The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1915-06-02
CERMANY'S REPLY TO u. S.
ON SINKING OF LUSITANIA
Reiterates Her Right to Continue
Submarine Warfare and Hold
England Responsible.

Berlin, May 81, via London-The
following is the text of the German
note to the United States:
The undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the
following answer to the eommuniea-
ton of May Is regarding the injury
to American interests through Ger
man warfare:
The Imperial Government has sub
jected the communication OF the
American Government to a thorough
investigation. 1t entertains also a
keen wish to cooperate in frank
and friendly way in clearing up a
possible misunderstanding which
may have arisen in the relations be-
tween the two governments through
the events mentioned by the Ameri-
can Government.
Regarding, firstly, the cases of
the American steamers Gushing and
Gulflight The American Embassy
has already been informed that the
German Government has no inten-
tion of submitting neutral ships in
the war zone which are guilty of
no hostile acts to attacks by a sub
marine or submarines or ayiators.
On the contrary, the German forces
have repeatedly been instructed
most specifically to avoid attacks on
such ships.
II neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare owing TO mis-
takes in Identification, IL is ques-
ton only of quite isolated and ex-
ceptional cases, which can be at
tributed to the British government S
abuse of flags, togther with the sus-
picious or culpable behavior of the
masters of the ships.
The German government In all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
its Investigations that neutral ship
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortu-
nate accident, and, If justified by
conditions, has of1ered indemnifica-
tion.
The cases of the Cushing and the
Gulfight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation OF
both cases Is In progress. the result
OF which will presently be communi.
Gated to the embassy. The investi-
kdilOn II A8AA9o1A bt sAGFt@
mented by an international call on
the international Commission of In
auiry, as provided by Article III OF
The Hague agreement of October
Is, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba. the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention OF
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for 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
ana megaphones to leave the ship
within ten minutes. He actually
owed them 23 minutes time and
fred the torpedo only when suspic-
ious 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
ernment has already expressed tc
the neutral governments concerned
its keen regret that citizens of theiI
States lost their lives.
On this occasion the Imperial
Government, however, cannot es
cape the impression that certain i'm
portant facts having direct bearinl
on the sinking of the Lusitania
may have escaped the attention oil