THE DEFENDER OF LIEGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1918, Page 6

THE DEFENDER OF LIEGE.

GENERAL LILIAN'S RETURN FROil CAPTIVITY. AN INTERVIEW. General Lemau, who held the fcif-ts of Liege to the last in August, 1014, was released by the Germans the other day, and was ordered a complete rest. His daughter arrived at Berne from France to take him away from the vile winter air of Berne and to nurse him back to health at Montreux. Interviewed by a representative of The Daily Mail, General Leman said: "The principal recollection for me of my captivity will be the moral suffering I endured. An officer cooped up in an enemy prison is tortured by the constant thought that his country needs him and is calling him, and he feels his helplessness most bitterly, and considering the constant mental torture one goes through it would be almost disgraceful to make a fuss of one's physical sufferings." "Were you wounded when you fell into the hands of the GermansV" "t was severely injured when Fort Loncin blew lip, and had several ribs broken, besides being poisoned by the gases from the powder. 1 fainted, and when I came to myself I. found a German officer was giving me something to drink. Unfortunately I was already his prisoner. (Lieutenant Wittouck, of the Belgian Artillery, an old friend of General Leman, and now his adjutant pro tern., tells me that a toe was so hurt in the explosion that it had to be amputated.) "Did the Germans treat you chivalrously during your captivity?''

"By the officers of the invading- army I was treated quite chivalrously, but from the moment I was interned in the citadel of Madgeburg 1 was submitted to regulations which .were far from having this character. Nevertheless, I am pleased to acknowledge that this German officers 1 came in contact with during my long captivity always showed me great personal respect. As for the Herman medical service, I have nothing but praise for it, but after saying that 1 deem it necessary to brand as inhuman in every respect the rule that isolates soldiers from the world by submitting them to a rigorous internment extending over several years." FORTS v. GUNS.

"Did the forts in which you held out prove very useful?" "As useful as they could, but I prefer not to discuss that matter at present." , "Do you believe that fortresses are still useful in modern warfare?" "I have always been an opponent of the system of fortifications consisting of a line of forts which leaves gaps between them unprovided with permanent eourtines (the rampart connecting the 'forts). This war has shown the superiority of continuous over non-continuous fortifications; it has shown, too, the folly of having guns of big and medium calibre with fixed positions in forts." "Were you surprised when you found what heavy guns the Germans brought against you?" "All the military experts of the world knew that Germany had been for a long time preparing an offensive "war, the prompt success of which it meant to assure by all the resources of technical industry. • Nevertheless the employment of 17in. guns for the boinbardmelit of our fortresses surprised us, for the existence of such heavy guns had been carefully concealed by the Germans. The prodigy is not in the construction of such monster weapons, but in the wonderful secretivencss of all those who had taken part in their construction " "Had Germany any reason to believe that little Belgium 'would not dare to stand up to her?" /

"Germany seems to have thought so. They know.what a great mistake they made 1 do not wish sit present to express an opinion about the causes that led them their error." "Do you believe that the invasion of Belgium by Germany was premeditated?" "Absolutely premeditated. The plan of war, drawn up long before by the German General Stall', and based on laborious investigations; the manifold reconnaissances and observations gathered by special agents, all point to an attack on France through Belgium." "Does Belgium, in the light of its bit--1 ter experience, regret its decision to resist the German attempt to break through ?" "Regret this decision to fight without counting the cost—never! Belgium is proud of her King and his great decision, and Belgium is justified in her pride." "Will Belgium ever pardon Germany?" "Forgivenness presupposes previous expiation: But as to forgetting—never!" "What will be the end of the war?" "The triumph of the nations that have not cea9ed to fight with all their might for the cause of law and right."