Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

APPENDIX L

THE EXECUTION OF MISS CAVELL. I.

Mg. HUGH GIBSON, SECRETARY OF UNITED STATES LEGATION, BRUSSELS, TO MR. WHITLOCK, UNITED STATES MINISTER IN BRUSSELS. Report for the Minister.

American Legation, Brussels, October 12, 1915.

SIR,

Upon learning early yesterday morning through unofficial sources that the trial of Miss Edith Cavell had been finished on Saturday afternoon, and that the prosecuting attorney (“ Kriegsgerichtsrat *’) had asked for a sentence of death against her, telephonic enquiry was immediately made at the Politische Abteilung as to the facts. It was stated that no sentence had as yet been pronounced, and that there would probably be delay of a day or two before a decision was reached. Mr. Conrad gave positive assurances that the Legation would be fully informed as to developments in this case. Despite these assurances, we made repeated enquiries in the course of the day, the last one being at 6.20 p.m. Belgian time. Mr. Conrad then stated that sentence had not yet been pronounced, and specifically renewed his previous assurances that he would not fail to inform us as soon as there was any news.

At 8.30 it was learned from an outside source that sen-