The Harrison times., 1915-06-05
GERMAN NOTE SAYS PASSEN'
GERS COULD HAVE ESCAPED
FROM LUSlTANlA.
WILL PAY FOR NEUTRAL SHIPS
Makes No Promise to End Submarine
War While England Tries TO
Starve Out Germany.

flnal decision on the demands ad.
Vanoed by the United States govern
ment in connection with the sinking
of the Lusitania, until the receipt OF
an answer from the United States to
the note which Herr Won Jagow, the
foreign minister, has delivered to Am
bassador Gerard in reply to the Amer
lean note received by the German
government on May 15
In its reply the German govern
ment declares that It Is not It's inten-
tion to submit neutral ships in the
war zone, which are guilty OF no hos.
tile acts, 10 attacks by submarines or
aeroplanes; that It is investigating the
circumstances in connection with the
attacks on the American steamers
Gushing and Gulnight, and that in all
cases where neutral vessels, through
no fault of their own, have been dam
aged, Germany will pay indemnlhca-
tion.
The reply urges that In the case OF
the Lusitania, which Germany al
leges was armed and carried large
stores OF war munitions, It was "act'
ing In justified selfdefense in seek.
ing with all the means Of warfare at
its disposition to protect the lives Of
It's soldiers by destroying ammuni
tion intended for the enemy"
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and
London, designed to end the subma-
fine warfare and the shuttins out Of
food supplies from Germany which It
declares failed Of their purpose be-
cause of the refusal Of the British
government to agree TO them.
The following is the text OF the
German note;
"The undersigned has the honor 20
submit 10 Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer 20 the communication
OF May 1G, regarding the Injury TO
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
jeoted the communication Of the Amor
lean government 70 b thorough lnvcsu-
cation. II cntortOins also n Keen wish
20 cooperate In n frank and friendly
way In clearing up possible misun-
derstanding which may have arisen In
the relations between the two govern
monta through the events mentioned
by tho American government,
Regarding, firstly, the cases OF the
American steamers Cushing and Gulf
light, the American embassy has Nl-
ready beon Informed that the German
government has no intention OF sub
mittlng neutral ships In tho war zone,
which are guilty OF no hoetllo acts to
attacks by submarine or submarines
or avlators On the contrary the Ger
man forces have repeatedly boon In
gtructcd most specifically TO avoid at
tOcls on such ships
"lf neutral ships In recent months
have suffered through lho German sub
marine warfare owing 10 mistakes In
identification II ~ n question only OF
quito Isolated ana exceptional cnHCH
which can be attributed TO the British
governments abuse Of dnga, together
with the suspicious or CulpNhlo boha-
Vior OF the masters Of the ships
"The German government In all cDaeH
IN which II has been shown by itl IN
vestigntlons that u neutral ship, not
hN'li ~ NNNlNt WIS NNlNNE'N W 'f'IlIlNIl
hubmuslncs or AyiNtOrs, has Expressed
regret over tho unfortunate accident,
and N Justified by conditions, has Qf-
forcd lndcmnihcNtlou,
"Tho eases Of the Cushing and tho
Gulnight viii be treated on the sRWo
principles An Investigation OF both
oaaca Ia In progress, the result OF which
viii presently be communicated TO tho
embassy The Investigation can, n
nocospnfN be supplemented by Nu I'M
tcrnutlonnl call ON the International
commission OF Inquiry NJ provided by
article 3 Of The Hague agreement Of
October rs, 1907
when sinking the British steamer
FNl0ha, the commander Of the German
submarine had the intention or allow
Ing The passengers and crow fun op-
portunlty for safe escape only
when the commander ala not obey the
order 10 hunVr 60, but fed and aum-
mOned help by rocket signals aid the
German commander order the crew and
passengers by signals ana megaBhonu
Go leave the ship within ton minutes.
lie actually allowed them twunty=thFre
minutes time and fired the torpedo
only when suspicious craft were has
tcning to the assistance OF the rnluhn,
Regarding the loaa OF he by the
sinking OF the British peaaenger steam
er LuHltaniA, the German government
has already expressed 10 The neutral
governments concerned ltH keen regret
that citizens Of their states iUBt their
lives,
"un this occasion the imperial gov
crnmont however cannot escape the
Impression that certain important fnctH
having u direct harlnR ON the sinking
OF the LustRnla may have escaped tho
attention OF the American govern
ment,
"in the Interest ~ n clear aud comz
plet0 understanding, which Ia The aim
uf Both governments, the imperial gOya
ornmont oonsldora II 0fnt necessary 10
convince ltaelf that the Information
accessible 20 both governments about
the facts OF the eaae Ia complete and
in accord
"The government Of the uuN,ed
States proceeds on tho assumption Htht
tho LuHltania could be regarded ~ an
ordinary unhrmod merchantmen, The
imperial government allows itaolf Ia
this connection 10 point out that the
President Wilson's Father,
"a an adduAaa at Naahtaat,. "a