Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-07-15

man government recognized unreserv-
eddy in its memorandum of February 4,
that the interess Of neutra!s might suf-
fer from the submarine warfare. How
ever, the American government Will
also understand and appreciate that in
the fight for existence which has been
forced upon Germany by its adver-
saries. and announced by them, it is the
sacred duty of the imperial government
to do all within its power to protect and
save the lives of German subjects. If
tile imperial government We're derelict
in this. it's duties, it would be guilty
before God and history of the violation
of those principles of highest humanity.
which are the foundation of every ma
tional existence.
Case of the Lusitania.
THE case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what jeop-
ardizing Of human lives the manner Of
conducting war, employed by our ad-
~versaries. leads. In the most direct
contradiction of International law all
distinction betWeen merchantmen n
war vessels have been obliterated by
the order to the British merchantmen
to arm themselves and to ran sub
marines, and the promise of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen as travellers thereby LAY
been exposed in an increasing degree
to the dangers of war.
eff the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before fir
ing a torpedo, this would have meant
the sure destruction Of his own ves-
sci. After the experiences in sinking
much smaller and less seaworthy YES
sells, it was to be expected that a
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough even
after the t%orpedoing to permit pas
sengers to enter the ships boats. CIR
cumstances of a very peculiar kind,
especially the presence on board of
large quantities of highly explosive
pectation. In addition it may be
pointed out that if the Lusitania had
been spared, thousands of cases OF
munitions would have been sent to
Ger1nany,s enemies and thereby thous-
ands of German mothers and children
robbed of breadwinners.
In the spirit of friendship, where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the union and it's inhab-
ltants since the earliest days of it's ex-
lstence. the imperial government will
always be ready to do all it can dur
ing the present war, also to prevent
the 1eopardizins of lives of American
cltlzens. The imperial government,
therefore. repeats the assurances that
american ships will not be hindered in
INC p|ioSecullon OIL legitimate shipping
and the ives Of American citizens in
neutral vessels shall not be placed in
jeopardy.
IN order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers made possible in view Of the CON
auct OF maritime wal by Germany's
adVersaries. German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
saIe pass OF such passenger steamer
Wllen made recognizable by special
markings and notified a reasonable
llne IN advance. The imperial govern
iheht.. however, confidently hopes he
american government will assume to
guarantee that these vessels have NO
c~ontraband on board. details of ar
rahgement Gr the unhampered pas
sage of thesg vessels to be agreed lpon
by the nave authorities of both sides
II order to furnish adequate facil-
i.les Tor travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens. the German govern.
lleilt submits for consideration a pro
Posal TO announce the number OF avail
aole steamers by installing in service
d eaSonable mi of steamers nm
hheer tIe american flag, the exact num-
ger 70 De agreed upon, upon the Same
cohdltlons as the above mentioned
American steamers.
me imperial government helievas ~
can ssum that in this manner ado
quate safety for tsavel across the At
" $50 XVI DS dIlOTued American
citizens. There would appear there
Iore, TO be no necessity for American
cltlzefls to travel to Europe in time IF
war on ships carrying an enemy flag
IN particular, the imperial government
is unable to admit that American iii
zehs can protect an enemy ship through
the mere fact Of their presence on
board. oi
Disclaim Responsibility.
germany merely followed England's
example when she declared part Of the
hlgh sea an area of war. Consequently
aeeiuehls SUFFERED by neutrals on
enemy ships in this area of war cannot
We'll be Judged differently from acci
dents to which neutrals are at all times
exposed at the seat Of war on land
When they betake themselves into dan
gerous localities in spite of previous
warnings. If. however. it should. not
be possible for the American govern
ment to prepare an adequate number
OF neutral passenger steamers the i'm
per1al government is prepared to in
terpc'e no objection to the placing un-
der the American flag by the American
government of four enemy passenger
steamers for passenger traffic between
North America n England. Assur-
ances of free and safe passage for
American passenger steamers would
extend to apply under the identical pro-
conditions to these formerly hostile
passenger steamers.
The president of the United States
has declared his readiness in a way
deserving of thanks to communicate
and suggest proposals to the govern
ment of Great Britain with particular
reference to thEt alteration of marine
war. The imperial government will al
ways beeglad to makeklse of the good
offices of the president and hopes that
his efforts in the present as well as in
the direction of the lofty ideal of the
- fTGGdnrp nf tho r. G will E1naI -, nv ,,p
Outstanding. The undersigned requests
the ambassador to bring the above to
the knowledge of the American govern
ment and ayails himself of the OPP
p~ortunity to renew to his excellency
the Of his most distin-
guished consideration.
- Won Jagow."