Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-25

BERLIN, via The Hague and London,
October 25.-Dr. Alfred F. NJ. thinner
mann, German under secretary for for
eign affairs, has issued an official ex-
PLANTATION of the recent execution In
Belgium of Miss Edith Cavell. the Brit
fish nurse. He prefaced his remarks by
the declaration that he had examined
every jot and title Of the evidence with
the greatest care and found the verdict,
though regrettable. to be just His
statement follows:
ct see by the British and the Amer
lean press that the shooting Of an Eng
lishwoman and the conviction OF sew
eral other women in Brussels for trea-
son have created great impression.
and that we are being severely crtti-
cised. 1t Is indeed hard that a woman
must be executed. but remember to
what shall a state come which is In
war II II allows to pass unnoticed
crime against the safety Of its armies
because committed by women. No law
book in the world. least of all those
dealing with war regulations. makes
such a differentiation, and the feminine
sex has but one preference according
to legal usages, namely, that women in
a delicate condition may not be exc
cuted. Otherwise man and woman are
equal before the law, and only the
degree of guilt makes a difference In
the sentence for the crime and its con-
sequences.
Says Evidence Is Conclusive.
TN the Cavell case I have reviewed
the decision of the court and examined
the evidence down to the smallest de-
tails. The result is so convicting and
all the circumstances are so clear and
convincing that no court-nartial in the
world would have reached any other
decision. For 1t concerns not the act
Of one single person, rather 1t concerns
a well-thought-out. world wide con-
spiracy which succeeded for nine
months to render the most valuable
services to the enemy to the disad-
vantage of our army. Countless Brit
tsh. Belgian and French soldiers now
:"afn are fighting IN the allied ranks
who owe their escape from Belgium to
the activity Of the band now sentenced,
a. the head of which stood Miss CavelL
With such a situation under the
very eyes Of the authorities. only the
Utmost severity can bring relief and
the government violates the most ele-
mental duty toward the army and Its
safety that does not adopt the strict
est measures. These duties in war are
greater than any other.
All those convicted were fully cog
tons. The court went into just this
point with particular care and acauit-
ted several co-defendants only because
II believed doubt existed regarding the
cognizance Of the punishableness of
their actions. Those convicted knew
what they were doing. Countless pub
lie proclamattons had declared that
support Of enemy armies would be
treated with the severest penalties,
even that the life Of traitors would be
sacrificed.
Asserts Motives Not Unnoble.
I admit certainly that the motive OF
those convicted was not unnobIe. and
that they acted out of love for the
fatherland. But in war time one must
be ready to seal ones love for the IA
therland with ones blood, whether one
opposes the enemy in battle or wheth-
er one commits acts In its interes,
which Justly carry with them the
death penalty. Among our Russian
prisoners are several girls who Tough,
against US IN soldiers uniforms
would accuse US of treating womer
cruelty. So why. now that anothe,
woman has met the death which she
tie comrades?
There are moments in the lives OF
peoples when consideration for the In
oiViouai is crime against the whole
moments that make severity yes
hardness-a duty for those Entrusted
with the safety OF their own country.
men. Once and for always the activity
Of our enemies had 20 be stopped anC
sentence has been carried out 4
Brighten those who might presume OF
their sex to partake in enterprise,
punishable with death. Should one rec
ognize these presumptions IL would
mean to open the door for the evt
activities of women. who often ar.
handler and more clever in thes,
things than the craftiest man spy.
Leniency for Others Considered.
He who bears the responsibility
however. may not. cannot. DO that Un
mindful Of the worlds verdict he mus
travel the hard road of duty; that, de
spite these facts. leniency toward 9th
r. who We're convicted and who, ac
ording to recognized law, have for
'-ited their lives. is being considere ed
Is proof of how earnestly We are try
.ng to reconcile the feelings of human
:ty with the commands of rigid duty
II others are shown mercy 1t will b.
At the cost OF our army. for 1t Is to b.
feared that new attempts will be mad
= tAturs - u Il u believed posstbl