CARDINAL MERCIER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 255, 7 April 1915, Page 5

CARDINAL MERCIER.

TELLS HIS OWN STORY. GEE-MANS TILLING OLD BATTLEFIELDS. London, Feb. 15. An account of an interview witli Cardinal Jlercier is given by Mr Charles P. Scott, of Kansas, a former. member of Congress, now in London, after a ten days' tour in Belgium and France, during which lie investigated the work of the Commission for Relief in Belgium. He said yesterday:—

"When in Malines I went with Mr Le San, brother of the burgomaster, to call on Cardinal Mercier. ' Mr. Lev San is the man who printed Cardinal Merger's famous pastoral and escaped with a fine. The cardinal lives in a flrife old palace, but a big hole in the roof of the throne-room, a few holes in the walls, and broken windows and panels tell the tale ot stray shells. Around the palace there was no sign of German soldiers.

' ''The cardinal is a typical church-man, tall and ascetic-looking. He obviously enjoys the dilemma in which lie placed!* the German Government, and Iris eyes twinkled as he told the story, in very good English, of his latest adventure. " 'At six o'clock 1 one morning,' said the cardinal, 'two, German soldiers and nn officer brought me a communication from their commanding officer asking me to deny the statement that I had been deprived of my liherlv. Tire letter consisted of four or five typewritten pages. "Come hack is: the evening, and I will give you an ansewr," I said. The officer replied that liis orders were to wait in my room until lie received the reply. ! 'Go and telephone for other orders," I then said. ■"'The officer went, out, but his orders ivero confirmed, so he sat patiently while I considered my reply, which was to the effect, that, while it was true there were no manacles on my hands, T was to have performed service in Antwerp, and was not permitted to do so, and that for three days I. was restrained in the palace. Two days later I was asked to modify this letter and I wrote another letter. If the Germans are flevor,' concluded the cardinal with a smile, 'they will publish my first letter.' "So far as I could see, Cardinal Merrier is now free to go and come as he pleases, T presume, to the usual restrictions on Belgians crossing the frontier. Men are at work on the cathedral at Malincs bracing the walls, tearin!;' down what must, come down, and, Plough terribly shattered, it looks as if this beautiful old building will be saved. The damage done to it is estimated at £40,000.