The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1919-05-17 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

NAY 17 1919.  Nothing more strikingly iudiosiase German shortoightecinees. or blimlness, or that strange obtuseness which refuses to count the cost of single acts when some vaunted ambition is being ruthleesly pursued, than the oar* of Nurse Edith Cavell, 'Unless, indeed, it be the sinking of the Lusitenia, which was a cognate crime on a vaster scale. Nudist!, Cavell was, in the est:inlet:ion of the Germans. helping, to thwart their plans in Belgium, and they ..t/saided to put her out of the way. They hurriedly tried her, condemned her to death with a show of "justice" that may or may not have satisfied their own conscience (such as it was) 'at the time, and , proceeded to execute her, turning a deist 'ear to any remonstrances or pleas that was possible in the circumstances tolitake.: ,Doubtless they thought the incidest.would sink out of mind in the accumulating :horrors of the war that they had started. They made a terrible Mistake. The Murder of this gracious if dauntless lady sent 'a shock through the world, and stung British, French and Belgian soldiers .alike , into a fury that had its effect in tie even. 'bail defeat of, the enemy, just as the blinking of the fxsitania brought its inevitable Nemesia on a greater and more [crushing scale.  •I'Oe!Pidel  How Tittle the Germans who put Edith' Cavell to death could have dreamed -that three-and-a-half years afterwards her body would be raised from its grave in Belgium, brought to England amid every sign of honour, both on the-Gontinent and in this land, arouse a demonstration of sympathy and pride in London worthy of .come greet man of State, receive the noble tribute 'of a memorial service in Westminster Abbey, and then be conveyed to the stetety cathedral of Norwich—the spiritual centre of her own county—there to be re-interred and to rest for ever safe. From the first stage of the sacred task in Belgium, to the final scene in what, by a healthful paradox, is celled "Life's Garden" in the cathedral precinotre (where, it appears, a memorial chapel to Norfolk sailors and soldiers who fell in the war is to be built), the "lioni.e-cOminge of Nurse Cavell has demonstrated in a remarkable manner -how deep in the human heart is the sense of aPPreenstioe, of and reverence for true heroism , sad self-sacrifice, London.' on Thurede;y psi a•striking tribute to these qiialities in -the ow of Edith- ,The .streets of the Alleitropolis were thronged with people when the coffin, havingreached 'ViCtorill Stakicia..from Dover in -the morning, wee -taken in a military procession to -the Abbey. where the first Portion of the funeral service Was held.. Of the Abbey service, st ivlsich Queen Alexandra was present, and Mr.- Lansing and Mr. Davis represented the United States, a writer in the "Manchester Guardian" says tekew •-e- SO fulifiebt"--:isiriicer"- there throngh.,'eld.the pasViearpreseed more the heart citwatiPu. qr.ilignlnkvd st higher spirit, that of the woman we mourned -there to-deg.!' It was peculiarly fitting that he specious nave of the Abbey should have been &Betted' almost exclusively to nurses—true sisters of the departed heroine in the beseficent prof elision they faerw. At Norwich again, where the precession through the streets was watched by vast 'croecle of peciple„ tee cathedral hate was lfined by V.A.D. nurses in uniform- rintex the Bishbp and- the Dean kook part inthe nomunitted rites. 'So rests Edith Caveat in one of the most honoured spots in this land that—has -brotight own honour untarnished out of the war; and it is now ail the more a matter for sincere congratulation that Birkenhead possesses, in the kieniogial Ward and enshrined bust that exist in the Borough Hospital, \an enduring tribute .to her life and sacrificial death. - - • •