Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-12
GERMANY RECEDES
FROM ITS POSITION
Now Willing to Shoulder Blame
for Damage to Neutrals in
Naval War Zone.
OFFERS REGRETS AND PAY
Heretofore Berlin Has Refused
to Bear Responsibility for
Work of It's Submarines.

WASHINGTON, May 11.-Germany,
through Ambassador Gerard. TODAY
notified the United States that sub
marine commanders had been specifi-
cally instructed not to harm neutral
vessels not engaged in hostile acts. and
that Germany would pay for damages
to such ships I'm the war zone.
Neutral ships carrying contraband
VIII be dealt with, the announcement
says. according to the rules of naval
warfare. If neutral ships are acc;
dcntally damaged in the war zone, Ger
many will express It's regret and pay
damages without prize court proceed
ings.
GOVERNMENT JUSTIFIES IT'S
SUBMARINE WARFARE
The German government justincs its
submarine warfare on the ground that
England is threatening to starye tho
CIVILIAN population of Germany by pro-
hibitinG neutral commerce in food
stufs and other necessaries
In previous communities tions Germany
mas disclaimed responsibility for any
harm That might bcfall neutral vessels
renturing into the war zone
Inc text of the announcement cablcd
pS Amnassador Gerard, which was
issued by the German Foreign Office in
the form OF circular. is as follows:
First. The imperial German gov
ernment naturally has no intention
or causing to he attacked by subma-
r'nes or aircraft such neutral ships OF
commerce in the scene OF naval war
rare, or. definitely described in the
notice of the German admiralty staff
OF February last. as having been
guilty OF no hostile act. On the con-
trary, the most definite Instructions
repeatedly have been issued to German
war vessels to avoid attacks on such
ships under all circumstances. Even
when such ships have contraband of
war on board, they are dealt with by
submarines solely according to the rule
OF International law applying to prize
warfare.
Second. Should neutral ship, never
theless, come to harm through German
submarines or aircraft on account of
an unfortunate % in the aboye-men-
toned zone of naval warfare, the Ger
man government will unreservedly.
recognize It's responsibility therefor.
In such case 1t will express its re-
grets and afford damages without first
institutinG prize court action.
INSTITUTES IMMEDIATE
INVESTIGATION OF CAUSE
Third. II is the custom of the Ger
man government as soon as the sink
Ing or neutral ship in the above
mentioned zone of naval warfare is
ascribed TO German war vessels to in
stitute an immediate Investigation into
the cause. If the grounds appcar
thereby to be given for association Of
such hypothesis. the German navy
places itself in communication with rho
interested neutral government, so that
the latter may also institute an in
vestigation.
III the German government is thereby
convinced that the ship has been de-
stroyed by German war vessels it will
not delay in carrying out the provisions
of paragraph above. In case the
German government, contrary to the
viewpoint OF the neutral government.
Is not convinced by the result of the
investigation, the German government
has already, on several occasions. de-
claTed Itself ready TO allow the cues
tion to be decided by an international
investigating commission, according to
chapter of The Hague convention of
October is. 1907. for the peaceful solu-
tion OF international disputes"