Note 68 — Chapter II · THE MEANS OF CONDUCTING WAR

In the most recent times a change of opinion seems to have taken place. Bluntschli in his time holds (sec. 565) the use of the distinguishing marks of the enemy’s army—uniforms, standards, and flags—with the object of deception, to be a doubtful practise, and thinks that this kind of deception should not extend beyond the preparations for battle. “In battle the opponents should engage one another openly, and should not fall on an enemy from behind in the mask of a friend and brother in arms.” The Manual of the Institute of International Law goes further. It says in 8 (c and d): “Il est interdit d’attaquer l’ennemi en dissimulant les signes distinctifs de la force armée; d’user indûment du pavillon national, des insignes militaires ou de l’uniforme de l’ennemi.” The Declaration of Brussels altered the original proposition, “L’emploi du pavillon national ou des insignes militaires et de l’uniforme de l’ennemi est interdit” into “L’abus du pavillon national.”