EDITH CAVELL TIED TO POST AND SHOT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6540, 23 February 1928, Page 7

EDITH CAVELL TIED TO POST AND SHOT

Tragic End Described By German Eye-Witness

“GLAD I AM DYING,” SHE SAID [By Electric Cable-Copvrlght.] i Mist, and N.Z. Cable Association.] ("Received Wednesday, 7.55 p.m.) , BERLIN, Feb. 21. Dr. Gottfried Benn, who was officially present at the execution of Nurse Edith Cave-11, tells the stoy for the first time. Ho said he found two platoons each of ’ rive men waiting at the shooting i where a Belgian engineer, i convicted of complicity with Nu... Oavell, was also Soon another car containing Nurse Caved and a pnest drove up. Nurse Cavell’s face was like a mask, but her gait staggering, owing to muscular impediment, though she walked without hesitation to the place between. the two posts where Broquc stood. She stopped a moment to tell the priest, “ I am glad I am dying for England. Other women ate sacrificing husbands, brothers and sons, I only my life.” She asked the priest to send a last message to her mother and brothers who were serving with the British Army in France. , , Nurse Cavell and Broque were quickly blindfolded and tied to the posts. Both platoons fired from a couple of yards distance. Nurse Cavell’a body remained upright a few minutes though she had twelve bullets through her heart and lungs. " I went to tho posts,” says Dr. Benn, " and found her dead. I closed her eyes and then' assisted to place the body in a small yellow, coffin which was interred secretly.” Dr. Benn understands Nurse Cavell helped three hundred soldiers and Belgian civilians across the Dutch frontier.

“ EXHIBITION INEXPEDIENT,” REASON GIVEN BY CENSORS. (British. Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 21. The British Board of Film Censors last night refused a license for the “ Dawn ” film, which tells tho story of Nurse Edith Cavell. They issued a statement saying* "In our opinion the theme of the •film renders its exhibition in this country inexpedient in the present circumstances. ’ ’ The film has been tho subject of much controversy. Its producers have maintained that its rendering of the tragic story has been done with impartial taste, that it could cause no offence to Germans, and that its lesson was to underline the horrors inevitably associated with war. The personal opinion of Sir Austen Chamberlain, expressed by him in a letter to Mr. Wilcox, producer of “ Dawn,” was strongly against the exhibition of a film depicting such a subject at the present time, since it might create international controversy and bitter feelings. - The Board of Censors is an unofficial organisation established by the film trade, which, voluntarily accepts its rulings in regard to cinema houses. The only statutory power controlling public exhibition of films is vested in local authorities.