THE GREATEST COWARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1916, Page 7

THE GREATEST COWARD.

IX MODERN HISTORY. All of us have read with bitter feelings the graphic report of If. Jurbu .Inr.■ regarding the treatment of British prisoners in the Gennun 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 tiling in the report which stands ont prominently is the cowardly character of the German doctor, by name Aschenbaeh. This inhuman monster made but one visit to the camp, ana this he accomplished in a complete suit of protective clothing with india rubber gloves nnd mask. And even thus robed, he kept at a distance of practical safety. There 'are not a large number of cowards in historical records, but this specimen of Our/nan "Kultur" is richly deserving of a prominent place amongst the few who. .figure on the dishonored roll. One may look in vain for a parallel to this appalling picture of human baseness. Tf it had not been for the devotion of the six British doctors who worked all through the epidemic—three of them until they died, victims of the fever—medical science itself could hardly have escaped the cverl&sting smirch of Aschenbach's association. We have much to remember to the, discredit of Germany during this terrible war, and the pitiful story of Wittenberg 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 lror. Cross. His fellow-countrymen who have received the decoration for braviery must surely wish they had never been so honored.