The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-05
Declares 1t an Unfortunate Mis-
take on Part of Submarine
Commander
SOMEWHAT MYSTIFIED
1T SAYS, OVER CUSHING
Only One Ship Attacked in
Neighborhood Mentio ned
and Aviator Declared 1t Was
Displaying No Flag

Washington. June 4.-The foliow- 4
ing is the text of note received from
the German foreign Office relative to
the attacks upon ,s1e American shipx
Gulflight and Cushing:
Referring TO the note of May IS,
the undersigned has the honor 20 ir-s
form his excellency, the am bassad0r 1
of the United States of America, Mr..
James W. Gerard. that the examine
ton undertaken on the part OF the
German government concerning the
American steamers Gulfiight and
Cushing has led to the following
conclusions:
In regard To the attack on thu
steamer Gulflight. the commander Oh
German submarine says On May
l. in the vicinity of the scily Islands.
large merchant ship was seen coma
ing in his direction. which was ac-
companied by two smaller vessels
These latter took such position in res
iation to the steamed that they formed
a ie2ulaucn safeguard agains! SUP
marines: moreose: one Of then, mad
wireless apparatus which IL NOT
usual with small vessels. From this
il evidently was case OF EnIlisa
'nvoy vessels Since such vesseIs arr
regularly Stmed the submarine COULD
face Of the water withoa. .nning fi1es
| danger of destruction. IT was on the
other hand TO be assumed that the
steamer was Of considerable value III
the British government. since it MAe5
so guarded
Saw No Neutral Markings.
The commander could see no neutrMJ
MARKINGS on it OF any kind, thar g.
distinctive marks painted on The fro6
M a fwfa ~
such as are now usual on neutral
ships in the zone OF naval warfare
In consequence, he arrived at thN
conclusion, that he had to deal with
an English steamer. He submergAd
and attacked
The torpedo came in the immediate
neighborhood of one of the ships
which at once rapidly approached the
point of the firing so that the rnarinn
was forced TO 60 to a great depth ~
avoid being rammed. The conciuxi6l1
of the commander that an Engiith
convoy ship was concerned was In tsa1oE
way confirmed. That the attacked
steamer carried the American nag 49,
first observed at the moment of fir1ux
the shot. The fact that the stean4.S
ship was pursuing course whteA8l
led neither to nor from America WA4
further reason why it did not occur
TO tne commander of the suhmArin1
that he vas dealing with an Auaert~
can steamship.
identified as Gulfiight
Upon scrutiny of the time and pIaco%
of the occurrence, the German 9pv~
eminent has been convinced that thes
attacked steamship was actually th6
American steamship Gulf1ight. Theyqs
can be no doubt, according TO the a4xs
tendant commander. that the AttAcix
t.. = g. s>yxE
accident, and not to the fault OF tho
commander The German governmaH&
expresses its regrets to the goveFn@#
ment of the United States concarns
ing this incident and declares iteofG
ready TO furnish fun recompense foxa
the damage thereby sustained 608
American citizens. 1t is left to tho
discretion of the American Sovern-
ment TO present a statement OF thinsl
damage, or, If doubts may arise ovsr
individual points, to designate an &x~S
pert who would have TO determtt1o
with the German expert the amount
of damage
Gushing Case Not Settled.
1T has not yet been possible ~
means of an inquiry to clear up fully
the case OF the American ship CuHh~
ing Ohfcial reports available repnFk
only one merchant steamship Attacked
by German flying machine Ia TIM 4
vicinity of Capnordhind light shty
The German aviator was forced IN
consider the vessel as hostile becAu1o
it carried no nag, and further becAue
of no recognizable neutral markint
The attack consisted of x0t3
bombs. which, of course, were n0k
aimed at any American ship. How
ever. that the ship attacked was IN I
American ship Cushing IL posetnts
considering the time and place Of Co.
currence.- Nevertheless, the GernaNM
government, accordingly. reQueMW$
from the American government
it communicate to the German np
eminent The material which Was ~
n1itted ii for Judgment. In order u
with this as a basis q further pg4
position can be taken in the nsAtk12x
The Undersigned leaves II to ii
ambassador TO bring the toragotn1
the immediate attention nf htn
eminent, and takes this oppcrtMG
to renew to him the AssurAno4 n 4
his most Distinguished countdnro&1
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
rArPgu 81: &laf2