WHO ARE THE HUNS?

Compulsory Treason. 153
the Frenchmen poured the contents of a field water-bottle over
his face. They then dragged the unfortunate man for some
distance over the rain-soaked field, and left him lying helpless.
Raabe lay the whole night in the pouring rain in a dirty puddle,
his serious wound without any bandage. The German Medical
Corps found him in this condition on the following morning,
and took him to the field-ambulance, from whence he was sent
some days later in a hospital train to Munich.
IV. Compulsion to Commit Treason.
There is not a single basic rule of the existing law of nations,
not a single usage of war sanctified by time, which has not
been outraged by the soldiery, and in especial by the officers
of the Triple Entente armies.
Article 44 of the Rules and Regulations of War by Land
forbids the belligerents to force the population of occupied
territory to give information with respect to the army of the
other belligerent or of his means of defence. This, as is selfunderstood,
is still more applicable to prisoners of war and
most of all to captured officers. Articles 4, 6, etc., absolutely
forbid the threatening of a war prisoner with death should
he refuse to betray his army.
Any opposite course would constitute an act of great inhumanity.
If one is not permitted to compel a prisoner to
perform "tasks" which have "connection with the operations
of war," (Article 6) it is to be conceived that a still stricter
prohibition would be placed upon any attempt to make him
break his oath and commit treason against his own army!
It is impossible to imagine a more shameful or a more
insulting act towards the enemy, in fact the whole hostile army,
than the insinuation of betrayal of one's own comrades. It is
unthinkable among all honorable antagonists.
According to a report of the "Echo de Paris," dated August
28, even this shame was not spared to German officers. This
monstrous attempt is described in that sheet, as follows:
"The German officer was led before General X.
"Lieutenant, your word of honor that you will not attempt
to escape!"
He abruptly refused.