Section 25Offences in relation to the enemy and not punishable with death

s. 25

25. Offences in relation to the enemy and not punishable with death Any person subject to this Act who, on active service- (a) without orders from his superior officer leaves the ranks in order to secure prisoners, animals or materials, or on pretence of taking wounded men to the rear; or (b) without orders from his superior officer, wilfully destroys or damages any property; or (c) is taken prisoner for want of due precaution or through disobedience of orders a wilful neglect of duty, or, having been taken prisoner, fails to rejoin his service when able to do so; or (d) without due authority, either holds correspondence with, or communicates intelligence, or sends a flag of truce, to the enemy; or (e) by word of mouth, or in writing, or by signals, or otherwise spreads reports calculated to create alarm or despondency; or (f) in action, or previously to going into action, uses words calculated to create alarm or despondency; shall, on conviction by court martial, be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, or with such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.