HC Deb 20 June 1912 vol 39 c2001W
Captain CLIVE

asked the Attorney-General whether, under international law, men employed in repairing a railway injured by an invading force are liable, if they do not belong to a military force, to be shot if captured?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

Speaking generally, and subject always to the circumstances of the particular case, if the men did not belong to a military force and in repairing the railway were doing such acts as constituted assistance to the military operations of the enemy, such acts would come within the category of war treasons, and would, therefore, be a war crime, which may be punished by death.