St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-06-05
GERMANY'S ANSWER TO THE NOTE
OF UNITED STATES Unsatisfactory
AND GENERALLY CRITICISED PRESS,
PRESIDENT GIVES WARNING MEXICO

cised all over the country by the
press as unsatisfactory, and which
will be promptly answered by the
President without any Ql. ling
"The undersigned ha. the honor
to submit to Ambassador Gerard the
following answer to the communica-
tion of May Is regarding the injury
to American interests through Ger
man submarine warfare.
'.The Imperial Government has
subjected the communication Of the
American Government to a thorough
investigation. 1t entertains also
keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a
possible misundersto ading which
may have arisen in tLe relations be-
tween the two governments through
the event mentioned by the American
Government.
Regarding, firstly, the cases OF
the American steamers Gushing and
Gulflight. The American embassy
has already been informed that the
German, Government has no inten-
ton Of submitting neutral ships in
the war zone, which are guilty Of no
hostile acts, to attacks by subma-
rine or submarines or aviators. On
the contrary, the German forces have
repeatedly been instructed most spe-
cifically to avoid attacks on such
ships.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mis-
takes in Identification, 1t is Ques-
ton only of quite isolated and ex-
ceptional cases, which can be attri-
buted to the British Governments
abuse of flags, together with the sus-
picious or culpable behavior OF the
masters of the ships.
"The German Government, in all
cases in which It has been shown by
its investigations that neutral ship.
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortu-
nate acciednt and, II justified by con-
ditions, has offered indemnification
The cases>of the Cushing and the
Gulflight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation Of both
cases is In progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicate
ed to the embassy. The investdga-
tion can, ii necessary. be supplement-
ed by an international call of the In
|ternationel commission of inquiry as
provided by Article III OF The Hague
agreemen. of October 18, 1907.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba. the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention Of
allowing the passengers and crew q
full opportunity for safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave-to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphone to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them twenty-three minutes, time and
fired the torpedo only when suspici-
Gus craft were Fastening to the as
sistance of the Falaba-
Regarding the loss Of life by the
sinking Of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania, tie German Cow
ernment has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned Its
keen regret that citizens Of their
states lost their lives
ION this occasion the Imperial
Government, however, cannot escape
the impression that certain impor-
tant facts having direct bearing on
the sinking Of the Lusitania may
have escaped the attention OF the
American Government.
"In the interest Of clear and
complete understanding which is the
aim of, both governments, the I'm
perial Government considers 1t first
necessary to convince itself that the
facts Of the case is complete and in
accord. The government OF the Unit
ed States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary merchantmen. The
Imperial Government allows itself in
this connection to point out that the
Lusitania was one of the largest and
fastest British merchant ships, built
with government funds as an auxili-
ary cruiser and carried expressly as
such in the navy list issued by the
British Admiralty.
ut is further known to the I'M
perial Government, from Trustworthy
reports from its agents and neutral
passengers, that for considerable
time practically, all the more valu-
able British merchantmen have beer
equipped with cannon and ammuni-
ton and other weapons and manned
with persons who have been specially
trained in serving guns. The Lusf-
tania, too, according to information
received here. had cannon aboard
which were mounted and concealed
below decks.
1.-The Imperial Government, fur
ther, has the honor to direct the par.
ticular attention Of the American
Government to the fact that the Brit
ish Admiralty in a confidential in.
struction, issued in February 1915
recommended its mercantile shipping
not only to seek protection under
neutral flags, and distinguishing
marks, but also, while thus disguis
ed, to attack German submarines BY
ramming. AS a special incitation t.
merchantmen to destroy submarines
the British Government also Offered