Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-08
GERMANY CLAIMS JUSTIFICATION
FOR THE ACTS OF HER SUBMARINES
Expressing Regret For Loss Of Life On Lusitania,
It Holds That Ammunition Aboard Liner
Made 1t Fairly Subject To Attack.

GtIIldu SuDudTlHeb or dNIdtOEB, uds
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident. and, If justified by condi-
lions, has offered naturalization.
Suggests Reference To The Hague.
THE cases of the Cushing and the
Gulfight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation OF both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicated
to the embassy. The investigation
can, If necessary. be supplemented by
an international call on the Interna-
tional Commission OF Inquiry, as pro-
vided by Article 8 of The Hague agree
ment OF October IS, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba the commander of the German
submarine had the intention of allow
ing the passengers and crew full op-
portunity for a safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the or
der to heave 10, but fed and sum-
moned help by rocket signals did the
German commander order the crew
and passengers by signals and mega
phone to leave the ship within 10 min
utes. He actually allowed them %
minutes time, and fired the torpedo
only when suspicious craft were hast
ening to the assistance of the Falaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania, the German Gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned its
keen regret that citizens Of their
states lost their lives.
Thinks U. s. May Lack Facts.
ION this occasion the Imperial Gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have
escaped the attention of the American
Government.
'In the interest of clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments, the Imperial
Government considers it first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both govern
ments about the facts of the case is
complete and in accord.
The Government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The Imperial Government allows
itself in this connection to point out
that the Lusitania was one Of the
largest and fastest British merchant
ships, built with Government funds as
an auxiliary cruiser and carried ex-
pressly as such in the navy list Is
sued by the British Admiralty.
Declares Lusitania Was Armed.
ut is further known to the Imperial
Government, from trustworthy reports
from It's agents and neutral passen-
gers, that for considerable time prac-
tically all the more valuable British
merchantmen have been equipped with
cannon and ammunition and other
weapons and manned with persons
who have beeen specially trained in
serving guns. The Lusitania, too. ac-
cording to information received here,
had cannon aboard, which were mount
ed and concealed below decks.
1.-THE Imperial Government, further,
has the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American Govern
ment to the fact that the British Ad-
miralty. in a confidential instruction,
issued in February, 1915. recommend
ed It's mercantile shipping not only to
seek protection under neutral flags and
distinguishing marks, but also, While
thus disguised to attack German sub
marines by ramming. AS a special
mediation to merchantmen to destroy
submarines, the British Government
also offered high prizes and has al
ready paid such rewards.
Prize Law Set Aside.
1.-THE Imperial Government, in view
of these facts, Individually known to it,
is unable to regard British merchant
men in the zone of naval operations
specified by the Admiralty staff of the
German Navy as 'undefended.' Ger
man commanders consequently are no
longer able to observe the customary
regulations 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
5.40O cases of ammunition intended for
the destruction of the brave German
soldiers who are fulfilling their duty
with self-sacrifice and devotion in the
Fatherland's service.
THE German Government believes
that it was acting in justified self-de-
Tense in seeking with all the means of
warfare at its disposition to protect
the lives of it's soldiers by destroying
ammunition intended for the enemy.
Declares U. S. Law Violated.
1.-THE British shipping company
must have been aware of the danger
to which the passengers aboard the
Lusitania were exposed under these
conditions. The company in embark
ing them, notwithstanding this, at
tempted to deliberately use the lives
of American citizens as protection for
the ammunition aboard, and acted