The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-07-15
SITUATION
Continued from apagto ole

uuoeAuSIAOAS
and. war-,1aaaels,h aEedhesneealitafRte1t
by the order to British merchantmen
to arm themselves and ram submar-
and neutrals who use merchant
h as tratttls1n Thereby have. beea.
&gers Il HAra'-ss.'- y
IF the commander Of the German
which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and passen-
gers to take to the boats before firing
a torpedo, this would have meant the
sure destruction of his own vessel.
After the experiences 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 after the torpedo
ing to permit passengers to enter the
ships boats. Circumstances of a very
peculiar kind, especially the presence
on board of large quantities of highly
explosives (word omitted, possibly
'dissipated') this expectation. In ad-
dition, it may be pointed out that it
the Lusitania had been spared, thous-
ands of cases of munitions would have
been sent to Germany's enemies and
thereby thousands of German mothers
and children robbed of bread winners.
"In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the union and its in
habitants since the earliest days of it's
existance, the imperial government
will always be ready to do all it a
during the present war also to pre-
vent the jeopardizing of lives of Am
erican citizens. The imperial govern
ment, therefore repeats the assur-
ances that American ships will not be
hindered in the prosecution of legiti-
mate shipping and the lives of Amer
can citizens in neutral vessels shall
not be placed in jeopardy.
"In order to exclude any unforeseen
danger to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view of the con-
duct of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, 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 gov
eminent, however, confidently hopes
that the American government will as
sumo to guarantee that these vessels
have no contraband on board, details
of arrangements for the unhampered
passage of these vessels to be agreed
upon by the naval authorities of both
sides.
"In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic fo1
American citizens, the German gov
eminent submits for consideration q
proposal to increase the number OF
available steamers under the Ameri-
can flag, the exact number to be
agreed upon under the same condi.
lions as the above mentioned Ameri-
can steamers. The imperial govern
ment believes that it can assume that
in this name adequate facilities TO,
travel across the Atlantic ocean car
be afforded American citizens. There
would, therefore, appear to be no com
polling necessity for American citi.
zens to travel to Europe in time Of
; war on ships carrying an enemy flag
In particular, the imperial govern
ment is unable to admit that Ameri.
can citizens can protect an enemy shil
through the mere fact of their pres.
ence on board.
Germany merely followed Eng.
lands example when she declared part
of the high sea and area of war
Consequently, accidents suffered by
neutrals on enemy ships in this area
of war cannot be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrals are
at all times exposed at the seat Of
war on land when they betake them.
selves into dangerous localities in spite
of previous warnings. If, however, il
should not be possible for the Ameri.
can government to acquire an ade.
quatenumber of neutral passenger
steamers, the imperial government il
prepared to interpose no objections te
the placing under the American flag
by the American government of fou,
enemy passenger steamers for pass
enger traffic between North America
and England. Assurance Of free anG
safe passage for American passenger
steamers would extend to apply under
the identical pro-conditions to these
formerly hostile passenger steamers
"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 particula,
reference to the alteration If maritime