New Britain herald., 1915-10-25

render the most valuable services to the enemy to the disadvantage of 1 our army. Countless British, Belgian
 and French soldiers now again are fighting in the allied ranks, who owe
 their escape from Belgium to the
 activity of the band now sentenced,
 at the head of which stood Miss Ca
 vell
 With such a situation under the
 very eyes of the auth critics only the
 utmost severity can bring relief, and
 the government that does not adopt
 the strictest measures violates the
 most elemental duty towards the ar
 my and its safety. These duties in
 war are greater than any other. Given Benefit of Doubt.
 "All those convicted were fully
 cognizant of the significance of their actions. The court went into just this
 point with particular care, and &C.,
 quilted several co-defendants only
 because it believed doubt existed re- garding the cognizance of the pur- ishableness of their actions. Those convicted knew what they were doing. Countless public proclamations had declared that support of enemy armies would be treated with the severest penalties, even that the life of trai- tors would be sacrificed.
 1T admit, certainly, that the motive of those convicted was not unable and that they acted out of love for the fath erland. But in war time one must be ready to seal one's love for the fatherland with ones blood, whether one opposes the enemy in battle or whether one commits acts in its in- terest which justly carry with them the death penalty. Among our Russian prisoners are several girls who fought against us in soldiers uniforms Should one such have fallen no one would accuse us of treating women cruelty. So why now that another woman has met the death which she risked quite as thinkingly as her bat tie comrades?
 Travel Hard Road of Duty.
 There are moments in the lives of peoples when consideration for the individual is crime against tho whole. moments that make severity, yes, hardness a duty for those en- trusted with the safety of their own countrymen. Once and, for always the activity of our enemies had to be stopped. and sentence has been car rfed out to frighten those who might presume on their sex to partake in en- terprises punishable with death. Should one recognize these presump- tons it would mean to open the door for the evil activities of women, who often are more clever in these things than the craftiest spy. He who bears the responsibility, however may not. cannot do that. Unmindful of the worlds verdict, he must travel the hard road of duty. That, despite these facts, leniency towards others who were convicted and who, ac- cording to recognized law. have for feited their lives: is being considered, Is proof of how earnestly We are try ing to reconcile the feelings of hu- with the commands of rigid duty.
 If others are shown mercy 1t will be at the cost of our army, for it is to be feared that new attempts will be made to injure us if it is believed possible to escape with out punishm ent or with the risk of only light sen -ence. Only pity for the guilty can cad to an amelioration, not admission that the executed sentence was too severe, for this was, hard as it may sound, absolutely just and could not l be otherwise to an independent 1 Judge.
 False Reports of Execution.
 ''The weakness of our enemies ar guments Is proved by the fact that | they do not attempt to combat the 1 justification of the sentence, but try | to influence public opinion agains us | by false reports of the execution. It | Is claimed that the soldiers assigned | to the execution first refused to shoot l and finally fired so faulty that the | officers had to kill the accused with | 8 revolver. No word of this is true. I have the official report of the execu- ton, in which it is established that it ! took place entirely in accordance with regulations and that death occurred immediately after the first | salvo, as the physician present at- tests"
 German Case Restated.
 Amsterdam Oct 25 via London-I