Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-26
KAISER TO BOW
TO UNITED STATES

Reply to Protest Will Adn,it Sinking
Of Lusitania Was Error Of Judgment
Based on Erroneous Information az
to Vessels Character.
Washington, May 26. - Germany in
reply to the United States note on the
Lusitania case will decline 70 abandon
submarine warfare upon enemy COM
merce, but will give the specific as
surances requested by President Will
son that there shall be no recurrence
Of the killing Of neutral non-combat-
ants in the war zone.
The German government will con-
fess the sinking Of the Lusitania un.
justifab Bile. If it is proved the vessel
was unarmed. The ship was sunk be-
cause it was believed to be armed. and
therefore a warship under laws Of the
sea.
Berlin disclaims responsibility for the
Gripping of the Gulflight, which re-
suited in the death of the captain and
two members Of the crew. No such at
tacks has been reported by German
submarine. The German government.
however, is willing to have the question
Of responsibility for the injuries inves-
tigated by q Hague commission.
information Semi. Official.
The foregoing, in substance, is the
semi official information cabled to
Washington yesterday from Berlin. 1t
arrived shortly after the adjournment
Of the semt-wekly cabinet meeting at
H. - khn 1yrif0f
States with Germany and with Great
Britain and with the problems brought
to the fore by the entrance Of Italy into
the war were discussed by the presi-
dent and his advisers.
The information regarding the Ger
man reply is regarded as authenic by
administration officials and encourages
them to believe that the crisis in the
passed.
1t Is believed that the reply will be
pronounced satisfactory by the Ameri-
can people and that all danger OF
rupture of friendly relations with Ger
many will be ayerted.
Reply Awaits kaiser's Approval.
The German reply to the demands OF
the president has been been completed
approval of the kaiser The state de-
partment is momentarily expecting no.
tification that it is being transmitted to
Washington by Ambassador Gerard.
The report Of the contents Of the re-
ply comedies with the information re-
ceived by German officials here. The
communication is represented as thor
oughly friendly and conciliatory. 1t is
out n,
to justify the prosecution Of the sub
marine campaign by the German ad-
miralty.
According to the Berlin advices. the
German government disavows an In
tention Of harming Americans. in proof
of which 1t submits the frequent Off
cial and unofficial warnings to travel
ers not to take passage on ships flying
the flags Of England and Its allies.
Defense Of Lusitania Sinking.
Berlin defends the sinking of the
Lusitania without warning on the
ground that the steamer was an ar
med vessel, according to the informa-
ton in the possession of the German
admiralty and supplied to the German
submarine commanders
It was q duly enrolled auxiliary unit
OF the British navy, sailing under or
ders from the British admiralty to at
tack German submarines whenever en-
countered. Moreover 1t was trans
port Of munitions Of war to the British
army.
An armed vessel. according to the
Berlin argument, the Lusitania was
subject to attack by a submarine with
out warning like any warship and
~ - a. Fo<O 0f
nom -combatants who might be aboard.
It was with such an understanding Of
the situation that the German SUBJ
marine sent the Lusitania to the bot
tom Just as It would any British war
ship it should encounter.
Interpretation OF i. s. ifi;oss5.
The German government concludes
from perusal Of the presidents note
that the United States believes the
Lusitania to have been an unarmed
vessel. Whether tho steamer was
armed, as the German government was
informed, or was unarmed, as the
United States appears to assume. could
be determined satisfactorily only by an
Investigation such as might be con-
Quoted by q commission under the
terms Of The Hague convention.
The German government assumes
however, that the United States would
not have questioned the action Of the
submarine commander were It not thor
oughly satisfied that the vessel was un-
armed. II this were the fact the Ger
man government was. misinformed and
the destruction Of the 5Lusitania with
out warning and without provision FOR
the safety Of non-combatants aboard
was not JUSTIFIED.
The sacrifice Of the lives Of neutral
non loom batants under such circum-
stances was. It goes without saying,
appalling and Sregrettable beyond ex-
pression.