Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-05-11
THE GERMAN NOTE ON THE LUs1TAN1A.


ernment regrets the deed of It's submarine.
UnofficaIly, the belief was expressed in
Washington yesterday that the United States
would expect at least formal apology, specific
ally 10 include the Lusitania incident, and such
reparatiOn a. Germany can make for the
americans whose neutral lives were sacrificed
on the rel altar of war. This first communi-
cation OF Germany since the Lusitana van
ished beneath the waves last Friday is in no
sense an apology nor does il offer what Ameri-
cans could consider adequate PREPARATION The
message Ambassador Won Bernstorff was in
structed to communicate to the American state
department says:
The German government desires to express its
deepest sympathy for the loss of the lives in thC
Lusitania. The responsibility rests however, with
the British government Through its plan of staTy-
ing civilians Ia Germany. Germany was forced to
retaliatory measures. .-...... ~. ..::..
In spite OF the German offer to stop the subma
rine warfare in the starvation plan was given
up, British merchant vessels have been armed and
repeatedly tried to ram the submarines, so search
impossible. #r@.~
Therefore this case cannot be treated that of
ordinary merchant vessel -E-..
II is admitted that the Lusitania had previously
carried material. On her last voyage the Lusi-
tania carried $500 cases of ammunition and the rest
of the cargo chiefly contraband
III England after repeated official warnings con-
sidered herself able to declare that the boat
risk. England assumed the responsibility for human
life Germany. despite heartfelt sympathy at the
Americans felt more inclined to trust to English
promises rather than to heed German warnings
It is probably significant that the German
note contains no expression of regret at the
sinking of the Lusitania, the word regret
being used only in this phrase: Germany can
not but regret that the Americans felt more in
lined to trust to English promises rather than
to heed German warnings.
In the brief note there is not the slightest
ACKNOWLEDGMENT that Germany has erred, not
the least hint that officially the government
does not indorse the sinking of the Lusitania
and its attendant drowning of neutrals and
non-combatants There is not the slightest as
surance that Germany is not prepared to repeat
he torpedoing upon any and every British
1assenger vessel her submarines can reach.
The real significance of Germany's note is
that Americans must regard the sinking of the
Lusitania as a part of Germany's authorized
plan of war, not an individual instance where
3 submarine commander overstepped his orders
Or went beyond German policy. When the
now-famous German proclamation of a "war-
zone around the British isles was issued three
months ago, Germany justified her plan OF a
Submarine war by the statement that the
British s'program of starvation . forced her to
retaliatory measures 1t will be recalled that
america scarce credited Germany with the in
ton to sink merchant vessels by the wholesale.
They we're soon forced to credit the Teutons
not only with intention but with the deed.
On February IL, shortly after the German
proclamatien was issued, an Associated Press
despatch from Washington said this
The state department has warned Germany
With emphasis that the destruction of any
american vessel within the newly prescribed
war-zone will cause serious complications. -
With what unc0ncern Germany viewed this
Warming was soon shown. Four days later the
(lespatches chronicled that the Montag lei
fung of Berlin in an editorial today asks what
harm America can do Germany if it comes to a
Showdown on the recent warning by the U. S.
against submarine attack on American ships.
America has no army. Its feet dare not APP
proach nearer than does England's. America s
Threats are too ridiculous for Germany to take
them seriously, says the paper"
That is undoubtedly the view Germany takes
now. Her note through Ambassador Won Bern
storff is more courteous but it contains nothing
that can possibly be construed as an apology.
Such being the case, America must regard
the sinking of the Lusitania as typical of what
Americans are to expect if they travel in waters
fermanv chooses to declare embraced in a
:. war-zone.,' They are not safe under their
avn fac. as was shown when the Germans tor
.,o3oed the steamer Gulflight off the Scilly
Isles They are not safe on passenger vessel
. "a ;oT, >-sfIaiirn preservation OF vital