The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-06-03

M official text of the German reply to the
w American note the Lusitana
made public at the state department.:
Berlin, May %, 1915.
The undersigned has the honor to make the fol-
lowing reply to the note of his exceency MIR. James
w. Gerard, ambassador of the United States OF
America, dated the 18th instant, on the subject of
the impairment of many American interests by the
German submarine
The imperial government has subjected the
statements of the government of the United States
to a careful examination and has the lively wish on
its part to contribute in convincing and friendly
manner to clear up any misunderstanding which
may have entered into the relations of the two coun
tries through the events mentioned by the American
government.
WILLING TO INDEMNIFY NEUTRALS
With regard, firstly to the cases of the American
steamers Cushing and Gulfght, the American en-
bassy already has been informed that it is far from
the German government to have any intention OF Or
dering attacks by submarines or flyers on neutral
vessels the which have not been guilty of
hostile act. On the contrary, the most explicit in
structions have been repeatedly given the German
armed forces to avoid attacking such vessels. If
trail vessels have to grief through the submar
inc warfare during the last few months by mistake,
it is a question of isolated and exceptional cases
which are traceable to the misuse of flags by the
British government in connection with the caress-
suspicious actions on the part of (the) cap
tains of the vessels In all cases where neutral
vessel through fault of its own has come to
grief through the German submarines or flyers, ac-
cOrding to the facts ascertained by the German
government, this government has expressed its re-
greet the unfortunate occurrence and promised in
identification where the facts justified it.
The German government will treat the of
the American steamers Cushing and Gulfight accord
ing to the principles; investigation of these
cases is in progress, its results will be communicated
to the embassy shortly. The investigation might, if
thought desirable be supplemented by nterna-
tional commission of inquiry pursuant to title three
of the Hague convention Oct. 1S, 1907 for the
cfc settlement of international disputes.
ASSERTS FALABA TRIED TO ESCAPE
In the case of the sinking of the English steam
er Falaba, the commander of the German submarine
had the intention of allowing passengers and crew
ample opportunity to save themselves.
In was not until the captain disregarded the
der to lay to and took to flight sending up rocket
signals for help, that the German commander order
ed the and passengers by signals and mega
phone to leave the ship within 10 minutes; mat
ter of fact, he allowed % minutes and did not fire
the torpedo until suspicious steamers were hurrying
to the aid of the Falaba.
With regard to the loss of life when the British
passenger steamer Lustania SUNK the German
already has expressed its deep regret to
the neutral governments concerned that nationals of
those countries lost their lives that occasion.
The imperial government must state for the rest
the impression that certain important facts most di
rectly connected with the sinking of the Lusitana
may have escaped the attention of the government
of the United States.
AGREEMENT ON FACTS SOUGHT
1t therefore considers it necessary, in the inter-
est of the clear and full understanding aimed at by
either government primarily to convince itself that
the reports of the facts which before the two
governments complete in agreemnt.
The government of the United States proceeds
the assumption that the Lusitania is to be
sidered ordinary unarmed merchant vessel
Tn imperial government begs in this connection to
point out that the Lusitana of the fastest
and largest English commerce steamers constructed
with government funds auxiliary cruisers, and is
expressly included in the navy list published by the
British admiralty. 1t u.s. however, known to the i'm