380
impose hard labour on a soldier or sailor who tries to escape from his internment and is re-captured. The offence is not a disgraceful one and does not merit a degrading punishment, though effective means
by a stricter method of
would have to be taken
confinement or otherwise
to prevent its repetition.
As regards clause 3 of the Regulations made
by the Governor in Council under Section 4 of the
Ordinance, Lord Lansdowne considers that it is, no
doubt, desirable, so far as may be possible, to fol-
in 1871 with regard low the well-known precedent set
to the internment of the French troops in Switzer-
land, but His Lordship doubts whether it would be
wise to place interned prisoners as regards mat-
ters of discipline under the provisions of the Army
Act of 1881, even if that were possible.
In the
case of the French interned soldiers they were it
is true placed under the Swiss *Code Pénal Militaire
Fédéral". That Code was, however, probably more
suitable to the circumstances than the British Army
Act would be to those of the present case, and it
was, moreover, in a language which the men could
understand.
Lord Lansdowne would be glad to be favoured with
any observations which the Army Council may wish to
make on the accompanying papers.
It is requested that the enclosures to the Colo-
nial Office letter, which are sent in original, may
be returned to this office with your reply.
(Signed)
I am, &c.,
was,
나