THE GREATEST COWARD IN MODERN HISTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 29 August 1916, Page 4

THE GREATEST COWARD IN MODERN HISTORY.

All of us have read with bitter feelings the graphic report of M. Jurbu„ jnr., regarding the treatment of British prisoners in the German concentration camp at Wittenberg, and we. have been appalled at the recital of the ghastly horrors which our poor brave' sailors, have had to face and are still facing. One thing in the report which stands our prominently is the cowardly character of th e German doctor, by'name Aschenbac-h. This inhuman monster made but one visit to "the camp, and.. I this he accomplished" in a complete suit of protective clothing with india- ' rubber gloves and mask. ' And even, thus robed, he kept at a distance of practical safety. Ther e are not a large- ... number of cowards in historical re- 1 cords, but this specimen of German* "Kultur" is richly'deserving of a prominent plac e amongst the few vfaofigure on the dishonoured roll.. One may look in vain for a parallel, to this appalling picture of human baseness. If it had not been for the devotion' of the six British doctors who worked all" through the epidemic—thre e of them until they died, victims of the fever —■ medical science itself could hardly have escaped everlasting smirch of Aschenbach 's association. W e have much to remember to the discredit of Germany during this terrible war, and ' " the pitiful story of Wittenburg is not ' ' the least act in this ghastly business to be borne in mind when Germany will be striving to revive her trade with this country. The remarkable part about the tragedy is that the Kaiser should have deemed this poor specimen of a man worthy of the reward of the Iron Cross. His fellow-countrymen who have received the decoration for bravery must surely wish they had never been so honoured.