A BRUTAL MURDER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 7

A BRUTAL MURDER

CAPTAIN FRYATT SHOT MORE HUN FRIGHTFULNESS fho High Commissioner .reports:— London, July 28, Bio p.m. 'I'o-day's German wireless report says that Captain Fryatt, of the British Bteamer Brussels, which was captured recently, was shot for a franc-tireur crime against an armed German force. Sentence was passed on the fact that, although Captain Fryatt did not belong to an armed sea force, he tried to ram tho German submarine TJ33 near the Maas lightship. Captain Fryatt, the first officer, and the. first engineer received gold watches from the British Admiralty, and their action was mentioned in the House of Commons. At the trial Captain Fryatt admitted following the instructions of the British Admiralty. Australian-New Zealand Cfthlo Association. New York, July 2S. * I'he Sayville wireless station reports that tho Germans shot Captniu.JJryatt, of the Groat Eastern Railway 'Company's steamship Brussels, because lie tried to ram a submarine before the vessel was captured, [The Brussels was captured by six German destroyers on June 23, and was taken to \ Zeebrusnre. She was bound from Rotterdam with nasseneers (mostly Belgian refugees) and foodstuffs. It was Tcported thnt she had on nine previous occasions escaped from attempts to capture her.] SENSATION IN BRITAIN. ' • DETAILS OF THE MESSAGE. (Eec. July 2D, 7.25 p.m.) • London, July 28. There was a sensation in Britain on the receipt of tho German Government's wireless giving the result of tho proceedings of tho Naval Court, and that Captain Fryatt, of the steamer Brussels, had been sentenced to death. Tho verdict . was based on the evidence that Captain Fryatt, who did not belong to the armed. forces, nevertheless endeavoured to ram 1583. The sen tenets was confirmed, and Fryatt was shot for a franc-tireur crime against the German «ea forces. The message adds: "Fryatt, his chief officer, and chief engineer received gold watches fcom the British Admiralty for brave conduct. The submarine signalled, asking the Brussels to show her flag and stop, which Fryatt did not heed, but turned,. and went at full speed towards the submarine. The latter only escaped by instantly diving. Fryatt admitted that ho followed the instructions of the, British Admiralty." The Berlin official message detailing fchfi circumstances of the trial concludes: "The captain was shot on the afternoon of July 27. Thus onn of the many franc-tireur deeds of the English merchant vessels against our warships has been tardily, but rightly punished." ' HOW THE BRUSSELS WAS CAPTURED. (Rec. July 30. 5.5 p.m.) London, July 29. Mr. Thorkon, of the # Great Eastorn Railway Company"; officially states that the Brussels was befogged, and when the fog lifted Captain Fryatt saw four submarines surrounding him, and was compelled to surrender. The "Times," in a leader, says:—"The execution was brutal and a flagrant violation of the principles of justice and humanity, a foul, judicial murder, once more reminding us of Germany's unmiTigafecTferocity and barbarism." HARWICH GRIEVED. SEVEN CHILDREN ORPHANED. (Rec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) , London, July 20. Captain Fryatt's murder aroused indignation and 'horror at Harwich, where ho was well known. Ho was married. Thero wero seven tho' youngest being under three. ' Fryatt was, locally nicknamed the "Pirate's Terror," because of the skilful fashion in which he eluded tho Kaiser's "tin fishes." . SOME OF THE CRIMINALS. (Rec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 29. It is reported that the Duke of Wurtemburg announced Fryatt's sentence to Headquarters for confirmation. • The War Council, including the. Kaiser and General Falkenbayn, agroed'.

INDIGNATION IN HOLLAND. (Eec. July 20, 8.15 p.m.) . . Amsterdam, July 20. . The execution caused indignation in Holland. The "Tclegraaf" 6ays: "It is an abominable, crime equalled only by tho murder of Nurso Cavell." . COMMENTS OF AMERICAN PRESS. PUBLIC GEEATLY SHOCKED. (Eec. July 20, J. 55 p.m.) New York, July 28. Tho newspapers give prominence to Germany's " execution of Captain Fryatt for an elleged attempt to ram a submarine. The public is greatly shocked, comparing, it with the execution of Nurse Cavell. The "Evening Post" says: "Tho execution must he regarded as a brutaP violation of international law, and is likely to result in retaliatory measures by Britain." Washington State officials say the Government will follow the incident with great interest. • -It is recognised that British reprisals may be followed by a more bitter submarine war. A high official states that the United States' attitude is that the master of a merchantman lias the right fc> assume that any submarine is liable to attack him, consequently lie has the right to forestall him by ramming or shooting. Naval experts point out that a merchantman could not be classed as a pirate as the clement of illicit gain is' lacking. GREY ASKS FOR THE FACTS SERIOUS CONDITION OP AFFAIRS, AiistraliaTi-TTew Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 30, 11.15 p.m.) London, July 30. The Press Bureau states: Viscount Grey has communicated the , Press reports of Qaptain Eryatt's execution to Air. Page,' adding: "The Government find it difficult to believe that the master of a merchantman, who, after German submarines had adopted tho practice of sinking merchantmen without warning, and regardless of tho lives of passengers and crew, took apparently the .only step giving him a chance of saving his vessel and the lives, cau have been deliberately shot in cold blood/ If the German Government has perpetrated such a crime against a British prisoner it is evident that a most serious condition of affairs has arisen," and asks Mr. Page to report to enable tho British Government to have a full and undoubted account of the facts. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE AMERICA'S GOOD OFFICES. (Eec. July 20, 7.25 p.m.) London, July 28. The Britisli Foreign Office has published the correspondence concerning tho Brussels. Viscount Grey wrote to Mr. Pago (American Ambassador in London) on June 28, requesting him to ascertain if thero were British subjects on board the Brussels when brought to Zeebrngge.. He understood thero were six British • stewardesses aboard, and hoped these would be quickly repatriated. Mr. Page replied on July 1 stating that Mr. Gerard (American Ambassador in Berlin) reported that tho officers and croft - were well, and were interned at Euhlchen. Captain Fryatt desired his wife to ho informed, and the prisoners desired parcels from England. Mr. Gerard urged prompt repatriation of the ftvo stewardesses who were separated from (ho crew, but whoso whereabouts could not. be ascertained. . Viscount Grey wrote on Jjily 18 that '■•> had learned that tho "Telegraaf" of

■Tuly 16 had announced that Captain Fryatt was being tried by courtmartial £t GJiont for ramming a submarine, and asked" Mr. Pago to urgently ascertain its correctness. Viscount Grey, on July 20, requested Mr. Page to arrange with Mr. Ciorard to secure the proper defence of Fryatt in the event of the court-martial, and also to inform Mr. Gerard confidentially that Britain was satisfied Fryatt acted legitimately and in self-defence for the pose of evading canturc or destruction^ Viscount. Groj- followed this on July 25 by asking that Mr. Gerard be informed that, if tho allegations wero established by the evidence, Britain regarded hjs action as'nerfectly legitimate' and. considered the act of a raerchantship s.teering for a submarine and forcing her to dive was a defensive act, and precisely on tho same footing as a , defensively armed vessel using her defensive armament to resist capture, which the English and Aniorican Governments hold could bo exercised as an undoubted ' right. ..•:".