U-BOAT CAPTAIN'S VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1929, Page 13

U-BOAT CAPTAIN'S VISIT

BEREAVED MOTHER’S OUTCRY

PUBLIC CONTROVERSY STARTED. GERMAN SAYS MISSION IB PEACE. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Nov. 19. Following the fine welcome given Captain Hashagen, who is being entertained in London by Commander Lewis, one of the victims of Captain Hashagen s submarine exploits, this cry from “A Liverpool Mother” is featured by the Daily Express: — “I try to be fair, for German mothers suffered just as 1 did. My two younger sons were drowned at sea six months apart. They were on merchant ships sunk by submarines without a single chance. My eldest boy was killed in France. “I now road that a German submaiino officer is having a wonderful time in London. Tho newspapers say he >s a bravo man, as he must have been, but my sons were brave too, They were all I had in tho world. I hate wai and 1 hope tho Germans will be friends of the English, but all I know is that my sons were drowned without a chance. Some officer liko Hashagen watched them drown. “It makes us seem that we were fools to give our sons just to fight against fine fellows who can come over afterwards and be cheered.” COMMANDER LEWIS’ REPLY. GERMAN DISCUSSES POSITION. Rec. 10.30 p.m. ' . London, Nov. 19. Commander Lewis has written to “Liverpool Mother” fully sympathising with her cry and adding that, he himself lost four brothers and his sister lost her husband. He had invited Captain Hashagen in the interests of peace, and out of gratitude. The British public should be told of tile ‘humane attitude of at least one U-boat commander) This letter has brought forth many others of protest. One of the most notable is from Lieutenant-Colonel Graham Deakin, who questions Commander Lewis’ right to regard Captain Hashagen as a good fellow when most of the brave men who were compelled to serve under him were murdered, though Lewie was saved. “Personally, I would consider myself a traitor to those men, and I am happy to think this feeling is not typical of the majority of British officers,”, says the writer. Another protestant asks the British friends of Captain Hashagen to take him to the fiaiioio’ memorial on Tower Hill and read over the name of every chipi he torpedoed. “I can understand the feelings of the Liverpool mother,” says Captain Hashagen. “There are mothers in Germany who, owing to the loss of sons and husbands, still feel bitterly towards the British and French. Last night 2000 people came to hear Commander Lewis and myself at the League of Nations meeting. Many probably lost dear ones in war-time, but they are like me —determined there will be no more war if we can help it. “I hope this English mother will not allow her feelings to interfere with the good work of everlasting peace. I did not come to England to boast, but I came at my ex-prisoner’s invitation. The fact that we are friends shows I did not use unnecessary cruelty. When there ie war we must do what our country demands. War means cruelty and hardship. It is to help to end it that I came here.”