Mr. Gibson, with the legal adviser of the Legation and
the Spanish Minister, then called upon Baron von der Lancken. The three visitors pleaded with cogency and eloquence for mercy. They even pointed out that the execution would be highly impolitic from the German point of view. Baron von der Lancken at first denied that sentence had been passed. Then he admitted the fact and said that he could do nothing. The appeal must be to the Governor-General. He was pre- vailed upon to appeal himself to Baron von Biasing, who, however, refused to yield. As a forlorn hope, Mr. Whitlock wrote a note from his sick-bed, ending up, "have pity on her I" The subterfuges, evasions, and deliberate secrecy of the German administrators have produced the worst possible impression not only in Britain, but all over the world. In America resentment at the treatment reoeived by the American officials is added to horror and disgust at German brutality. The German official defence, since published, is simply a bard, academic justification of the execution on the ground that Miss Cavell was, on her own confession, guilty of treason, and that it was essential to make an example.
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