War Revelations Of Imprisoned Princess

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 26 November 1932, Page 13

War Revelations Of Imprisoned Princess

MEW and moving stories of Nurse Cavell are revealed by Princess Marie de Croy in her book “War Memories. ’'

The princess was tried for her life, with Edith Cavell, by the Germans in Belgium in .1915 and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, for her part in the ‘ ‘ plot ’' to smuggle British soldiers into Holland. Bho' was actually in prison from 1915 to 1918. She lived on the Franco-Belgian frontier, and hid many soldiers —left behind in the Mons retreat in an ancient tower, part of her house—the Chateau de Bellignies. Search. Parties.

Daring helpers piloted them to Brussels, where Miss Cavell and her friends concealed them until they could be smuggled across the Dutch frontier.

Princess Marie reveals that Miss Cavell, knowing that she risked death, rejected the idea that she should give up helping British soldiers .to escape. It was at the nursing home where the princess w r as visiting Nurse Cavell. “In her gentle voice she said, ‘I wish you hadn't come; I am evidently suspect. Look at those men cleaning tho square in front; they have been there several days, and are scarcely working at all. They must be set to w’atch the house. ’

“I answered, ‘I came to say that we must stop. I have had search parties, and dare have no more men brought to Bellignies.’ “She replied, ‘I also had a search party yesterday; I heard their footsteps downstairs, and only had time to throw my papers in the grate and pour some alcohol on them and set them alight when Germans came and began searching the room. ' ” Increasing Peril.

They had practically decided In stop their activities when Nurse Cavell asked if there were any more hidden men. She was. told that more than 30 had been found in Cambrai. “ ‘ln that ease we cannot stop,’.she said, ‘because if one of .those men gels caught, and shot it would be our fault. ’ ”

On one occasion the princess hid 30 British officers and men at her chateau.

Owing lo the difficulty of feeding them, tin: impossibility of smuggling them out qf the country, and the increasing peril that .they would be discovered and shot, Captain Preston, the senior officer, determined that his duty was to siirroiultr the men as prisoners of war. The princess went up to the garret, where* he explained the situation to the sergennis, Touching Scene. “It was,” says the princess, “a touching scene which I shall never forget. “At first they would not hear of giving themselves up, saving that it was against their duty as soldiers. “I told them it was the only way to save their lives, adding, ‘You are, many of you, married men; think of yovr wives and families.’ ’“They answeml: ‘Our families know that we are soldiers and must do cur duly.’ ” Eventually she persuaded them to surrender on condition that the two officers with them should be smuggled out of the country. During the hazardous journey to Holland one of the officers, Lieutenant Bushell, washed his hands beside a German officer in a Moris restaurant. They used the same roller towel. Once the Germans visited the Chateau while the princess had a dozen soldiers there, but they found nothing. The British were hidden behind a sliding panel in a secret staircase in the old tower.