Such unwilling recruits can often be very helpful to us by giving useful information. Transmitting Orders In general the senior prisoner in each group is given the orders to be transmitted to his group. Control of prisoners will be facilitated if one of their number understands some English. He should be used as an interpreter, and orders for his group should be relayed through him to the senior prisoner in the group for transmission to the group in general. Do not disregard the senior by having the interpreter give orders direct, unless you are told to do so, as this may lead to trouble. Escorting Prisoners When escorting prisoners of war, the Shore Patrol will be given special orders covering the situation as it exists locally. In addition the Shore Patrol will: 1. Prevent escapes. 2. See that prisoners remain segregated in their proper groups at all times. 3. Prevent prisoners from discarding or destroying insignia or writing of any kind. 4. Prevent anyone, other than those specifically authorized, from speaking to the prisoners. 5. Prevent anyone from giving anything to the pris oners. 6. Unless orders have been issued to the contrary, enforce silence among the prisoners. 7. Deliver prisoners to their destination as soon as possible. 8. Collect any papers dropped by the prisoners. 9. Protect the prisoners from injury and insult. Guarding Prisoners If a prisoner attempts to escape, or if he tries to pass a defined limit, the guard who sees him calls, "Halt!" If the prisoner fails to halt immediately, the guard shouts, "Halt!" a second time, and if necessary, a third time. If there appears to be no other means of preventing his escape, the guard may fire at him. A prisoner attempting to escape is, upon recapture, placed under such additional surveillance as is considered necessary to prevent a repetition of the attempt. An organized attempt of escape is put down by force of arms. You will have to be careful in guarding enemy prisoners of war. Often they are extremely resourceful in organizing an attempted escape, and are willing to hazard great risk to regain their freedom. Never relax your vigilance because all the prisoners seem quiet and wellbehaved; the man who plans to escape will not tip his hand in advance. Carry out all local and general orders exactly; there is a definite and good reason for every order of this kind, even if you do not understand it. Foreigners often have ways of thinking and acting which differ from our ways, and these orders have made allowance for such differences. Prisoners Are Valuable Remember that each prisoner of war is, or may become, a very valuable asset. At any time he may, by accident or intention, reveal military information of the greatest value. As a group prisoners are valuable, because the fact that we are holding them may persuade the enemy to give better treatment to any of our Armed Forces he may have captured. Be fair in all dealings with such prisoners, but do not become friendly or fraternize with them under any circumstances. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything that might lead to gaining information from prisoners. QUIZ 1. Which branch of the military forces has final authority over prisoners of war? 2. Give at least two good reasons why prisoners of war should be accorded humane treatment. 3. Why should some prisoners of war be given different treatment from that accorded others? 4. What information should be given by a prisoner? 5. While in the custody of the Navy, prisoners are subject to regulations of which branch of the military forces? 6. When is it best to interrogate prisoners? 7. What kind of written or printed matter may be removed from the person of a prisoner? 8. What kind of food and medical attention are given to prisoners? 9. While in the custody of the Shore Patrol, the prisoner is subject to what kind of discipline for infractions of the captor's laws? 10. Why is it important that requirements as to courtesy be strictly enforced when dealing with prisoners of war? 11. What conduct on the part of guards towards prisoners of war is strictly forbidden? 12. How are orders transmitted to a group of prisoners? 13. When may a guard fire at a prisoner? CHAPTER 13 SMALL ARMS AND GRENADES The shore patrolman should realize that he must be proficient in the use of weapons. Although firearms are to be used only in extreme cases, he should know how to use them, and he should know all the safety precautions to be observed in handling them. CALIBER .45 PISTOL The caliber .45 automatic pistol is the standard sidearm for the professional military man. Although called an automatic pistol, the .45 is really semiautomatic in operation, as the trigger must be squeezed for each shot. The range at which the pistol can be used with great accuracy is somewhat limited. Its purpose is to fire a bullet having great power at a short range. Accuracy at ranges greater than 25 yards will come only with much practice. Partial Dismounting and Assembling To thoroughly familiarize oneself with the mechanism of the pistol, it should be dismounted and assembled in the presence of an instructor. Remove the magazine by pressing the magazine catch. Press the plug inward and turn the barrel bushing to the right until the plug and the end of the recoil spring protrude from their seat, releasing the tension of the spring. In carrying out the foregoing operation, the finger should be held over the plug to prevent it from jumping away. Then the plug should be removed. Draw the slide to the rear until the small recess in its lower left edge stands above the projection on the thumbpiece of the slide stop; press gently against the end of the pin of the slide stop which protrudes from the right side of the receiver above the trigger guard, and remove the slide stop. This releases the link, allowing the barrel, with link and slide, to be drawn forward from the receiver in one piece. The parts being removed carry with them the barrel bushing, recoil spring, and recoil-spring |