The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-10-29
DEATH OF MISS cAvELL is Ex
PLANNED By GERMAN UNDER i
SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS.
WORLDWIDE CONSPIRACY
INVOLVED, HE DECLARES
Countless British, Belgian and French,
Soldiers Again Fighting in Ranks
Who Owe Their Escape to Band
Headed by English Woman,
Says Teuton Official.

Berlin, via the Hague and London,
Oct. 26.-Dr. Alfred F. M. Zimmer-
man, German under"secretary for for.
eign affairs, has issued an official OK.
planation of the recent execution in
Belgium of Miss Edith Cavell, the
British nurse. He prefaced his re-
marks 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:
Official Explanation Made.
II see by the British and the Amer.
lean press that the shooting Of an Eng.
lish woman ard the conviction of sew
eral other women in Brussels for trea-
son have created a great impression
and that we are being severely criti.
cised. 1t is indeed hard that woman
must be executed, but remember to
what shall a state come which is in
war il it allows to pass unnoticed
crime against the safety of its armies
because committed by women. No
those dealing with war regulations,
makes such differentiation and the
feminine sex has but one preference,
according to legal usages, namely that
women in a delicate condition may not
be executed. Otherwise man and wo-
man are equal before the law and
only their degree of guilt makes a diff
ference in the sentence for the crime
and it's consequences.
Claims Worldwide Plot
I'm the Cavell case have reviewed
the decision Of the court and examin-
ed the evidence down to the smallest
details The result is so convicting
and all the circumstances are SO clear
and convincing that no court martial
In the world would have reached any
other decision. Ftr 1t concerns not
the act Of ONE single person, rather it
concerns weli-thought-out, world
wide conspiracy which succeeded for
nine months te render .thhs the most vaa!!.<, va!<,
; able services to the enemy to the dig
/ advantage ot our army. Countless
British, Belgian and French soldiers
now are again fighting in the ranks
who owe their escaebe to the activity OF
the band now sentenced at the head
Qf which stood Miss Cavell.
Greatest Duties in War.
with such 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 it's
safety that does not adopt the srict-
est measures These duties in war are
greater than any other.
II admit certainly that the motive
Of those convicted was not unnoble
and that they acted out of love for the
fatherland. But In war time one must
be ready to seal ones love for the
fatherland with ones blood whether
one opposes the enemy in battle or
whether one commits acts in it's in
terest which justly carry with them
the death penalty.
New Attempts Feared.
"If others are shown mercy it will
be at the cost of our army for it is to
made to injure us if it is believed pos
sble escape without punishment
or with the risk of only a light SEN
tence.
"The weakness Of our enemies ar
guments is proved by the fact that
they do not attempt to combat the JUS
tice of the sentence. but try to in
fuence public opinion against us BY
false reports Of the execution. It is
claimed that the soldiers assigned to
the execution first refused to shoot and
finally fred so faultily that the officers
had to kill the accused with revol-
yer. No word Of this Is true. have
the official report of the execution in
which 1t is established that 1t took
place entirely within established reg
ulations and that death occurred i'm
mediately after the first salvo, as the