THE CAVELL ATROCITY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14742, 22 October 1915, Page 3

THE CAVELL ATROCITY.

LADY EXECUTED IN COLD BLOOD, ;■■■ GERMANS' 1 , UATEST DEVILRY. Press Association.—Telegraph—Copyright - LONDON, October 21. The Foreign Office has issued a nine thousand words despatch from the Aracxis can Legation in Brussels showing the untiring .efforts made tp save Miss Cavi-l. When she was arrested on August f th, Mr Brand Whitlock, the •Ambassador, notified the German authorities of Amrtrt can concern in the ease : and asked ipr the. fullest particulars, but be' vrts nevey .allowed to see Miss Cavell. The Germans even refused'to allow her to consult her, lawyer before the t-ial. The lawyer wsw Shown none of the prosecution’s doom jnents. The Ambassador adds: Miss Cavell "at the trial, without, trembling, admitted she : had Hidden English and -French soldiers in her house and facilitated their departure, Belgian subjects furnishing theih with money and guides in order to cross the frontier.. She even said she had received a letter from w* ■diers in England thanking her for l;.v help; , ( , Asked why she did this, she said fhe believed the Germans shot soldiers, and therefore it was her duty to save liv s. After, the trial, the American Legal in -continually inquired as to the progress of the case and was definitely informed the dav before the execution that 'v*, sentence bad been given. The Legation, however, heaijd privately at 10 o’clock in the evening that, she was sentenced to be shot at 2 o'clock in the morning. M. Gibson, Secretary of the Legation, accompanied, by the Snanislf Ambassador, hlirried to see Learon and vender Lanoken,' representing the German civil administration, and to ask them for a postponement of the execution. Von der Lanoken for some time protested' that there whs no truth in the rumour,- but finally said the military authorities considered the infliction of death was imperative. Mr Gibson pointed out that Miss Cavell had spent her life in assisting others and had tended German soldiers in her hospital. He emphasised the horror of exe-cuting-a woman. There was - no charge of espionage. He pointed out, the fearful effect a summary execution of. this sort would have on the public opinion of Belgium apf3 abroad. It might even lead to Minister forcibly supported Mr Gibson, but all efforts were fniitless. An, English clergyman was allowed to see Miss Cavell in her coll at 10 o'clock and gave her Holy Communion. He found her admirably strong <).Ud calm. She-said she was happy to die for her country. The despatch discloses that the fails' ) to prevent the execution was a very severe blow to the American Legation and particularly resents the Germans’ failing to notify the Ambassador of the sentence. Sir Edward Grey, in thanking Mr Brand Whitlock, says he is publishing the desnatch without delay in order to forestall any unjust criticism due to the, German administration’s discreditable successful efforts to conceal the fact that sentence was passed, and. carrying it out immediatplv. - He adds: These efforts wcio doubtless prompted by the determination to carry out the. sentence, before, an appeal to higher'authority was ’ possible. ~ Lord Lansdowne described the Cavell atrocity as a deplorable incident. Nothing in recent months bad .moved tho people more than the manner in which the poor lady was executed in cold blood. She was doubtless liable to iiuulsl'.ijicut, but dm- might be. executed wishd - measure, of ■ Infercy. which no civilised country would - refuse a brave and devoted wpman, who had given her energies to the mitigation of the sufferings of others. • American and Spanish Ministers had endeavoured up to the last moment to obtaanp a .reprieve. There was nobody In Britain who wopld not join in the protest against the terrible occurrence, Tire Pope and King Alfonso have sectired the postponement of the execution of two French ladies pending the Kaiser’s reconsideration.