MURDER OF NURSE CAVELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 18

MURDER OF NURSE CAVELL.

THE EXECUTION HURRIED. LONDON, October 21. Lord Lansdowne, speaking in the House of Lords, described the execution of Nurse Cavell as a deplorable incident. Nothing in recent months had moved the people more than the manner in which the poor lady was executed in cold blood. Doubtless she was liable to punishment, but she might have been executed with a measure of mercy which no civilised country would refuse to a brave, devoted woman who had given energies to the mitigation of the sufferings of others. The American and Spanish Ministers endeavoured up to the last ' moment to obtain a reprieve. There was nobody in Britain who would not join in protest against the terrible occurrence. The Pope and King Alfonso secured a postponement of the execution of two French ladies pending the Kaiser’s consideration. The Foreign Office has issued a 9000wards despatch from the American Legation at Brussels, showing the untiring efforts made to gave Nurse Cavell. When she was arrested on August 5, Mr Braden Whitlock, the Ambassador, notified the German authorities of American concern in the case, and asked for the fullest particulars, but was never allowed to see Nurse Cavell. The Germans even refused to allow her to consult a lawyer before her trial. Her lawyer was not shown any of the prosecution documents. The Ambassador adds ; “ Nurse Cavell, at her trial, without trembling, admitted that she had Linden English and French soldiers in her house, and had facilitated the departure of Belgian subjects, furnishing them with money and guides in order to cross the frontier. She even said she had received letters from soldiers in England thanking her for her help. Asked why she did this, Nurse Cavell said she believed the Germans shot soldiers, and therefore it was her duty to £ave their lives. After the trial the American Legation continually inquired concerning the progress of the case, and was definitely informed the day before the execution that no sentence had been given. The Legation, however, heard privately at 10 in the evening that she was sentenced to be shot at two o’clock in the morning. Mr Gibson, Secretary of the Legation, accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador, hurried to see Baron von der Lanoken, as representing the German civil administration, to ask for a postponement of the execution. Baron von der Lanoken for some time protested that there was no truth in the rumour, but finally said the military authorities considered the infliction of the death penalty was imperative. Mr Gibson pointed out that Nurse Cavell had spent her life assisting others, and had tended German soldiers in her hospital. He emphasised the horror of executing a woman where there was no charge of espionage, and pointed out the fearful effect a summary execution of this sort would have on public opinion in Belgium and abroad. It might even lead to reprisals. The Spanish Minister forcibly supported him, but all their efforts were fruitless. An English clergyman was allowed to see Nurse Cavell in her cell at 10 o’clock. He gave her Holy Communion, and found her admirably strong and calm. She said she was happy to die for her country. The despatch discloses that the failure to prevent the execution was a very severe blow to the American Legation, which particularly resents the Germans failing to notify the Ambassador of the sentence. Sir E. Grey, in thanking Mr Brand Whitlock, says he is publishing the de-

spatch without delay to forestall any unjust criticism due to the German Administration’s discreditable and successful efforts to conceal The fact that sentence had been passed and was to be carried out immediately. He adds : “ These efforts were doubtless prompted by a determination to carry out the sentence before an appeal to a higher authority wad possible.” HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS. LONDON, October 21. The Times says that despite the great amount of high explosive shells expended at the Loos advance, the supply was not exhausted. The gunners had more ammunition in hand than was expected at the end of the Sght. In some cases the supplies were greater at the end of the struggle than at the beginning, owing to the excellent transport arrangements, but an unlimited supply for completely beating down the German entrenchments is still not attained. About a million British workmen and women are now employed in making munitions, and about 5000 skilled engineers have been brought back from the trenches. EFFLUX OF “SLACKEES.” A RUMOUR DLSCEEDITED. LONDON, October 21. The Evening News gives prominence to a rumour that the authorities will restrict a sudden rush of eligibles out of Great Britain in consequence of Lord Derby’s scheme. It is obvious that the relations between the Motherland and the dominions would be gravely injured if hordes of “ slackers’ 5 were allowed to pour into Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India, which had given of their best blood for the Empire. Best informed circles regard the suggested action as improbable. The Daily Express characterises the Evening News’s statement as disgraceful. It says it inquired at the dominion offices, where the suggestion was merely repudiated as containing not a word of truth. A commonwealth official stated that no men of military age were emigrating to Australia, and Canadian officials declared that the idea was positively ridiculous. NEW IMPORT DUTIES. j AN AMENDMENT DEFEATED. LONDON, October 20. The House of Commons- discussed the Finance Bill in Committee. Sir Howel Davies moved to exempt goods from the oversea dominions from the new import duties. He said that Britain ought to deal sympathetically vrith the colonies, which were ably assisting in the war and were assuming great financial responsibilities. Parliament ought to take them more into its counsels. His amendment would have the effect of stimulating reciprocal action on the part of the dominions in giving Britain preference in their tariffs. Mr He wins supported the amendment, saying that it was his desire to exterminate German financial influence in the British Empire Mr Montague said these were not the duties w T hich a tariff reformer would suggest. They were not designed to give preference, but to prevent importation from any source whatever. The amendment would therefore destroy the objects for which the taxes were being imposed. The amendment was negatived by 125 votes to 20. GERMAN REJECTS. LONDON, October 20. Germany has revised her system of supplying the front. Two million men who had previously been discarded as unfit have been called and put through a rigorous System of physical training, ■ furnished with good food, and put under systematic medical treatment. This treatment is improving weak sight, strengthening poor chests, and steeling bad nerves. INDIA AND NEIGHBOURING 'COUNTRIES. LONDON, October 20. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain announced that the Dalai'Llama of Thibet had offered 1000 troops at the outset of the war and beflagged Lhassa in honour of General Botha’s victory. The Ameer of Afghanistan had also given striking proof of his friendship. There was conclusive evidence of the unshaken solidarity of India and the neighbouring countries in defence of the Empire. RED CROSS COLLECTIONS. ROYAL TESTIMONY AND SYMPATHY. LONDON, October 20. His Majesty the King in a letter expresses satisfaction at the splendid work achieved by the Red Cross and St. John organisation, to which many wounded men had personally testified to his Majesty. A cheque for £SOOO accompanied the letter. Queens Mary and Alexandra have issued a message commending to-morrow’s Red Cross collection to the people of the Empire, and expressing gratitude for generous past assistance. The Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John are combining on Thursday, and 10,000 ladies have organised a campaign, entitled “ Our Day Fund.” The King has contirbuted £SOOO, and Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra have issued a joint appeal for support. New Zealand

ladies are collecting in Victoria street, and Australians in the Strand. SIR E. CARSON’S RESIGNATION. A STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT. LONDON, October 20. Sir Edward Carson, who occupied the front Opposition bench, in the course of a personal explanation in the House of Commons, said he found himself at complete variance with the Cabinet over the question of our Near. Eastern pohc3 r . He felt, therefore, that his presence in the Cabinet was a source of weakness and not of strength. He emphasised the fact that there had been absolutely no personal disagreement, and that no party questions were involved. Every member of the Cabinet had only one idea—viz., carrying on the war at all sacrifices to a final and conclusive issue. He acknowledged the great difficulties in the way of co-ordinating our policy to that of the Allies, also of consulting the sentiments of neutrals. A position, however, had arisen in the Balkans necessarily leading to far-reaching results. We were already committed to operations on Gallipoli from which these new operations in the Balkans could not be divorced. In his opinion, the situation necessitated a clearly defined, well thought out, and decisive policy, and, finding himself unable to agree in any respect with the Government’s policy, he felt that his presence was no longer useful. This did not suggest that his views were comparable with those of men of greater experience and wisdom; but he held them strongly, conscientiously, and patriotically.— (Cheers.) Lord Lansdowne, replying to a question in the House of Lords, said it had been suggested that Sir E. Carson’s resignation might be connected with Home Rule. They knew Sir Edward Carson sufficiently to be confident that at the present time he would not allow himself to be deflected from his old political views. Sir E. Carson’s statement has somewhat relieved the tension, because it has localised the cause of disagreement in the Cabinet. It was received sympathetically by the House and in the lobbies. Warm tributes were paid to Sir E. Carson for his sincerity. Mr Asquith is improving, and expects to attend the House of Commons on Tuesday. Tire newspapers pay a tribute to the restraint and modesty of Sir E. Carson’s explanation and the powerfusess of his political personality. They state that, outside the Government, the country will follow his next move with the deepest interest. GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, October 20. Cholera has broken out amongst the Austrian troops at Droby. The Government has granted permission for the employment of women conductors in motor-buses and trains in London, in order to release men eligible for fighting. Lord Derby’s scheme has given a fillip to recruiting. Convalescent Australians and New Zealanders are successfully participating in recruiting meetings, buttonholing eligible men. The Government has initiated a scheme to give disabled men from the army and navy a course of training at the agricultural colleges, in the hope that they will be capable of taking up farms. Mr Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, announced that there are 1002 Statecontrolled munition establishments in Great Britain. AMSTERDAM, October 20. The Kaiserin desires her birthday to be celebrated as c< Marmalade Day,” and that a collection be made of gifts of jam for the troops. MELBOURNE, October 21. Having been refused permission to visit the city, between 60 and 70 soldiers broke camp, where they were isolated for treatment. An armed guard stopped a train, and 19 of the truants were captured and court-raartialled. GERMAN OFFENSIVE NEAR RHEIMS. THREE ATTACKS FAIL. PARIS, October 21. A communique states : After a violent bombardment the enemy renewed their attack along a nine-kilometre front east of Kheims, at Buttetire-Prunay, using increasingly dense gas clouds. They three times failed to penetrate our positions. Our machine guns, supported by a hurricane of artillery fire, decimated the foe, and the Germans were finally stopped before the wire entanglements. They were pot able to reach our first line of trenches. We also repulsed 1 an attack at Givenchy Wood.