Section 48: Offences against morale

A person subject to service law under this Act who-(a) spreads (whether orally, in writing, by signal or otherwise) reports relating to operations of any of the services of the Armed Forces or any forces co-operating therewith, or of any part of any of these forces being reports calculated to create despondency or unnecessary alarm; or
(b) when before the enemy, uses words calculated to create despondency or unnecessary alarm,
is guilty of an offence under this section and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for life or any less punishment provided by this Act.