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NOTES ON THE SAFEGUARDING AND CONSERVING CULTURAL MATERIAL IN THE FIELD                        13.

(iv) Wanton and malicious action
The last two are more likely to occur under conditions of military occupation than in normal conditions.
  (a)  Even the best disciplined troops tend to regard themselves as free to use anything which is obviously abandoned or damaged, especially in an enemy country. [[footnote:]](1)  There is also a temptation to destroy objects which appear to symbolize the enemy.
  (b)  Local inhabitants or enemy agents may also destroy or damage things, either to deny their use to occupying authority, or to make it appear that the damage was done by the occupying troops.  In the latter case, the motive may be the hope of some compensation.

2. [[underline]] Theft and looting. [[/underline]]
This, like carelessness and wanton damage, is a more serious danger under conditions of military occupation than in civil life.
  (i) Looting and theft on any scale by occupying troops may be very improbable.  But there is
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[[footnotes:]] (1)  In the war of 1914-1918, valuable furniture was sometimes taken from houses vacated by their owners, and used in trenches, even as firewood.  Sometimes, fires kindled for warmth, resulted in much damage.