The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-04

SO OIdISS pIOCSeuS Oh Lu6 dSSumplIOu
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchantmen I
The imperial government allows itself
in this connection to point out that tae
Lusitania was one Of the largest and
fastest British merchant ships, built
with government funds as an auxil-
iary cruiser and carried expressly as
sudn in the navy list issued by the
British admiralty.
* =
"The imperial government, further,
has the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American government
to the fact that the British admiralty,
) in confidential instructions issued in
February, 1915, recommended its mer-
camille shipping not only to seek pro-
lection under neutral flags, and dis
| tinguishing marks, but also, while
thus disguised, to attack German sub
marines by ramming. AS a special in
citation to merchantmen to destroy
submarines the British government
i also offered high prizes and has al
ready paid such rewards.
the imperial government, in view
of these facts, indubitably known to it,
is unable to regard British merchant
men in the zone of naval operations
specified by the admiralty staff of tie
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.
"The German government believes
it was acting in justified self-defense
| in seeking with all the means of war
fare at its disposition to protect the
lives of its soldiers by destroying am
munition intended for the enemy.
Finally, the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania on its last trip, as on ear
lier occasions, carried Canadian troops
and war material, including no less
than 5,400 cases Of ammunition in
tended for the destruction of tie brave
German soldiers who are fulfilling
their duty with self-sacrifce and de-
,votion in the fatherland's service
"The British shipping company must
have been aware of the danger to
which the passengersiabOard the Lusi-
tania were exposed under these condi-
tions. The company in embarking
them, Notwithstanding this, attempted
deliberately to use the lives Of Ameri-
can citizens as protection aboard and
acted against the clear provisions Of
the american law which expressly pro
hibits the forwarding of passengers on
ships carrying ammunition and pro-
Efdes penalty therefor. The company,
therefore, is wantOnly guilty of the
death of so many passengers.
There can be no doubt, according
Ito the definite report of the subma-
fine's commander, which is further
confirmed by all other information,
that the quick sinking of the Lusitania
Dis primarily attributable to the explo-
sion Of the ammunition shipment
caused by a torpedo The Lusitania's
passengers would otherwise, in all
human probability, nave been saved.
"The imperial government, while
Withholding its final decision on the
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking of the Lusitania, until re-
ceipt of an answer from the American
government, feels impelled, in con-
clusion, to recall here and now, that
it took cognizance with the satisfac-
tion Of the mediatory proposals sub
mitted by the United States govern
ment to Berlin and London as a basis
for a modus vivendi for conducting the
maritime warfare between Germany
and Great Britain"
er comment to offer; indeed, in view of
that have, been brought about between
it might be considered improper to do
ever, that President Wilson, with his
deal with the situation successfully;
May 18th:
, understood as opposing the presidents