AN AMERICAN’S THOUGHTS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 1 August 1919, Page 2

AN AMERICAN’S THOUGHTS

GERMAN SAVAGERY UNVEILED

(By Owen Wisler) By two deeds that she did in the earlier days of the war, more than by any that she did before or after, Gern any hart herself with America. These were the sinking of a ship, May 7, i■) land the shooting of a woman, October 12, Hilo. If ever (hero had I-, ;.ii a possibility that American symI athy might be so divided as to hold as back from onr duty and our salvafon, (hat possibility was killed for ever when Edith Cavcll died tor England. Go it may very confidently bo .'•-.id (hat, if Germany’s doom was not uled already, she settled it herself by those two acts in 1015. In the Fair of Edit it Cavcll’s Liberal service, as her body approached Westminster '-.obey, but before it had quite reached Ho entrance, the waiting people thought it was come, and rose in silent r.-speci. During that silence, very faintly from above ns us we stood, tlii; dock struck noon. As I counted the strokes, these wore mv American thoughts :

This woman, who died for her country, died for more than that. The idiots by which she fell killed what was left of the chance wc should stay out uf the tight. They tore away whatever was left of the veil that hid Gorman savagery from onr eyes. After that, it was merely a question of time Avhen onr bodies and onr spirits should be equipped to join in defeating Germany. This Edith Cavcll did ; and now today, here comes her body, and wc all, (if many nut ions, but mostly ot British race, rise to meet its approach, united in reveranco and gratitude beneath lit is roof.

Presently the. singing began and my thoughts Avcnt on :

These words from the Bible that I ;■ m .hearing, these prayers, this hymn, “Abide with Ale,” are tho corncrs(one of both my faith and my speech. The prose of the Bible is tho foundation upon which rest my belief, my iaw, and my manner of expressing them. This roof, where these words I have known by heart all my life arc being now uttered, is the shrine 01. my history. It belongs to me. It cannot lie possilde for any American, howo\ei nnlravolled hitherto, to enter here and linger awhile ami learn what it holds, not lo bo stirred lo his depths. Tho place speaks (o him of himself, his meaning, his past, the great race to which he belongs. May (he striking ■ff that noon hour and the coming hero of Edith (.’avail's body mark the end of the era of misunderstanding and ilu> beginning of the era of understanding between Great Britain and America.