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.
CHAPTER VIII
THE EXTERNAL MARK OF INVIOLABILITY
How to tell a Non-combatant.