CIVILIANS IN THE TRAIN OF AN ARMY
[Sidenote: “Followers.”]
In the train of an army it is usual to find, temporarily or
permanently, a mass of civilians who are indispensable to the
satisfaction of the wants of officers and soldiers or to the connection
of the army with the native population. To this category belong all
kinds of contractors, carriers of charitable gifts, artists, and the
like, and, above all, newspaper correspondents whether native or
foreign. If they fall into the hands of the enemy, they have the right,
should their detention appear desirable, to be treated as prisoners of
war, assuming that they are in possession of an adequate authorization.
For all these individuals, therefore, the possession of a pass issued
by the military authorities concerned, in accordance with the forms
required by international intercourse, is an indispensable necessity,
in order that in the case of a brush with the enemy, or of their being
taken captive they may be recognized as occupying a passive position
and may not be treated as spies.[75]
In the grant of these authorizations the utmost circumspection should
be shown by the military authorities; this privilege should only be
extended to those whose position, character, and intentions are fully
known, or for whom trustworthy persons will act as sureties.
[Sidenote: The War Correspondent: his importance. His presence is
desirable.]
This circumspection must be observed most scrupulously in the case of
newspaper correspondents whether native or foreign. Since the component
parts of a modern army are drawn from all grades of the population, the
intervention of the Press for the purpose of intellectual intercourse
between the army and the population at home can no longer be dispensed
with. The army also derives great advantages from this intellectual
intercourse; it has had to thank the stimulus of the Press in recent
campaigns for an unbroken chain of benefits, quite apart from the
fact that news of the war in the newspapers is a necessity for every
soldier. The importance of this intervention, and on the other hand
the dangers and disadvantages which may arise from its misuse, make it
obviously necessary that the military authorities should control the
whole of the Press when in the field. In what follows we shall briefly
indicate the chief rules which are customary, in the modern usages of
war, as regards giving permission to newspaper correspondents.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: The ideal War Correspondent.]
The first thing necessary in a war correspondent is a sense of honor;
in other words, he must be trustworthy. Only a man who is known to be
absolutely trustworthy, or who can produce a most precise official
certificate or references from unimpeachable persons, can be granted
permission to attach himself to headquarters.
An honorable correspondent will be anxious to adhere closely to the
duties he owes to his paper on the one hand, and the demands of the
army whose hospitality he enjoys on the other. To do both is not
always easy, and in many cases tact and refinement on the part of
the correspondent can alone indicate the right course; a censorship
is proved by experience to be of little use; the certificates and
recommendations required must therefore be explicit as to the
possession of these qualities by the applicant; and according as he
possesses them or not his personal position at headquarters and the
degree of support extended to him in the discharge of his duties will
be decided.
It is therefore undoubtedly in the interest of the army as of the
Press, that the latter shall only despatch such representatives
as really are equal to the high demands which the profession of
correspondent requires.
[Sidenote: The Etiquette of the War Correspondent.]
The correspondent admitted on the strength of satisfactory pledges has
therefore to promise on his word of honor to abide by the following
obligations:
1. To spread no news as to the disposition, numbers, or movements
of troops, and, moreover, the intentions and plans of the
staff, unless he has permission to publish them. (This
concerns principally correspondents of foreign newspapers
since one’s own newspapers are already subject to a
prohibition of this kind by the Imperial Press Law of April
7th, 1874.)
2. To report himself on arrival at the headquarters of a division
immediately to the commanding officer, and to ask his
permission to stay, and to remove himself immediately and
without making difficulties if the o.c. deems his presence
inexpedient on military grounds.
3. To carry with him always, and to produce on demand, his
authorization (certificate, armlet, photograph) and his pass
for horses, transport, and servants.
4. To take care that his correspondence and articles are
submitted at headquarters.
5. To carry out all instructions of the officers at headquarters
who supervise the press.
Contraventions of the orders from headquarters, indiscretions, and
tactlessness, are punished in less serious cases with a caution, in
grave cases by expulsion; where the behavior of the correspondent or
his correspondence has not amounted to a military offense, and is
therefore not punishable by martial law.
A journalist who has been expelled not only loses his privileges but
also his passive character; and if he disregards his exclusion he will
be held responsible.
Foreign journalists are subject to the same obligations; they must
expressly recognize their authority and in case of punishment cannot
claim any personal immunity.[76]
Journalists who accompany the army without the permission of the staff,
and whose reports therefore cannot be subject to military control,
are to be proceeded against with inexorable severity. They are to be
expelled ruthlessly as dangerous, since they only get in the way of
the troops and devour their subsistence, and may under the mask of
friendship do harm to the army.