Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-26
DEATH OF WOMAN
SPY NECESSARY
German Under Secretary Issues
Statement Declaring Act Was
Within Military Law.
NO PREFERENCE GIVEN WOMEN

BERLIN, Oct 25.-(Via The
Hague and London. DIR. Alfred F.
NJ. Zimmerman, German under sec
retary for foreign affairs has issued
an official explanation OF the re-
cent execution in Belgium Of Miss
Edith Cavell, the British nurse. He
prefaced his remarks by the declara-
tion that he had examined every jot
and little OF the evidence with the
greatest care and found the verdict,
though regrettable, to be just. His
statement follows:
Il sec by the British and the American
press that the shooting OF an English
woman and the conviction OF several
other women in Brussels for treason have
created a great impression and that we
ore being severely criticized.
1T Is indeed hard that a woman must
be executed but remember TO what shall
n state come that is at war. II IL allows
20 pass unnoticcd a crime against the
safety OF its army because committed by
women No law book IN the world. least
Of all those dcaling with war regulations.
makes such a differentiation, and the
feminine sex has but one preference, ac-
cording TO legal usages. namely-that
women IN a delicate condition may not
be executed. Otherwise man and woman
are equal before the law and only the
degree OF guilt makes difference IN the
sentence Tor the crime and its conse-
quenccs
I'm ;he CaveiI case have reviewed the
decision Of the court and examined the
evidence down to the smallest details.
The result Is 80 convincing and all the
circumstances are so clear and convinc-
ing that no court-martial In tine world
would have reached any other decision
For it concerns not the act Of one single
person, rather II concerns well thought
out, worldwide conspiracy which sue
ceeded for nine months to render the
enemy assistance 10 injure our army.
''countless British. Belgian and French
soldiers now again are fighting In the
allied ranks who owe their success in
escaping from Belgium TO the activity Of
the bard now sentenced. at the head of
which stood Miss Cavel.
with such a situation under the very
eycs OF the authorities only the utmost
severity can bring reliet. and the govern
ment violates the most elemental duty
toward tho army and It's safety that does
dutien IN war are greater than any
other.
"AH those convicted were fully cogni-
gnnt ~ the Significance OF their actions.
The court won't into Just this point with
particular care aud acquitted several
co-dcfcndants only because II believed
doub. existed regarding the cognizanoe
OF the punishahleness OF their actions
Thosa convicted knew what they were
doinr. Countless public proclamationt
had declared that support of enemy
armies worii be treated with the sc
Nerosi pcnaldea even that the lives o
traitors would be sacrificed.
81 admit certainly that the motive o
those convicted was not unnoble and tina
they acted out OF love for the fatherland
But IN war time one must be ready Z
seal ones love for the fatheriand witt
ones blood. whether one opposes the en-
emy In battle or whether one commit
4 acts In It's Interest which Justly carr,
with them the death penalty. Among on
Russian prisoners are several girls VIII
fought against us in soldiers uniforms
Should one such have fallen no on
would accuse us of treating womei
4 cruelty. SO why now that another woman
. has met the death which she riske
quite as thinkingly as her battle com
radcs?
There are moments IN the lives OF pee
4 rics when consideration for the indlvidua
Is crime against the whole, moments tina
mako severity, yet. hardness, a duty 10
those entrusted with the safety of thei
own countrymen Once and for alwayi
the activity Of our enemies had to b
stopped and sentence has been carrie
ant 10 Frfrr
on their sex 10 partake in enterprise
punishable with death should one ne,
oEnize these presumptions Il would mea
70 open the door for the evil activitl,
OF women who are often handler an
4 more clever In these things than n
craftiest man.
He who bears the responsibility, how
aver may not. cannot do that. Unmint
fui OF the worlds verdict he must trav,
the hard road OF duty That despite the,
facts. lenieney towards others who wei
convicted, and according TO revised Law
have forfeited their lives, 10 being col
eidered. Is proof OF how earnestly we al
trying 10 reconcile the feelings OF h,
manity with the commands OF rigid dut
III others are shown mercy Il will
at the cost OF our army, for II Is 20
feared that new attempts will be ma,
70 injure us II Il is believed possible
escape without punishment or W TN Il
risk OF only a light sentence Only pi
for the guilty can lead TO an ameli r
tion. not admission that the executed Sc
tence was too severe. for this was, ha
a. Il may sound, absolutely Ist. al
could not appear otherwise to an / d
pendent judge.
'-rhe weakness OF the enemy's arg
raent Is proved by the fact that they
not attempt to combat the justice OF d
sentence. but try TO inf ionce plb
opinion against us by false reports n q
execution. II is claimed that the soldie
assigned TO the execution first refused
shoot. and finally fired 80 fau I ly IN
the officers had 20 kill the accused vi
revolver. No word OF this is true.
have the official report Of the execute
IN which i Is established that It TO
place entirely In accordance with the
tablished regulations and the death
CURED imediately after the first sal
Is the physician present attests."