The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-12
GERMANY MAKES
FURTHER INQUIRY;
REPLY IS EVASIVE
Answer to President Wilson's
Message Received in Wash
ington From Gerard.
NEW ISSUE IS OPENED
Berlin Government Regrets Attacks on
Neutral VesseIs-Holds Liner
LusitanIa Was CruIser-Asks
u s. 90 Investigate.

Washington, May 31-The German
reply to the American note sent after
the sinking OF the Lusitania was re-
ceived in Washington last night from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin and
made public here:
The following is the text Of the
German note:
1.-THE undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the communication
OF May Is, regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
1.-THE imperial government has sub
jected the communication Of the Amer
lean government to thorough inves-
tigation 1t entertains also a keen
wish to cooperate in a frank and
friendly way in clearing up a possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen in the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern
ment
Regarding, firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Cushing and
Gulfight- The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has no intention Of
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty of no hostile
acts, to attacks by a submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary, the German forces have repeat
eddy been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse of Flags.
eff neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes in
identification, it Is a question only Of
quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior OF the masters of the ships.
1.-The German government, in all
cases in which it has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and If justi-
fed by conditions, has offered in
Identification.
1.-THE cases of the Cushing and the
Gulnight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation of both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicated
to the embassy. The investigation
can if necessary be supplemented by
an international call on the interna-
tiona1 commission of inquiry, as pro-
vided by article III Of The Hague
agreement of October 10, 1907.
Justifies Sinking of FaIaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Fa1aba, the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention OF
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for a safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphone to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them % minutes time and fred the
torpedo only when suspicious craft
were Fastening to the assistance OF
the Falaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking of the British passenger steam
has already expressed to neutral gov
ernments concerned, its keen regret
that citizens OF their state lost theiI
lives.
"On this occasion the imperial gov
ernment, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have es
capped the attention of the American
government.
TN the interest of clear and com
plete understanding, which is the ain
of both governments, the imperia
government considers It first neces
sary to convince itself that the infor
nation accessible to both government
about the facts of the case Is com
plete and in accord.
Calls LusItanla 3 Cruiser.
The government Of the Unite
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regards
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man The imperial government allow
itself in this connection to~point on
that the Lusitania was one of tn
largest and fastest British merchan
ships, built with government funds a
an auxiliary cruiser and carried e.
pressly as such in the navy list fl
sued by the British admiralty.
ct is further known to the imperis
government from trustworthy report
from its agents and neutral passenger
that for considerable time PRACTICAL
all the more valuable British me
chantmen have been equipped wit
cannon and ammunition and othe
weapons and manned with person
who have been specially trained /
serving guns The T.usitania too. a.
s.oo~~~-~~~~O