A MOTHER’S PROTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1929, Page 5

A MOTHER’S PROTEST

U-BOAT CAPTAIN

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, Nov. 20

Commander Lewis has written to the “Liverpool Mother,” fully sympathising pvith her cry, and addin? that he himself lest four brothers and his sister lost her husband in the war. He had invited Captain Hashagen in the interests of peace, and also in gratitude. The British public, ho said. -liou'd be told of the humane attitude of at lest one U Boat commander. This letter has brought forth many others of protest. One of the most notable is from Lieut. Colonel Graham, Dakin, wlho “questions Commander Lewis’s right to regard Captain Hashagen as a good fellow wiicn most of the brave men who were compelled to serve under him were murdered, though Lewis was saved.” Ho adds: “Personally I would consider myself a traitor to those men. and I uni hanpy to think this feeling is not tynical of tlio majority of Britisii officers.”

Another protestant asks the British friends of Captain Hashagen to ‘ike him to the sailors’ memorial on Tower Hill and read over the names of every ship lie torpedoed. “I can understand the feelings of ‘Liverpool Mother,’ ” says Captain Hashagen. “‘There are mothers in Germairv, who, owing to the loss of sons and their husbands, still feel bitterly towards the British and French. Last night two thousand people came to hear Commander Lewis and myself at the League of Nations’ meeting. Many of these probably had hnt dear ones in war time hut they, like us, are determined that there will he no more war if wo can help it. T hope this English Mother will not allow her feelings to interfere with the good work of everlasting pence. T did not come to England to boast, hat T came at my former prisoner’s invitation. The fact that wo are friends shows that T did not use unnecessary cruelty. When there is war, we must do wha-1 our country demands. War means cruelty and hardship. It is to help to end it that I came here!”