FOREIGN OFFICE, October 20, 1915. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the United States Ambassador, and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of His Excellency's Note of the 18th inst. enclosing a copy of a dispatch from the United States Minister at Brussels respecting the execution of Miss Edith Cavell at that place. Sir E. Grey is confident that the news of the execution of this noble Englishwoman will be received with horror and disgust, not only in the Allied States, but throughout the civilized world. Miss Cavell was not even charged with espionage, and the fact that she had nursed numbers of wounded German soldiers might have been regarded as a complete reason in itself for treating her with leniency. The attitude of the German authorities is, if possible, rendered worse by the discreditable efforts successfully made by the officials of the German Civil Administration at Brussels to conceal the fact that sentence had been passed and would be carried out immediately. These efforts were no doubt prompted by the determination to carry out the sentence before an appeal from the finding of the Court-martial could be made to a higher authority, and show in the clearest manner that the German authorities concerned were well aware that the carrying out of the sentence was not warranted by any consideration. Further comment on their proceedings would be superfluous. In conclusion Sir E. Grey would request Mr. Page to express to Mr. Whitlock and the staff of the United States Legation at Brussels the grateful thanks of His Majesty's Government for their untiring efforts on Miss Cavell's behalf. He is fully satisfied that no stone was left unturned to secure for Miss Cavell a fair trial, and, when sentence had been pronounced, a mitigation thereof. Sir E. Grey realizes that Mr. Whitlock was placed in a very embarrassing position by the failure of the German authorities to inform him that the sentence had been passed and would be carried out at once. In order, therefore, to forestall any unjust criticism which might be made in this country he is publishing Mr. Whitlock's dispatch to Mr. Page without delay. § 12. PRISONERS OF WAR A CAVALRY CHARGE AT ELANDSLAAGTE MAJOR GORE gave the order for which the men had been straining- Gallop!"— and with leveled lances and bared sabres the two squadrons dashed forward and rode over and through the panic-stricken burghers. As soon as the latter heard the thud of the galloping horses and the exulting cries of the troopers, they opened out and tried to save themselves by flight. But with so small a start their little ponies were no match for the big-striding Walers, and the cavalry were upon them almost before they realized that they were pursued. Some tried to snap their Mausers from the saddle, some threw themselves on the ground, others knelt down vainly imploring for mercy in the agony of their terror.1 For a mile and a half the Dragoons and Lancers overrode the flying enemy. Then they rallied and galloped back to complete the havoc and to meet such of the fugitives as had escaped the initial burst. In the second gallop but little sabering or spearing was done, and many prisoners were taken. Then the scattered troopers were again rallied. The men fell in and cheered madly. There was something awful in the dramatic setting of the scene. The wild troopers forming in the thickening darkness, with their reeking weapons bare; the little knot of prisoners, with faces blanched in fear, herded together at the lance point; the 1 This charge created the greatest terror and resentment among the Boers, who vowed at the time that they would destroy all Lancers they captured. But it must be clearly understood that charging cavalry are fully justified in not giving quarter to individuals (though it was done in a good many cases in this charge at Elandslaagte), unless the whole object of the charge is to be frustrated. Similarly the wounding of men several times over one young Boer at Elandslaagte received sixteen lance wounds and survived is a natural and almost inevitable feature of a cavalry charge. The Boers have been the first to introduce into war the theory that every individual has the right to ask quarter for himself at any moment in an action, a theory which our soldiers seem to have almost invariably accepted. Thus Sir G. White, in his dispatch on Elandslaagte, notes that in the final stage of the flank attack the Boers remained lying down and firing at our men till they came within twenty yards and then quietly asked quarter, which was invariably granted. [Original note.] dim patches on the veldt, which denoted the destruction which had been dealt, and the spasmodic popping of rifles from remote portions of the field as the fighting died out with last light of day, or as the wounded tried to attract attention. It should be said to the credit of the British troopers that, although they had mercilessly carried out the duties attendant upon a cavalry pursuit, yet, once their duty was accomplished, they showed every solicitude for those who had suffered. (Extract from the Times History of the War in South Africa [London, 1902], vol. II, pp. 190-91.) THE BOERS RELEASE THEIR PRISONERS (1900) DE WET makes the following statement: ". . . Again, we captured more prisoners than formerly. It is much to be regretted that we were unable to keep them, for had we been in a position to do so, the world would have been astonished at their number. But unfortunately we were now unable to retain any of our prisoners. We had no St. Helena, Ceylon or Bermuda, whither we could send them. Thus, whilst every prisoner which the English captured meant one less man for us, the thousands of prisoners we took from the English were no loss to them at all, for in most cases it was only a few hours before they could fight again. All that was required was that a rifle should be ready in the camp on a prisoner's return, and he was prepared for service once more." (De Wet: Three Years' War [New York, 1902], p. 227.) THE WORK OF GERMAN PRISONERS (1916) ANSWERING Mr. Gilbert (Newington, W., L.), Mr. Tennant (Parliamentary Secretary of War) said: "Prisoners of war, both combatant and civilian, are employed at various places in work of public utility; but, whereas combatants can be compelled to work, civilians can be forced only to keep their camps in order. A considerable number are employed in making mail bags, some in agri culture, and other work in the neighbourhood of their camps. The actual number employed cannot be stated with accuracy. It is hoped to arrange shortly for the employment of prisoners of war on an extended scale." (Debates in the House of Commons reported in the London Times, April 6, 1916.) THE TRIAL OF LIEUTENANT ANDLER FOR ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE (1915) [THE following account of the trial of Lieutenant Andler of the German Navy for attempt to escape from the interned camp is taken from the report of the correspondent of the London Times at Chester, April 23, 1915:] "After wandering a week in the Welsh hills, the lieutenant and his companion, Lieutenant Leben, were recognized and captured. "Five officers constituted the Court, and Colonel Irwin, of the dépôt of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, presided. Captain Evans was present to prosecute, and Lieutenant Graine acted as interpreter. The trial took place in the Grand Jury room at the Castle, overlooking the River Dee, and throughout the proceedings, which occupied about four hours, the two prisoners could hear the shouts of command from non-commissioned officers who in the Castle yard were drilling new recruits for the British Army. "The cases were taken separately. Lieutenant Andler, who gave his age as twenty-six, pleaded 'Guilty' to the charge. His injured hand was bandaged, and with the jacket of his naval uniform he wore civilian trousers of dark brown cloth. His knowledge of English enabled him to follow the proceedings without the help of the interpreter, but to ensure the strictest fairness all material matters were translated to him by Lieutenant Graine. "When the evidence of his escape and return under escort to Dyffryn Aled had been read he was asked whether he wished to make any statement, to give evidence, or to call witnesses as to character. To each question he gave a negative answer. The President then asked if the accused would like to make any statement in mitigation of punishment. "Lieutenant Graine. He wants to know if he can afterwards appeal to a higher Court. "Lieutenant Graine. The accused says that according to the Hague Convention he is only subject to disciplinary punishment. "The President. He must state this in mitigation. Whatever punishment we give him is not final. It has to be confirmed by the General, and whatever he says now will be taken into consideration. "Lieutenant Graine, after talking with the accused, said that Lieutenant Andler urged that the Hague Convention made a difference between disciplinary punishment and other punishment. He wished to bring before the notice of the Court that in Article 8 of Chapter II in the annex to the Hague Convention it was provided that escaped prisoners of war who were retaken were subject to disciplinary punishment, and that in Article 12 of the same chapter it was stated that prisoners of war, liberated on parole and recaptured bearing arms against the Government to which they had pledged their honour, forfeited their right to be treated as prisoners of war, and might be put on trial before the Courts. "The President. His point is that, not being on parole, he is not liable to the same punishment? The punishment of an officer who broke his parole would be more severe than that of an officer who had not given his parole. "Lieutenant Graine. He says that an officer not on parole who attempted to escape cannot be brought before a Court, and that he can only be given disciplinary punishment by being brought before his Commandant. "The President. His point is that he should not have been brought before this Court at all? "Lieutenant Graine. That is his point. "The President. I asked him at the beginning if he had any objection to being tried by us and he said 'No.' "Lieutenant Graine. He meant that he had no objection to you personally. "The President said he did not think the accused quite understood the constitution of the Court. Whatever punishment they |