GREAT NATIONAL HEROINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 20

GREAT NATIONAL HEROINE.

LONDON, October 23. The public is profoundly stirred at Nurse Cavell’s martyrdom, and the disposition to regard her as a great national heroine increases daily. Probably no personality in the war has evoked the same intense admiration. The Rev. Mr Gahan’s account of the closing scenes went with even a deeper thrill through the country than the earlier reports. All the newspapers emphasise the German chaplain’s tribute : “ She died like a heroine.” Already there are many suggestions to perpetuate the 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 Telegraph has opened a shilling fund. Sir George Frampton is offering to execute a statue as a labour 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 accounts bear out the official statements of her resoluteness. Reports emanating from Belgium relate that Nurse Cavell faced the firing squad, most of whom did not aim at her. Only

one bullet struck Miss Cavell, who fell. The officer then shot her with his revolver. The incident is recalling to mind the death of Louise Frenay. [The incident of Louise Frenay was thus reported from Paris“ Details arc to hand of the execution of Belgians at Liege on June 8. A woman denounced 25 others forgiving information to the Allies. One woman was persuaded to confess on a promise that the culprits would bo treated leniently nevertheless, 11 were sentenced to death. Volunteers were called to form firing squads, but none were forthcoming. Men were then chosen under threats. 'IRio condemned arrived in wagons at daybreak, accompanied by priesto, and were placed with their backs to a wall. Posts were driven in the ground, and to these they wore tied if their courage failed. Louise Frenay was ordered to be shot first. The soldiers hosiated. They had been unaware that they had to shoot a woman, and when ordered to fire some aimed to the side and some low. The result was that the woman was wounded in the legs. An officer ordered the men to reload, but the men flatly refused. The officer then called up a non-commissioned officer, who shot the woman with his revolver. The rest of the sentences wore rapidly carried out.”] COMMENT IN HOLLAND. AMSTERDAM, October 23. Many newspapers comment on the Cavell case. The Telegraaf declares that the ' iermam Governor has. begun a regime of greater severity, and has notified Belgian workmen that they will not be allowed to refuse military work. They are being forced to build a new front behind the Scheldt. Hundreds of ex-soldiers, ;n obedience to the proclamation of the Military Governor, General von Bissing, that all allied soldiers now in Belgium must report themselves to the authorities within 24 hours for internment in Germany, on, pain of being shot, likewise all suspected of harbouring them, have surrendered, and been transported to an unknown destination. The 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 24. 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 the Germans are strangers to all human feeling and every sentiment of mercy. The Handelsblad says that the comparison of the French girl’s act with Nurse Cavell’s conduct and the horrible punishment inflicted by the German Government are completely unjust. LESSON TO THE BELGIANS. LONDON, October 24. 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. AMSTERDAM, October 24. All that official Germany can say in defence of Nurse Cavell’s execution is an article in the North German Gazette. After mentioning a British officer’s letter in the Manchester Guardian on October 18 concerning a French girl shooting two snipers, the article continues When such deeds, which are a mockery of all the usages of war, receive homage we mustn’t be astonished if the guilty are treated according to the laws of war. Had this French girl been seized by us and shot dead, as she deserved, the British press couldn’t loudly enough have deplored the German methods of warfare. The same press is 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. LONDON, October 24. Regarding the Manchester Guardian’s officer’s letter, an officer with the British army in France gave a long narrative of his experiences in a big attack. He incidentally stated that a girl 17 years of age performed wonderful acts of heroism, helped with the wounded in a cellar, improvised a dressing station when two German snipers fired into it from a neighbouring house. The letter added : “We were unable to get to them, as the door of thenhouse was covered. She saw this, and took a wounded officer’s revolver, climbed back to the house, and shot both the snipers.”