New Britain herald., 1915-02-18
GERMANY ISSUES REPLY
 TO AMERICAN NOTE
(Continued from First Page.)


 destroy hostile merchant vessels in every other way. While the German government, in taking action based upon this overpowering point of view. Keeps itself far removed from all in- tentional destruction of neutral lives ana property, on the other hand it does not fail to recognize that from the action to be taken against Great brltaln dangers arise which threaten all trade Within the war zone with tlstlnction This is a natural re-
 pr m1ne warfare which, even un-
 t1ctest observance of the limits
 ternat1onal law, endangers every
 approaching the mine area. The
 man government considers itself
 ptled to hope that all neutrals will escqulesce in these measures as they nave done in the case of the grievous damages inflicted upon them by Brit lsh measures, all the more so as Ger many IS resolved, for the protection of neutral shipping even in the naval war zone. to do everything which is at al compatible with the attainment of this object.
 Fixed Time Limit.
 Tn view of the fact that Germany gave the first proof of her good will in fixing a time limit of not less than fourteen days before the execution of sa1d measure, so that neutral ship plng might have an opportunity of 5nakIng arrangements to avoid the danger, this can most surely be achieved by remaining away from the naval war zone. Neutral vessels which, despite this ample notice which greatly affects the achievement of our aims in our war against Great I'ritain, enter these closed waters will Themselves bear the responsibility for any unfortunate accidents that may occur. Germany disciai1ns al; re- sponsibility for any such acts and their consequences.
 Enemy Merchant Vessels.
 "Germany has further expressly announced the destruction of all ene- my merchant vessels found within the war zone, but not the destruction of all merchant vessels, as the Unit Fed States seems enormously to have Understood. This restriction which RGermany imposes upon itself is pre- [judicial to the aim of our warfare, Sespecially as in the application of the conception of contraband and prac- ticed by Great Britain toward Ger many-which conception will now al- so De similarly interpreted by Ger Hnany-the presumption will be that neutral ships have contraband aboard. Germany naturally is unwilling to re- notnce it's rights to ascertain the presence of contraband in neutral vessels, and in certain cases to draw eorfclusions therefrom.
 Germany is ready, finally to delib- herate with the United States concern x,l,: S-~I.L the safety of legitimate shipping of.l neutrals in the war zone. Germany |canpot, however, forbear to point out That al it's efforts in this direction may be rendered very difficult by two circ cumstances: First, the misuse of neutral flags by British merchant vessels, which is indutiably known to the United States; second, the con- tra band trade already mentioned, es- peciaIly in war materials, on neutral vessels.
 Procedure Unobjectionable. Regarding the latter point, Ger kMAny would fain hope that the United Rates after further consideration will Eome to a conclusion corresponding to the spirit of real neutrality regarding the first point. The secret order of flae British admiralty, recommending to British merchant ships the use bf neutral flags, has been communi- cated by Germany to the United States hnd confirmed by communication with he British foreign office, which des- gnates this procedure as entirely un- Objectionable and in accordance with British law. British merchant ship jng imm ediately followed this advice, Is doubtless is known to the American Fyo %IrI niI aY,{c oP Y, 1usitania and the Laertes.
 Moreover, the British government 1 has supplied arms to British merchant ships and instructed them forciby to resist German submarines. In these Circumstances it would be very difficult 1 kor submarines to recognize neutral | merchant ships, for search in most ] hase5 cannot be undertaken, seeing | hat in the case of a disguised British | ship from which an attack may be l expected the searching party and the submarine would be exposed to de- l struetion. ,s
 German Measures Illusory. Great Britain, then, was in po- ] Ition to make the German measures Sllasory if the British merchant fleet persisted in the misuse of neutral flags (snd neutral ships could not otherwise be recognized beyond doubt. Ger mariy. however, being in a state of hec essity, wherein she was placed by violation of law, must render affective her measures in all circumstances in order thereby to compel her adver- saryFto adopt methods of warfare cor Responding with international law and l (so to restore the freedom of the seas l |of which Germany at all times is the defender and for which she today foh