WHO ARE THE HUNS?

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CHAPTER XXX.
Sailing under False Colors. Ruses of War? Misuse
of Merchant Vessels for War-Like Undertakings.
Ruses of War Employed by German Ships. Flying
the Flag.
I. In the first part of this book we have discussed the
"Ruses of War" according to the provisions of the two Hague
Conferences (Article 2 g of the Rules and Regulations of Warfare
by Land). In naval warfare this subterfuge is still more
permissible. All naval powers have made the most liberal
use of this expedient. A typical example is the change made
in the appearance of the little German cruiser "Emden" by
the addition of a fourth smoke-stack, etc. It is also permissible
to fly an enemy flag up to the point at which hostilities are
opened. Even the London "Times" declares this to be fair in
every way. A war vessel which is desirous of remaining unknown
in certain coastal waters or is anxious to conceal its
identity, is allowed to use a false flag for this purpose—in
accordance with the common acceptance of the law upon this
point. It is also permissible for a war or a merchant vessel
to attempt to avoid attack or capture by hoisting false colors,
in face of a superior enemy,—a rule which is acknowledged
by English maritime circles as being quite fair. On the other
hand it is not permitted that a more powerful ship lure a weaker
out of neutral waters or from a safe distance by flying false
colors in order thereupon to attack it.
According to the recognized rules of naval usage, which
are also followed by German ships, this uncertainty regarding
the nationality of a ship must be quickly cleared up as soon
as the battle is opened. The first shot fired from a vessel obliges
that vessel to fulfil the law in showing its true colors—
and this holds good whether the shot be blank or one with
solid ball. This shot, "the affirming gun," le canon affirmatif,
is thus to be conceived as an honorable assurance that the
flag flying from the vessel is the true flag. But this shot also
represents an official challenge to- the other vessel to confirm