Soldier's Don'ts

1. Don't show the white flag unless your officer orders you to.
2. Don't stop firing or advancing because the enemy shows a white flag till your officer orders you to do so.
3. Don't, however, fire deliberately at the man showing the flag.
4. Don’t have any friendly chat with the enemy; he is just as likely to be treacherous as not.
5. Don't kill a man who has thrown his arms down as a sign that he has ceased to resist.
6. Don't be heartbroken if you kill such a one by mistake; it is his fault for having resisted up till too late.
7. Don't fail to shoot a wounded man who continues to fight; he is quite right to do so, but you cannot be expected to treat him differently from a "hale" man.
8. Don't hide your weapons or your uniform.
9. Don't spare an enemy who does the same; haul him to your officer and let him deal with him.
10. Don't rub or file your bullets; if you are caught with such bullets on you, you will be shot, and serve you right.
11. Don't shoot a spy offhand; he is doing a very plucky thing and deserves a trial. All the same, don't let him off, and don't give him time to make up a story.
12. Don't become a prisoner of war if you can help it, they will be getting short rations by June.
13. But, if caught: Don't resist your guards.
14. Don't refuse to work; you have no right to jib at any work except such as is connected with the fighting actually in progress.
15. Don't refuse to give your name and regiment; it doesn't do any good, and your people won't know what has become of you.
16. Don't fail to escape if you get a chance.
17. Don't maltreat prisoners of war when first captured, or take their private property.
18. Don't fail to shoot a prisoner of war who tries to escape.
19. Don't fail to shoot a prisoner of war trying to assist the enemy.
20. Don't fail to shoot a prisoner of war who assaults you viciously.
21. Don't fail to down a prisoner of war who resists you in any other way.
22. Don't torture a prisoner for information.
23. Don't give parole except through your officer.
24. Don't act treacherously or in any way which has a hint of meanness in it.
25. Don't let yourself be caught by the others acting treacherously.
26. Don't be a brute because the enemy is one. If he breaks the laws you may be sure that some suitable punishment will be thought out and inflicted; but, as for yourself,
27. Don't go beyond your rights, and do as you would be done by.