The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-07-15

'~e - feto eSoA 4 W. W
the order to British merchantmen to
arm themselves and to ram subma-
rines, and the promise of rewards
therefor. and neutrals who use mer.
chantmen as travellers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing degree
to all the dangers of war.
Might Have Destroyed Submarine.
IF the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and passen-
gers to take TO the boats before firing
the torpedo, this would have meant
the sure destruction of his W vessel.
After the experience in sinking much
smaller and less seaworthy vessels, it
was to be expected that a mighty ship
like the Lusitania would remain above
water long enough ever after the tor
pedoing to permit passengers to enter
the ships boats. Circumstances of a
very peculiar kind, especially the pres.
ence OF board of large quantities OF
highly explosive materials. defeated
this expectation. In addition, il may
be pointed out that IL the Lusitania
had been spared, thousands Of cases OF
munitions would have been SEM to
Germany's enemies and thereby thou
sands of German mothers and children
robbed of bread winners.
Americans in Neutral Ships Safe.
In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the Union and its inhabi.
tantc simon the anrl;n,t Jo,.. .f 49,, nv
i~stence, the imperial government will
always be ready to do all it can during
the present war also to prevent the
jeopardizing Of lives of American citi-
zens. The imperial government, there
fore, repeats the assurance that Amer
lean ships will not be hindered IN tho
prosecution of legitimate shipping and
the lives Of American citizens in neu-
trail vessels shall not be placed in .eo-
pardy.
Special Markings for Steamers.
In order to exclude n Unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view of the con-
duct of maritime war by Germany's
adyersaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage Of such passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by special
markings and notified a reasonable
time in advance. The imperial govern
ment, however, confidently hopes that
the American government will assume
to guarantee that these vessels have
no c~ontraband on board, details Of ar
rangement for the unhampered pas
sage of these vessels to be agreed
upon by the naval authorities on both
sides.
In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel GRO the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German govern
ment submits for consideration a pro-
posal to increase the number of availa-
BILE steamers by installing in passenger
service a reasonable number of neutral
| steamers under the American flag, the
exact number to be agreed upon under
the same condition as the above men
toned American steamers.
Adequate Facilities Promised.
THE imperial government believes
it car assume that in this manner ade-
quate facilities for travel across the
Atlantic can be afforded American citi-
zens. There would, therefore, appear
to be no compelling necessity for
American citizens to travel in Europe
in time of war on ships carrying an
enemy flag. In particular. the imperial
government is unable to admit that
American citizens can protect an enc
my ship through the mere fact of their
presence on board.
Germany merely followed England's
example when she declared part OF the
high seas an area of war. Consequent
ly, accidents suffered by neutrals on
enemy ships in this area of war cannot
well be judged differently from acci-
dents to which neutrals are at all
times exposed at the seat of war on
land when they betake themselves In
to dangerous localities in spite Of prev
ious warnings. II, however, 1t should
not be possible for the American goy-
eminent to require an adequate num-
Der of neutral passenger steamers, the
imperial government Is prepared to in
terpose no objections to the placing m
der the American flag by the American
government Of -four enemy passenger
steamers for passenger traffic between
North America and England. Assur-
ances Of free and safe passage for
American passenger steamers would
extend to apply under the identical
pro-conditions to these formerly hostile
passenger steamers.
Hopes for Understanding.
THE President Of the United States
has declared his readiness, in a way
deserving Of thanks, to communicate
and suggest proposals to the govern
ment Of Great Britain with particular
reference to the alteration of maritime
war. The imperial government will
always be glad to make use of the
good offices Of the President and hopes
that his efforts in the present case, as
well as in the direction of the lofty
ideal Of the freedom OF the seas, Will
lead to ar understanding.
The undersigned requests the am
bassador to bring the above to the
knowledge Of the American govern
ment and avails himself of the oppor-