THE DEFENDER OF LIEGE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 6

THE DEFENDER OF LIEGE

GENERAL LEHAN'S RETURN FROM

CAPTIVITY

AN INTERVIEW

General Leniaiij who held the forts of Liftge to the last in August, 1914, was released by the Germans the other day and was ordered a complete rest. His daughter arrived at Berne from France to take him away from the vile winter air of Berne and to nurse him back to health at Montreux.

Interviewed by a representative of the "Daily Mail," General Lemnn said:—"TlM principal recollection for me of my captivity will he the moral suffering I endured. An officer cooped up in an enemy, prison is tortured by the constant thought that his country needs him and is calling him, and he feels his helplessness most bitterly, and considering the constant mental torture one goes through, it would be almost disgraceful to make a fuss of one's physical sufferings."

"Were yon wounded when von fell into the hands of the Germans?"

"I was severely injured when Fort Loncin blew up, and had several ribs broken,' besides being poisoned by the gases from the powder. I fainted, and when I came to mvself I found a German officer was giving me something to drink. Unfortunately I was already his prisoner. [Lieutenant Wittouck, of the Belgian Artillery, an old friend of General Lemau and now his adjutant pro tern., tells me that a toe was so hurt in the explosion that it had to be amputated.]

"Did the Germans treat you chivalrously during your captivity?" "By the officers'of tho invading army I was treated quite chivalrously, but from the moment I was interned in the citadel of Magdeburg I was submitted to regulations which were far from having this character. Nevertheless I am pleased to acknowledge that the German officers 1 camo in contact with during my long captivity always showed me great personal respect. As for the German medical service, I have nothing but praise for it, hut after saying that I deem it necessary to brand as inhuman in every respect the rule that isolates soldiers from the world by submitting them to a .rigorous internment extending over several years'" Forts v. Curis. ' l Did the forts in which you held out prove very useful?" "As'useful as they could, but I prefer not to discuss that matter at present." •'Do you believe that fortresses are still useful in modorn warfare?" "I have always been an opponent of the system of fortifications consisting of a line of forts which leaves gpps between them unprovided with permanent courtiuos (the rampart connecting the forts). This war has shown the superiority of continuous over nonroiitinuous fortifications; it has shown, too, the folly of having guns of big and medium calibre with fixed positions in forts." ' "Were you surprised when you found what heavy guns the Germans btought against you?" "All the military experts of' the world knew that Germany had been for a long time preparing au offensive war, tho prompt success of which it meant to assure by all the resources of technical industry-. Nevertheless the employment of 17in. guns for the bombardment of our fortresses surprised 113, for the existence.of such heavy guns had been carefully concealed by tho Germans. The prodigy is not in the construction of such monster weapons, but in the wonderful seoctivencss of all those who had taken part in their construction." "Had Germany any reason to believe that little Belgium would not dare to stand up to her?" "Germany.seems to havw thought so. They know what a great mistake they made. • I do not wish at present to express an opinion about the causes that led them into their error!" "Do you believe that the invasion of Belgium by Germany was premeditated?" "Absolutely premed'tated. The plan of war, drawn up long before by the German General Staff and based on laborious investigations,, the manifold reconnaissances and observations gathered by special agents, all point to an attack on France through Belgium." "Does Belgium, in the light of its bitter experience, regret its. decision to resist the German attempt to break through?" "Regret this decision to fight without counting the cost—never! Belgium is proud of her King and his great decision, and Beigium is justified in her pride." "Will,.Belgium ever pardon Germany?"' "Forgiveness presupposes -previous expiation -1 . But as to forgetting— never!" ".What will be the end of the war?" "The triumph of the nations that havo not ceased to fight with all their might for the cause of law and right."