5S.

This is coolbert:

Another one of those serendipitous discoveries:

"Prisoner of War guard companies, or an equivalent organization, should be as far forward as possible in action to take over prisoners of war, because troops heated with battle are not safe custodians. Any attempt to rob or loot prisoners of war by escorts must be dealt strictly with." - - G.S. Patton.

This quote attributed to General Patton is right on the money.

"Heated" troops are NOT safe custodians of POW. Normally military police [MP] are entrusted with the safeguarding of enemy POW. Handling, processing, guarding, etc.

"Any attempt to rob or loot" - - or for that matter - - SHOOT PRISONERS OF WAR will be dealt with strictly! In this specific case Patton has particularly in mind the spontanteous and ill-advised execution of captured enemy!

"The British soldier is a kindly fellow and it is safe to say, despite the dope, seldom oversteps the mark of barbaric propriety in France, save occasionally to kill prisoners he cannot be bothered to escort back to his lines." - - F. Crozier.

Those front-line infantry actually in mortal combat with the enemy must also be allowed to continue their mission, NOT having to be burdened with guarding or moving enemy POW to the rear. Infantry are trained in the 5S of POW handling, but beyond that MP's and special guard companies should take over!

* Search.
* Silence.
* Segregate.
* Speed.
* Safeguard.

Patton had it right! Intuitively so!

coolbert.