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Text. “Any person subject to this chapter who compels or attempts to compel the commander of any place, vessel, aircraft, or other military property, or of any body of members of the armed forces, to give it up to an enemy or to abandon it, or who strikes the colors or flag to an enemy without proper authority, shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.”

Elements.

(1) Compelling surrender.

(b) That the accused did an overt act which was intended to and did compel that commander to give it up to the enemy or abandon it; and

(c) That the place, vessel, aircraft, or other military property or body of members of the armed forces was actually given up to the enemy or abandoned.

(2) Attempting to compel surrender.

(b) That the accused did a certain overt act;

(c) That the act was done with the intent to compel that commander to give up to the enemy or abandon the place, vessel, aircraft, or other military property or body of members of the armed forces;

(d) That the act amounted to more than mere preparation; and

(e) That the act apparently tended to bring about the compelling of surrender or abandonment.

(3) Striking the colors or flag.

(b) That this offer was made by striking the colors or flag to the enemy or in some other manner;

(c) That the accused made or was responsible for the offer; and

(d) That the accused did not have proper authority to make the offer.

Explanation.

(1) Compelling surrender.

(b) Surrender. “Surrender” and “to give it up to an enemy” are synonymous.

(c) Acts required. The surrender or abandonment must be compelled or attempted to be compelled by acts rather than words.

(2) Attempting to compel surrender. The offense of attempting to compel a surrender or abandonment does not require actual abandonment or surrender, but there must be some act done with this purpose in view, even if it does not accomplish the purpose.

(3) Striking the colors or flag.

(b) Nature of offense. The offense is committed when one assumes the authority to surrender a military force or position when not authorized to do so either by competent authority or by the necessities of battle. If continued battle has become fruitless and it is impossible to communicate with higher authority, those facts will constitute proper authority to surrender. The offense may be committed when-ever there is sufficient contact with the enemy to give the opportunity of making an offer of surrender and it is not necessary that an engagement with the enemy be in progress. It is unnecessary to prove that the offer was received by the enemy or that it was rejected or accepted. The sending of an emissary charged with making the offer or surrender is an act sufficient to prove the offer, even though the emissary does not reach the enemy.

(4) Enemy. For a discussion of “enemy,” see paragraph 23c(1)(b).

Lesser included offense. Striking the colors or flag. Article 80— attempts

Maximum punishment. All offenses under Article 100. Death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.

Next Article > Article 101—Improper use of countersign >

Above Information from Manual for Court Martial, 2002, Chapter 4, Paragraph 24