Marble Hill press., 1915-06-03

text OF the German reply to the Unit
Cd States note on the sinking Of the
Lusitania, in which 1l5 Americans
lost their lives:
The undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the
following answer to the communica.
ton Of May Is, regarding the injury
to American interests through Ger.
man submarine warfare:
Tho imperial government has sub
jected the communication Of the
American government to q thorough
insestigation. 1t entertains also .
keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a pos
sible misunderstanding which may
have arisen in the relations between
the two governments through the
events mentioned by the American
government
Regarding firstly. the cases Of the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf.
light. The American embassy has al.
ready been informed that the Ger.
man government has no intention OF
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty OF no hostile
acts, to attacks by . submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con.
trary. the German forces have repeat.
cdly been instructed most specifically
10 avoid attacks on such ships.
Flag Misuse Attack Cause,
II neutral ships In recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare. owing TO mis-.
take in Identification, II Is a question
only OF quite isolated and exceptional
cases, which can be attributed TO the
British governments abuse Of aaxs.
together with the suspicious or cal.
pable behavior OF the masters OF the
ships,
The German government. In all
cases in which II has been shown by
It's investigations that neutral ship
not itself at fault. WAS damaged by
German submarines or aviaturs. has
expressed regrete over the untortu
nate accident aud. IL justified by con.
Giuons, has offered Naturalization.
The cases of the Gushing and the
Gulfl!ght will be treated on the same
principles, IN investigation Of both
cases Is in prpgrcss. the result OF
which will presently be communicated
10 the embassy. The Investigation
can, II necessary, be supplemented by
an International call on the iaterna-
uonal Commission OF Inquiry, as pro.
vided by Article III OF The Hague
agreement OF October IS. 1907.
6Iames FaIaba Captain.
When sinking the British steamer
Falsla, the commander OF the German
submarine had the intention Of al,
lowing the passengers and crew = full
opportunity for a safe escape Only
when the master did no, obey the
order 10 heave to but fled and sam,
moned help By rocket signals. did the
German commander order the crrw
aud passengers b. signals and mega,
phones to leave the ship Ntthla 10
minutes. He actually allowed them
~ minutes time and arNt the sorp~+
DO only when suspicious craft NaH
has-ening To the assistance OF the
Fa!aba.
Regarding the loss ot life by the
sinking Of the British passenger
steamer LusitAnn- the German gov
erGment has already expressed Ia the
neutral govwnuena concsruesi Its
keen regret that citizens o. their
states lost their lives
Would Fix Status Of Lusltanis,
On this occasion the imperial gov.
crument however. cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have es
capped the attention Of the American
government
In the interest OF a clear and com.
pleie understanding which Is the aim
by both governments, the imperial
government considers It FIRST ueces.
sary TO convince Itself that the In.
formation accessible 10 both govern,
ments about the facts Of tie case is
complete and in accord.
The government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusi;nuia could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant,
man The imperial government al,
lows itself in this connection 10 point
out that the Lusitania was one Of the
largest and fastest British merchant
ships. built with Epycrumsn, funds
as an auxiliary cruiser ard carried
expressly as such in the navy list"
tsued by the British admiralty.