New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-10
Declares Commander of
Submarine Was JUS
tilted in Attack.
WILL NOT ADMIT
INDEMNITY is DUE
German and American Views a,
Odds, and Resort to Arbitra-
ton Expected.

Washington, Sept. 9.-The State
Department received to-day the Ger
man ncte on the sinking Of the
Arabic, in which two Americans lost
their lives. The note follows the
outlines cabled in press dispatches
from Berlin, and justiies the attack
on the Arabic on the ground mat
the commander Of the submarine
thought from the actions Of the
steamship that he was about to be
rammed.
The German government says IN
its note that it most deeply regrets
that lives were lost through the &C
tion of the commander. 1t particu-
larly expresses this regret TO the
government of the United States on
account Of the death of American
citizens" and adds:
"The German government Is un-
able however, to acknowledge any
obligation to grant indemnity in the
matter, even if the commander
should have been mistaken as to the
aggressive intentions of the Arabic"
At Odds on Views.
Secretary Lansing did not have an
opportunity, because Of The Dumba al
fair. to give his attention to the note
until late tonight, and no other officials
were conversant with the text OF the
document. 1t is believed, however, that
Germany and the United states are
directly at variance on the facts OF the
Arabic affair, as there is nothing IN the
affidavits of the passengers OF the
Arabic TO indicate that the report OF the
German submarine commander Is cor
rect In that event, unless Germany
volunteers TO make reputation, 1t is
assumed that the case will go TO an
arbitration tribunal.
1t is possible. in the view OF many
officials, that both the submarine COM
mander and the survivors are sincere
in their statements, and that the ARABIC
did not actually see the submarine, but
that by a sudden change of course her
CAPTAIN caused the German 10 believe
he was being attacked. A court OF ar
bitration would have to weigh the evi-
dence and discover, II possible, whether
such a supposition was warranted.
No further evidence sas been re
ceived concerning the sinking OF the
Hesperian. Officials believe tnat the
shin may have been struck by a mine
II later facts demonstrate that the mes
merriam was attacked by a submarine IL
Is practically certain that the herman
government will offer some JustlhGa
ton and necessitate recourse 10 arol-
tration.
Wants No More Delay.
Germany already has been informed
that the United States INTENDS 10 as
nose of the Arabic case before taxing
rp the Lusitania affair and the genera
question of submarine warfare, DuI Of
fcials say that this plan VIII De
dropped if it becomes necessary 10 re-
sort 10 arbitration on the Arabic IL
he formed and decision reached. and
the limited States will not consent to
any further delay. Germany Will be
asked for a reply to the Lusitania note
as soon as the American course regard
ing the Arabic is determined.
London, Sept. 9.-The American En-
bassy has forwarded 70 the state De
nartment At Washington the report or
lieutenant Lewis b. Mcbride, naval at
tachS at the embassy, regarding the
sinking Of the Hesperian. 1t is under
stood that the report throws no new
ligh. on the question as TO whether the
liner was torpedoed.
Text of German Note
on Sinking of Arabic
Berlin, Sept. (via London. Sept lo).