<br />
119 Article 4, "Instructie voor de Autoriteiten, overeenkomstig artikel 7 van de, sedert gewijzigde, wet van 23Mei<br />
1899 (Staatsblad No. 128), aangewezen voor de uitoefening van het militair gezag" Staatsblad. no. 488, 2 November<br />
1916.<br />
120 Comm<strong>and</strong>er-in-Chief, "Regeling voor de uitoefening van het militair gezag, opgemaakt naar aanleiding van het<br />
bepaalde in artikel3 van de Instructie, vastgesteld bij Koninklijk Besluit van den 2 den November 1916 (Stbl. No.<br />
488), en in de tweede alinea van artikel 12 van de "Oorlogsinstructie Stellingcomm<strong>and</strong>anten", zooals dit artikel<br />
gewijzigd is bij Koninklijk Besluit van den 2den November 1916 (Stbl. no. 489)" [Regulation for <strong>the</strong> exercise <strong>of</strong><br />
military authority, created in response to <strong>the</strong> changed Article 3 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Instruction, established by Royal Decree on <strong>the</strong><br />
2 Novemer 1916 (Staatsblad no. 488) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> second line <strong>of</strong> Article 12 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> "War instruction for Fortification<br />
Comm<strong>and</strong>ers" in terms <strong>of</strong> how this Article was changed by Royal Decree on 2 November 1916 (Staatsblad. no. 489)]<br />
10 November 1916, in ARA, "Achiefvan het Ho<strong>of</strong>dkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 209.<br />
121 General Staff, "Verslag nopens de verrichtingen van het militair gezag, voor zoover dit werd uitgeoefend door den<br />
Opperbevelhebber van L<strong>and</strong>- en Zeemacht; opgemaakt ingevolge het bepaalde in art. 6 der wet van 23 Mei 1899<br />
(St. bl.N 0.128)" [Report regarding <strong>the</strong> function <strong>of</strong> military authority to <strong>the</strong> extent it was exercised by <strong>the</strong> Comm<strong>and</strong>erin-Chief,<br />
created in response to <strong>the</strong> specifications <strong>of</strong> Article 6 <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> law <strong>of</strong>23 May 1899] 6 January 1919 [1920], p.<br />
15, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 710.<br />
122 Comm<strong>and</strong>er-in-Chief, "Regeling voor de uitoefening van het militair gezag, opgemaakt naar aanleiding van het<br />
bepaalde in artikel3 van de Instructie, vastgesteld bij Koninklijk Besluit van den 2den November 1916<br />
(Stbl.N 0.488), en in de tweede alinea van artikel 12 van de 'Oorlogsinstructie Stellingcomm<strong>and</strong>anten', zooals dit<br />
artikel gewijzigd is bij Koninklijk Besluit van 2den November 1916 (Stbld.N 0.489)" ION ovember 1916, Article 2,<br />
in ARA, "Achiefvan het Ho<strong>of</strong>dkwaIiier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 209.<br />
123 Much more re<strong>sea</strong>rch needs to be done on public opinion in <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s during <strong>the</strong> war <strong>and</strong> how that affected<br />
government <strong>and</strong> military actions. See: Bosboom, III Moeilijke Omst<strong>and</strong>igheden pp. 306 - 312; Hasselton, "De<br />
wisseling van het opperbevel" pp. 48 - 50.
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