The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-31
German Note Sets Up Plea Of Self Defense
Berlin Fences With Washington

The following is the text of the
German note:
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:
The imperial government has SUBJ
jected the communication of the
American government to thorough
investigation and entertains a keen
wish to cooperate in a frank and
friendly way IN clearing up possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen between the two governments
through the events mentioned by the
American government.
Regarding, firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Cushing and Gulf
light: The American embassy has al
ready been informed that the German
government has no intention of sub
hitting neutral ships in the war zone
which are guilty of no hostile acts to
attacks by a submarine or submarines,
or aviators. On the contrary, the Ger
man forces have repeatedly been in
Structed most specifically to avoid at
tacks on such ships.
England Is Accused.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mistakes
in Identification, it is a question only
of quite isolated and exceptional cases.
which can be attributed to the Brit
ish governments abuse of flags to-
gether with the suspicious or culpable
behavior of the masters of the ships.
1.-The German government, in all
cases in Which it has been shown by
it's Investigations that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was, damaged by
German submarines, or aViatorS, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident, and, if justified by COndi-
tons has offered indemnification.
THE cases of the Cushing and the
Gulflight 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
tional commission of inquiry. as pro-
vided by Article III of The Hague
agreement of october IS, 1907.
Falaba Seeks Escape.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew
full opportunity for a safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fled and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphones to leave the ship within
them twenty-three minutes time, and
fired the torpedo only when suspi-
cious craft were fastening to the as
sistance of the Falaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking of the British passenger
steamer, Lusitania, the German gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned its
keen regret that citizens of their states
lost their lives.
'On this occasion, the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a decided bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have es
capped the attention of the American
government.
Wants All the Facts Known.
I'm the interest of a clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments, the imperial
government considers it first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both govern
ments about the facts of the case is
complete and in accord.
THE government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The imperial government allows
itself. in this connection, to point out
that the Lusitania was one of the larg
est and fastest of the British merchant
ships, built with government funds as
an auxiliary cruiser and carried ex-
pressly as such in the navy list is
sued by the British admiralty.