The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-02

reports from its agents and neutral |
passengers, that for g considerable !
time practically all the more val !,
liable British merchantmen, have !
been equipped with cannon and am |
munition and other weapons and
manned with persons who have been |
especially trained in serving guns. |
The Lusitania, too, according to in |
formation received here, had can
non aboard, which were mounted |
and concealed below decks
THE imperial government. fur
Their, has the honor to direct the par
ticular attention of the American
government to the fact that the
British admiralty in confidential in
structions issued in February, 1915,
recommended is mercantile shipping
not only to seek protection under
neutral ages, and distinguishing
marks, but also, while thus dis2uis-
ed, to attack German submarines by
ramming. AS a special invitation to
merchantmen to destroy submarines,
the British government also offered
high prizes and has already paid
such rewards.
The imperial government, in
view of these facts, Individually
known to it, is unable to regard
British merchantmen in the zone of
naval operations specified by the ad-
miralty staff of the German navy as
-, 'underfended' German commanders,
consequently, are no longer able to
observe the customary regardless of
/ the prize law, which they, before,
always followed.
| Finally the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania, on its last trip, as on
earlier occasions, carried Canadian
troops and war material, including
no less than $500 cases of ammuni-
tion intended for the destruction of
the brave German soldiers, viii are
fulfilling their duty with self-sacri-
flee and devotion in the fatherland $
service.
The German government believes
it was acting in justified self-de-
tense in seeking with all the means
of warfare at it's disposition to pro-
tect the lives of it's soldiers by de-
stroying ammunition intended for
enemy.
The British shipping company
must have been aware of the danger
to which the passengers were on
the Lusitania were exposed under
these conditions. The company in
embarking them, Notwithstanding
this, attempted deliberately to use
the lives of American citizens as
protection for the ammunition
aboard and acted against the clear
provisions of the American law,
: which expressly prohibits the for
warding of passengers on ships car
rying ammunition and provides a
penalty therefor. The company
therefore, is wantonly guilty of the
: death of SO many passengers.
There can be no doubt, accord.
ing to the definite report of the sub.
marines commander, which is fur.
, ther confirmed by all other informa.
. ton, that the quick sinking of the
Lusitania is primarily attributed tt
2 the explosion of the ammunition
shipment caused by torpedo. The
: Lusitania passengers would other
e wise, in all human obability, have
5 been saved.
r The imperial government con
siders the above mentioned facts
important enough to recommend
e them to the attentive examination
: of the American government.
+ THE imperial government, while
e Withholding it's final decision on tn,
: demands advanced in connection
with the sinking of the Luisitani;
d until receipt of an answer from TIL
$ American government, feels impell
e ed in conclusion, to recall here ant
t now, that it took congnizance will
Il satisfaction of the mediatory prop
o osals submitted by the United State
II government to Berlin and Londol
as basis for a modus vivendi 70
IS conducting the maritime warfar
e between Germany and Great Brit
n ain. The imperial government, b.
its readiness to enter upon a discus
/ sion of these proposals then demon
It strated its good intentions in am
e pie fashion. The realization of thes
It proposals were defeated as is wei
Is known, by the declinatory attitud
d of the British government.
st THE undersigned takes occasion,
etc.
l. "(Signed.) JAGOW."
1T l. L