The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-15
WON'T ATTACK NEUTRAL SHliS
GERMANY SAYS ORDERS TO SUB.
MARINES ARE NOT TO AT
TACK CRAFT OF NEU.
TRAILS. ...
Ieuton Promises to Pay for Damage
to Shipping OF Neutrals, and VIII
Not Attack Vessels Even in War
Zone.

washington, May 11.-Germany,
through Ambassador Gerard, today
notified the United States that sub
marine commanders had been specif-
cally instructed not to harm neutral
vessels not engaged in hostile acts and
that Germany would pay for dam
ages to such ships in the war zone.
Neutral ships carrying c%ontraband
will be dealt with, the announcement
says. according to the rules of naval
warfare. If neutral ships are ac-
cidentally damaged in the war zone,
Germany will express it's regret and
pay damages without prize court pro-
ceedings. I.
The German government justifies
It's bmarin warfare on the
grounds that England is threatening
to starve the civilian population of
Germany by prohibiting Neutral COM
merce in. foOdstuffs and other neces-
sites.
n text of the announcement
cabled by Ambassador Gerard which
was issued by the German foreign
office is in the form of a circular, as
follows: 3
First, Imperial German govern
ment naturally has no intention of
causing to be attacked by submarines
or aircraft such neutral ships Of
commerce in the scene Of naval war;
fare or definitely described in tho mo-
tice of the German admiralty staff
OF February 4 last as having been
guilty Of M hostile act. On the cor
trary, the most definite instructions
repeatedly have been issued to. Ger
man war vessels to avoid attacks on
such ships under all circumstances.
Even when such ships have contra
band of war on board. they ara dsayk
with by submarines solely ~accordine
to the rule of international law ap-
plying to prize warfare. 90
1.-TWO. Should a neutral ship never
theless come to harm through Ger
man submarines or aircraft on &C.
count of an unfortunate (x) in no
above mentioned Zone Of naval var
fare the German government will I'M
~reservedly recognize it's responsibility
therefor. In such a case it will ex-
press It's regrets and afford damages
without first instituting a prize court,
action.
Three. 1t is the custom of the
German government as soon as the
sinking of a neutral ship in the above
mentioned zone of naval warfare is
ascribed to German war vessels to
institute an immediate Investigation
into the cause. If the grounds appear
thereby to be given for association
of such a hypothesis. the German
navy places itself in communication
with the interested neutral govern
ment so that the latter may also in
stitute an investigation.
III the German government is
thereby convinced hat the ship has
Deem destroyed by German war yes
sells 1T will not delay In carrying out
the provisions of paragraph 2 above.
In case the German government. con-
trary to the viewpoint Of the neutral
government. is not convinced by the
result of the investigation, the Ger
man government has already on sew
eral occasions declared itself ready to
allow the question to be decided by
an international investigation COM
mission, according to chapter 3 Of
The Hague convention OF October IS,
1907, for the peaceful solution of in.
ternational disputes"
(x) Indicates word missing IN text.