NURSE CAVELL.

Evening Star, Issue 15943, 25 October 1915, Page 3

NURSE CAVELL.

HER LAST HOURS. A GERMAN'S TRIBUTE. "DSED LIKE A KEROSNE." „,, _ LONDON, October 23. 1 he Key. Mr Graham, British chaplain at Brussels, lias communicated to Sir E. Grey his final interview with Nurse Cavdl He states that she was perfectly calm and resigned throughout the interview, which lasted an hour, and wished all her friends to know that she willingly gave her life lor her country. "I have no fear nor shrinking," she said, "having seen death too often. It is not strange and not fearful. I thank God for this last 10 weeks of quiet before the end. My life has always been hurried and lull of difficulty, but standing in view of : .<od and eternity I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must not cherish hatred nor bitterness for -anyone." At the close of the communion Xur.=e Cayell softly recited 'Abide With Me,' and for the remainder of the interview ciuietly talked and gave parting messages lor her relations and friends. She was fully prepared to meet her end, and her last words to Mr Graham were : "We shall meet again." 'the German chaplain who was with -N uiso Cavell at tha end told Mr Graham, that she was brave and bright to the last She said that she was glad to die for hex country, and died like a heroine.

_ .Mr Whitelock of the American Legation in Brussels, apohed to the Governor of Lneken (near Brussels) to deliver the body to the Nursing School, of which. Nurse Cavell was the directress, but learned that tiie liermicsion of the Minister of War would be necessary. He hopes to obtain his assent.

public are profoundly stirred at Xurse Ca-vell's martyrdom, and the disposition to regard her as a oreat national heroine increases daily. Probably no personality in the war has evoked the same intense admiration.

The Rev. Mr Graham's account of the closing scenes wont with even a, deeper thrill through the country than the earlier reports.

AH the newspapers emphasise the German_ chaplain's tribute: "She died like a, heroine."

Already there are many suggestions to perpetuate ths memory of her martyrdom, including a woman's suggestion that the Queen should head a woman's memorial, also a statue or tablet in the Abbey or St. Paul's. •

Newspaper funds have been opened. That of the 'Daily Mirror* on the first day received over £6OO. The 'Daily Telagraph.' has opened a shilling fund. Sir George Frampton is offering to execute a. statue as a labor of love.

A memorial service is to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral on Monday. In view of the earlier statements that Nurse Cavell collapsed before she was shot, it is noteworthy that later account?-bail-out tile official statements of her resoluteness.

*i.^ e] vi rts emallatln g from Belgium relate that Nurse Ca-vell faced the firing squad, most of whom did not aim at her. Only one bullet struck Miss Cavell, who fell ihe officer then shot her with his revolver. The- incident is recalling to mind the death of Louise Frenav. ! « Th £ ' Evenjn g News"' states that Nurse ' ™£ S mvadeT the foulest blot of all. \\ hat will stagger the world is the titter inability of the German mind to grasp the ■ effect of a deed so infamous. The world > shudders at the picture of the insensible i, woman lying on the ground while the . murderer took a careful aim. f THE GERMAN DEFENCE. I LONDON, October 24. > Amsterdam advises that all 'that official . Germany can say in defence of Nurse . Oavell's execution is an. article in the r 'North German Gazette.' i, _ After mentioning a British officer's letter ! in the 'Manchester Guardian' on October » 18 concerning a. French girl shooting two >■ snipers, the 'North Gemnvn Gazette's' I article continues: "When such deeds, which cire a mockery of all the usages! of war, receive homage we' must not be astonished if the guilty are treated according to the laws, of war. Had this French drl been seized by us and shot dead, as she deserved, the British Press could not loudly enough have deplored the German methods of warfare. The same Press is 1 trying to set the world against us because ; in Belgium sentence of death according to the laws of war has been carried out upon an Englishwoman guilty of treachery in war." ' In the 'Manchester Guardian's' letter from an officer with the British army in Iranee, the writer gave a long narrative oi his experiences in a big attack, and incidentally stated that a girl 17 years of age performed wonderful acts of heroism, helped with the wounded in a cellar, and improvised a dressing station : , when two German sni]>ers fired into it from a neighboring house. The letter added: "We were unable to get to them, as the door of their house was covered. She saw this, and took a wounded officer's revolver) climbed back to the house, and shot both the snipers.'' The 'Vossische Zeitung," commenting on the trial of Nurse Cavell. declares "that the intention of the authorities was to give a lesson to the Belgians not to offend, against German orders. DUTCH FEELING ROUSED. BELGIAN OPPRESSION GREATER, AMSTERDAM, October 22. Iho local newspaper ' Nieuws Van Den Dag,' commenting on Nurse Cavell's execution, trusts that world-wide protests will be raised in the name of humanity. October 23. Many newspapers comment on the Cavell case. The ' Telegraaf ' declares that the German Governor has begun a regime of greater severity, and has notified Belgian workmen that they will not be allowed to refuse military work. Thev are beinoforced to -build a new front behind tho bcheldt. Hundreds of ex-soldiers, in obedience to the proclamation of the Military Governor General Pissing that all* allied sol- , oiers now in Belgium must report themselves to the authorities within 24 hours lor internment in Germany, on pain of being shot, likewise all suspected of harboring them, have surrendered, and been transported to an unknown destination. The 'Telegraaf,' commenting upon the execution, says that the Germans' defence of the execution could not be weaker. It is rather a self-accusation, because it proves that tho Germans are strangers to all human feeling and every sentiment of mercy. The ' Handelsblad' says that the comparison of tho French girl's act with Nurse Cavell's conduct and the horrible punishment inflicted by the German Government are completely unjust. AMERICAN SYMPATHY. WASHINGTON, October 23. Government officials are shocked at tho Cavell case, referring to tho affair as most cowardly and unwarranted. The .State Department pointed out that the matter was purely one between Britain and Germany, the United States being una.ble to do anything. Gratification is expressed at the fact that Mr Whitelock was able to serve British interests, but sorrow because he failed to achieve the end sought. Fear is expressed that Mr Whitelcck compromised himself with the Germans in Belgium, and no surprise will be expressed If ho is recalled at the Kaiser's demand. The Press denounces Germany's crime as one of unparalleled baseness.* October 24. Official circles do not disguise their feeling of revulsion, though an official protest is out of the question. It is only possible to applaud the conduct of Mr "Whitelock and declare that the Government, if they had been appealed to, would have'stronnly backed him. NEW YORK, October 24. There is a wave of indignation and horror ,ti American newspapers denouncing the execution of Nurse Cavell as the blackest deed oi the war. Even Mr .Didder, the man who applauded the Lusitania. outrage, confesses that the German commanders do things at the of war which even their own people cannot uphold. Tho newspapers publish long editorials castigating German cold-blooded inhumanity towards a defenceless woman, another blot on an escutcheon already smeared with the blood of innocents. The ' New York World ' savs that Nurse Cavell undoubtedly violated .military law, but only a German or a Turk would have carried out tho death sentence. The case is still blacker because of the official attempt, to trick Mr Whitelock in order to circumvent the appeal for clemency.' Nurse Cavell's blood will bo a olot upon the German army and Government for .generations to come. EFFECT IN CANADA. OTTAWA, October 23. Recruiting as much more 'brisk since the Cavel 1 case ■became- known. The Press demands that, if possible, the name of every German participating be secured, with a view to eventual punishment. EMPLOYERS AND RECRUITING. At the request of the Otago Recruiting Committee the Chamber of Commerce and the Employers' Association have agreed to circularise their'members to attend an important meeting to be held in the Victoria Hall on Thursday evening next. It is recognised that employers have done a lot in connection with patriotic and recruiting matters, but that more can yet be done 5 , especially for recruiting, if matters are arranged on some definite lines. It is with this end in view that the meeting is being called, and every employer in and about Dunedin is requested 'to make a special effort to be present. The chairman of the Recruiting Committee will preside, and the position will be plainly put before the meeting by the. Hon. Mr Allen (Defence Minister)*. He has already met the employers in other parts of New Zealand, with excellent results, and no doubt similar results will be obtained here, as the people in the South are no less loyal than those in the North. Opportunity will be given to any present to ask questions, and thus enable any doubtful points to be cleared lip. The meeting is not confined to members of the Chamber of Commerce and tha Employers' Association, but to every employer in or about Dunedin. ADDITIONAL REINFORCEMENTS LEAVING NEXT FRiOAY. Some 74 infantry and 8 mounted rifles are required to leave Diunedin for the trainng camp on Friday next. Tlioso not desiring a long wait now have the opportunity to go almcst. at once. This number is required immediately in order to fill up the shortage of last week. If men able to go will .promt-ply enlist, they can be examined on the same evening at the Ken- i emgton Drill Hall.

OTACO. PATRIOTIC AND GENERAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION. The hon. treasurers of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association acknowledge, the receipt of the following donatiuns to the fund:— Previously acknowledged ... £49,070 8 1 Employees H. V. Haddock, I'td ... ... b 1 7 6 Employees J. Romison's shops and factory, monthly contribution ... w 215 -9 Waiwera Patriotic and Relief Committee, September contribution b 13 15 0 Dunedin staff Bristol Piano Company, 16th fortngihtly contribution ... ... .*. b 38 0 Traffic staff N.Z. Railways, 10th and 11th contributions b 16 10 6 Employees A. Steven and Co., third contribution ... b 8 0 0 United Brothers' Lodge, Cambrian, proceeds of so- * , F ial w 412 0 Milton, September collection b43 7 0 | Collected by ladies in Clinton district ..' l 22 2 0 Employees P. Hayman and Co., monthly contribution b 3 4 0 Employees Woolnough Window Company, • October contribution ... b 215 0 Employees Neill and Elvidge, third contribution b 417 6 Employees John Edmond, monthly contribution ... b 116 0 Moniington October collection, per Miss Geerin and Miss Rattray b 62 8 3 "A.W." b 1 O 0 Employees Thomson, Bridger, and Co., monthly contribution vr 214 0 Employees Jas. Speight and Co., 34th weeldy contribution ... b 5 8 6 Employees Reid and Gray, 26th fortnightly contribution ... ... B 6 0 0 Staff Dunedin Drainage Board, 13th contribution b w 1 4 0 £49,777 8 1 n Denotes Belgian Fund; l denotes Leather Waistcoat Fund; w denotes Wounded Soldiers' Fund.