Milford chronicle., 1915-06-04
BERLIN DODGES
MAIN ISSUES
Reply TO Wilson's Protest Re-
GeiVed in Washington.
CALLS LUSITAKIA A WARSHIP

NaHauiaH iToOPs ana MuHitiSHS
War, Thus Violating American
Laws.
The official text Of the German reply
TO the United States on the loss oI
the American lives on the Lusitanis
and attacks upon American ships is
In the White House.
President Wilson and his advisers
have refused to comment upon the
note.
Officials generally have read the
note with profound disappointment,
for, they pointed out. it endeavored to
obscure and evade the main issues
the questions Of humanity involved
and sought TO interpose a technical
argument on matters Of law hitherto
undisputed under the universally ac-
cepted laws Of nations.
Most important of all, il was noted,
that no attention was given to the re-
quest of the United States for assur-
anee that American lives would be
safeguarded in the future.
According to reports of an official
investigation by government officials
befire the Lusitania was granted
clearance from New York, the ship
carried no guns, mounted or unmout-
ed. Moreover, there has been an
agreement for several months between
the United States and Great Britain
that no British merchant ships leav-
ing American ports shall carry any
guns.
The argument in the German note .
that the Lusitania carried Canadian /
troops and ammunition is regarded 7
by officials as irrelevant, for they de-
clare it is well known that no Cana
dian troops could pass as an organized
body over American soil, and the sail
ing Of a few unarmed individuals does
not constitute an armed expedition
under international law Neither, it is
contended, has traffic in arms and am
munitiOn been regarded as warrant
ing the destruction of any unarmed
merchantmen without previous visit
and search.
The reply is as follows:
THE imperial government has sub
aGkAGu AAiE oLdAEuAElLS VI LAE OnlAE4
States to careful examination and has
a lively wish to contribute in a frank
and friendly manner to clear up any
which may have en-
tered into the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American note.
With regard to the Cushing and
Gulhight incidents, the American en- /
0assy already has been informed that
Z Is far from the German government t
TO have any intention of OrdSing at \
lacks by submarines or flyers on neu- 7
trail ships in the war zone not guilty (
of any hostile act. On the contrary, I
most explicit instructions repeatedly r
nave been given the German armed I
Orces to avoid attacking such vessels. 7
ii neutral ships have come to grief
,nrougn German submarine warfare
turing the past few months by mis- f
AXE, II is a question of isolated and n
exceptional cases which are traceab.e f
o the misuse of flags by the British, e
q connection with carelessness or h
uspiciOus actions on the part of the .
h1ps. In all cases where a neutral II
'essei, through no fault of its own, 1
as come to grief through German ii
uDmarlnes or flyers, according to the b
acts as ascertained by the German (,
oVernment, this government has eX- D
ressed its regret at the unfortunate A
occurrence and has promised indem- l.
fcation where ths facts justified it. fC
ermany will treat Che cases OF the II
merican steamers Gushing and Gulf T
ght according to the same princi- al
les. An investigation is in progress, .,
nd the results will be communicated 81
} the embassy shortly. oi
In the case Of the sinking of the of
nglish ship Falaba, the commander
the German submarine had the in
'n1on OF allowing the passengers
ID crew ample opportunity to save
euEHIN9E- II mt until the
IN disregarded the order to lay to
I'd took to fight, sending up rockets
T help, that the commander ordered
e crew and passengers by signal tn
ON a megaphone to leave within ten
lnutes. AS matter of fact, he al
wed them twenty-three minutes and lal
d not hre a torpedo until suspicious
sseis were hurrying to aid the Fall ha
IF necessary the investigation can ag
supplemented by a call on the in ba
irrational commission of inquiry, as VII
divided for in article of The Hague w.
Teement of Oct. Is, 1907. s'e
With regard to the loss of life up
zen the British passenger steamer
sitania was sunk, the German gov A..
lment already has expressed deep the
sret to neutrals concerned that ma 70
mails Of those countries lost their sey
es. The imperial government is I'M the
e to reject the impression that GER 80
important IdcLS most QlF6clly Con- $50
ted with the sinking of the Lusi-
ia may have escaped the attention mo
the American government. II there -
e considers II necessary in the in DeI
ests Of the clear and full under foH
nding aimed at by both govern Bv
nts primarily to convince itself a.,
{ the reports of the facts which y
before the two governments are
lplete and in agreement. fou
The government of the United nr,s
ties proceeds from the assumption pp
the Lnsitania is to be considered Our
an ordinary unarmed merchant ed
sci. The imi, ial government begs
this connection to point out that
Lusitania was one Of the largest
fastest English commercial steam. +
constructed with government loon
Is as an auxiliary cruiser, and is .s-
-essly included In the navy list HtIe
ished by the British admiralty. Will
{ is moreover known to the i'm g. z
al government, from reliable in
lation furnished by its officials
neutral passengers, that for some
practically. all the more valuable Ia
ish merchant vessels have been ~ 7
ided with guns ammunition and ~ .
r weapons and furnished with crews pass