Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
DEFERS DECISIVE
ANSWER TOPO|NTS
RA|SEDBY WILSON
Suggests Further Exchange
of Views on Lusitania
Incident.
CERTAIN PASSAGES NOT
MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY
Outlines Assumption of Facts Re-
garding Real Character of
Ship and Cargo.
REGRETS INJURIES SUSTAINED
Compensation offered in Cases In
Which Kaiser's Government Is
Found to BE in Wrong.
REGRETS INJURIES SUSTAINED
Compensation offered in Cases In
Which Kaiser's Government Is
Found to Be in Wrong.

BERLIN, May 90 (via London).-Ths
German reply to the American note on
the sinking Of the Lusitania was signed
by Herr Won Jagow, the Foreign Minis
ter, at IL o'clock last night and de-
livered to Ambassador Gerard this
morning for transmission to Washing
ton. The note expresses Germanys
regret for injuries sustained by Ameri-
cans as a result of submarine and aero
plane attacks and offers compensation
in cases in which Germany is found to
be in the wrong.
AS indicated previously In these dis
patches. the note defers n direct answer
to the questions raised by President
Wilson pending a further exchange Of
views. Germany desires TO establish
whether tho Lusitania was a defense
less merchant ship or was being used
for the transportation OF soldiers and
munitions. on which unsuspecting pas
sengers were permitted to take pass
age to safeguard the war materials.
The American representations regard
ing the torpedoing of the British
steamer Falaba, in which an Ameri-
can citizen lost his life, are answered
with tho statement that 1t was intended
to offer ample time for the passengers
and crew to leave the ship. The
action OF the captain in attempting to
escape. however. necessitated more
summary action. Even then the COM
mander of the submarine granted ten
minutes for those on board to leave
the vessel and subsequently extended
the time to twenty three minutes be-
fore sinking the ship.
GERMANY EXPRESSES REGRETS
FOR CONVENTIONAL ATTACKS"
Germany expresses regrets for the
unintentional attacks" on the American
steamer Cushing and the Guliight.
The Cushing was attacked by German
airmen In the North Sea and the Gulf
light was torpedoed off Scilly Islands.
Germany disavows any intention to
attack harmless neutral craft She Of
fers to pay compensation wherever she
is found to be in the wrong and to
refer doubtful cases TO The Hague for
n decision.
The passages in the American note
concerning possible disavowal by
Germany OF intent to sink the Lusi-
, tania and the discontinuance of her
present practices OF submarine warfare
are not mentioned specifically in the
reply.
The note states that, pending the
reply of the American government to
the German assumptions OF fact regard
ing the real character of the Lusitania
and her cargo. no attempt Will be made
to answer the demands contained in
the American communication.
These assumptions of fact are as
follows:
The Lusitania was built as an auxil-
iary cruiser. subsidized. and carried on
the navy lists as such. She carried,
according to German information, two
guns mounted and concealed below
decks.
British steamers sailing from New
York according to information re-
ceived from passengers and other
sources. repeatedly carried soldiers,
artillery. war supplies and contraband
to England, the Lusitania on this trip
carrying specifically 5,4OO cases of am
munttion. in addition to other war sup
plies and Canadian troops en- route to
the front
EXPLOSIVES ON PASSENGER
SHIPS CONTRARY TO LAW
Reference is here made to the fact
that carrying explosives on passenger
ships is contrary to American law. II
is intimated that the German govern
lhcit Wouiu pluQ 10 receive iNt0rma-
ton as to how 1t happened that ammu-
milton was permitted to be shipped on
the Lusitania. n vessel crowded with
passengers. Strong phrases are used
regarding what is considered as ap-
parently tho deliberate policy OF Brit
ish shipping companies to protect
war supplies shipments by embarking
American passengers on the same ships.
Germany contends IL is impossible 10
settle the question whether proper
time was given TO place the passengers
and crew in safety until it is deter
mined whether the regulations adopted
! after the sinking OF the Titanic, re
garding "A proper supply OF boats ard
water-tight bulkheads, which are now
served in the case of the Lusitan!a.
Finally, the American mediatory pro-
posals designed to end submarine war
fare and the throttling OF food sup
plies and other conditional contrab band
for Germany are recalled. The govern.
ment expresses tho desire to know what
steps. IL any, have been taken to In
duce Great Britain to embark on nego-
tiations to this end. after Germany in
dicated her willingness TO discuss a
settlement on this general basis
Tho delivery Of the note to Ambas-