The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-06-01
GERMANY WANTS
AN UNDERSTANDING
Claims lusitanid Carried Guns
Below Decks
DEMANDS OF UNITED STATES ARE
IGNORED
Final Decision on Requests Of America
Withheld Pending Explanation. Text
of Note.

Berlin-Germany withholds its final
decision on the demands advanced by
the United States government in con-
nection with the sinking of the I.usi-
tania until the receipt of an answer
from the United States to the note
which Herr Won Jagow, the foreign
minister, has delivered to Ambassador
Gerard, in reply to the American note
received by the German government
on May Is.
In its reply the German govern
ment declares that it is not its inten-
tion to submit neutral ships in the
war zone, which are guilty of no hos
tile acts, OF attack by submarines or
aeroplanes; that it is investigating the
circumstances in connection with the
attacks on the American steamers
Gushing and Gulflight, and that in all
cases where neutral vessels, through
no fault of their own, have been dam
aged, Germany will pay indemnifica-
tion.
The reply that in the case of the
Lusitania, which Germany alleges was
armed and carried large stores of war
munitions, it was acting In justified
self defense in seeking with all the
means of warfare at it's disposal to
protect the lives of its soldiers by
destroying ammunition intended for
the enemy.
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and Lon
don, designed to end the submarine
warfare, failed of their purpose be-
cause of the refusal of the British
government to agree to them
| hp of ha
, made public Sunday
Text of the Note.
The following is the text of the
German note:
"The undersigned has 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 SUBJ
! jected the communication of the
: American government to a thorough
, investigation. 1t also entertains
, keen wish to cooperate in frank
J and friendly way in clearing up
, possible 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
! Gulflight: The American embassy
has already been informed that the
German government has no intention
of submitting neutral ships in the
war zone which are guilty of no hos
tile acts to attacks of a submarine
or submarines or aviators On the
: contrary the German forces have re-
peatedly been instructed most specif-
ically to avoid attacks on such ships.
/ IF neutral ships in recent months
E have suffered through the German
t submarine warfare, owing to mistakes
: In Identification, 1t is question of
4 only quite isolated and exceptional
j cases, which can be attributed to the
e British governments abuse of flags
c together with the suspicious or culpa-
: BILE behavior Of the masters Of the
a ships.
: viii Make Reparation.
"The German government, In all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
it's Investigations that neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
!. Expressed regret over the unfortunate
dCNIOcAS, dAO, II JubtA4lcQ ny CO0O4-
tions, has offered indemnification
"The cases Of the Gushing 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 communicat-
: ed to the embassy. The investigation
can, II necessary, be supplemented by
: an international call ON the interna-
tional commission Of inquiry, as pro-
: vided by article III of The Hague
agreement OF October 1S, 1907.
Sinking Of the Faiaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba the commander Of the German
submarine had the intention Of Al
4 lowing the passengers and crew q full
opportunity for a safe escape. Only
when the master did mot obey tho
/ order to heave to. but fled and sun-
l moned help by rocket signals, did the
: German commander order the crew
/ and passengers by signk1s+ and mega
n phones to leave the ship within TO
: minutes. He actually allowed then
: 20 minutes time and fired the tor