GERMAN SOUVENIR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4187, 18 September 1939, Page 3

GERMAN SOUVENIR

LUSITANIA COMMEMMORATION. Mr R. B. Stewart of Mount Maunganui has a replica of the iron medal which was struck in Germany to commemorate the sinking of the Lusitania.

The British described the medal as follows: “From Kolnische Volkszeitung we take the following, dated 10th May, 1915—‘With- joyful pride we contemplate, this latest deed of our navy , . This medal has been struck in Germany with the object of keeping alive in German hearts the recollection of the glorious achievement of the German navy in deliberately destroying an unarmed passenger, ship, together with 119 S non-combatants, men, women and children. On the obverse, under the legend “No contraband” (Keine Bann ware), there is a representation of the Lusitania sinking. The designer has put in guns and aeroplanes, which (as certified by United States Government officials after inspection) the Lusitania did not carry but has conveniently omitted to put in the women and children which the world knows she did carry. On the reverse, under the legend “Business above all” (Gesehaft über alles) the figure of death sits at the hooking office of the Cunard Line and gives out tickets to passengers, who refuse to attend to the warning against submarines given by a German. This picture seeks apparently to propound the theory that if a murderer warns his victim of his ilnUntion, the guilt of the crime

will rest with the victim, not with the murderer.” The sinking of the Athenia has revived these memories. The German technique remains unchanged.