THE MARTYRED NURSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2610, 4 November 1915, Page 8

THE MARTYRED NURSE

GROUND FOR PROTEST FROM THE , UNITED STATES, ByTelegraDh--Pres.* Ascodation-Oopyrilhl ( 'limes and Sydney "Sun" Services;) London, November. 2. The-"New York Times" publishes an article-by Mr. James Beck, formerly •United States Assistant .Attorney-Gen-eral, in which .the writer, declares that jthe case of Nurse Cavell concerns the Jionour of Americans as deeply as that of the Lusitania did. ; The American 1 Government, he says, should demand the dismissal of the' German officers •who flouted, mocked,' and deceived the ''American representatives by a refusal which looked like a most studied insult ,to t'lio United States.

i [The American Legation at Brussels made untiring efforts to save Nurse Cavell when she was arrested on Au- ; gust 5. Mr. . Brand Whitlock, the ; American Ambassador, notified the German Ambassador of the American concern in the case, and asked for the fullest particulars. But he was never allowed to see Nurse Cavell. After , the triaL the American Legation continually inquired as to the progress of the case, and was definitely informed ■the day before the execution that no sentence had been given. The Lega- ' tion officials,-, however,, heard privately at 10 o'clock in the evening that Nurse i CaveJl had been sentenced to be shot at 2 o'clock in tho morning. Mr. Gibson, secietary to the Legation, accompanied by the Spanish Ambassador, hurried to see Von der Lauoken, representihg the German civil administration, anil to "ask for. a postponement of ; the execution. Von der Lanoken for ;some' time protested that there was no truth in the rumour, but finally said the .military. authorities had considered the infliction of the death sentence imperative. Mr. Gibson pointed out that Nurse Cavell had spont her life in assisting others, and had tended German ;soldiers at her hospital. He emphasised the horror of executing a woman where there was no charge of espionage, and pointed out the fearful effect summary execution of this sort would have upon publio opinion in Belgium and abroad; it might even lead to reprisals.] ■ ...