The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-05-19
NEUTRAL Ships SAFE
GERMAN SUBMARINES ORDERED
TO ACT WITH REGARD
To PAY And APOLOGIZE

Gerard Cables That Imperial German
Government VIII Apologize to OF.
Tended Nation and Pay Damages
Whenever Commanders of Under
sea Craft Disregard Orders.
Germany, through Ambassador
Gerard has notified the United States
that submarine commanders had
been specifically instructed not to
harm neutral vessels not engaged In
] hostile acts, and that Germany would
pay for damages to such ships in the
war zone.
Neutral ships carrying contraband
will be dealt with, the announcement
says, according to the rules Of naval
warfare. If neutral ships are acci-
| dentally damaged in the wa zone
Germany will express its regret and
| pay damages without prize court pro-
ceedings.
The German government justifes
the submarine warfare on the
grounds that England is threatening
| to starve the civilian population of
Germany by prohibiting neutral
commerce in foodstuffs and other
necessities.
In previous communications Ger
many has disclaimed responsibility
for harm that might befall neutral
| vessels entering the war zone.
;; The text Of the announcement
cabled by Ambassador Gerard, which
was issued by the German foreign
office is in the form Of circular, as
follows:
"First-Imperial German govern
ment naturally has no intention OF
causing to be attacked by submarines
or aircraft such neutral ships OF COM
merce in the scene Of naval warfare,
or definitely described in the notice
Of the German admiralty staff Of Feb
ruary 4 last, as having been guilty of
no hostile act. On the contrary, the
most definite instructions repeatedly
have been issued to German war YES
sells to avoid attacks on such ships
under all circumstances. Even when
such ships have contraband OF war on
board, they are dealt with by sub
marines solely according to the rule
Of international law applying to prize
warfare.
"Two-Should neutral ship,
nevertheless. come to harm through
German submarines or aircraft on :
count OF an unfortunate (x) in the
above mentioned zone Of naval war
fare, the German government Will
unreservedly recognize it's response
bility therefor. In such a case 1t Will
express it's regrets and aford dam
ages without first instituting a prize
court action.
"Three-It is the custom of the
German government as soon as the
sinking Of neutral ship m the above
mentioned zone Of naval warfare is
-ascribed to German war vessels, to
institute an immediate investigation
into the cause. II the grounds ap-
pear thereby to be given for assocla-
ton OF such a hypothesis, the Ger
man navy places itself in communica-
ton with the interested neutral gov
ernment, so that the latter may also
institute an investigation.
"If the German government is
thereby convinced that the ship has
been destroyed by German war YES
sells it will not delay in carrying out
the provisions OF paragraph TWO
above. In case the German govern
ment contrary to the viewpoint OF
the neutral government is not con-
yinced by the result Of the investi-
cation, the German government mas
already On several occasions declared
itself ready to allow the question to
be decided by international investi-
cation committee, according to chap
| ter Of the Hague convention OF Octo-
Der IS, 1907, for the peaceful solu-
ton of international disputes"
(y) indicates word missing in text.
Regrets Loss of Americans.
The following dispatch has been
sent by the German foreign office to
| the German embassy at Wasnlng-
ton:
"Please communicate the follow
ing to the state department: The Ger
man government desires to express
it's deepest sympathy at the loss Of
lives on board the Lusitania. The
responsibility rests, however, with
the British government, when,
through it's plan of starving the CIV
ilian population Of Germany, has
forced Germany to resort to retalla-
tory measures: ~ .,
stop the submarine war in case the
starvation plan was given up, Brltlsh
merchant vessels are being generally
armed with guns and have repeatedly
tried to ram submarines, so that a
previous search was impossible.
'They can not, therefore, be treat
ed as ordinary merchant vessels. A
recent declaration made to the Brit
ish parliament by the parliamentary
secretary in answer to a question Dy
Lord Charles Beresford said that, at
the present. practically all British
merchant vessels were armed anu
provided with hand grenades.
!. besides. it has been openly ed
mitted by the English press that the
Lusitania, on previous Foyases' ie
peatedly carried large quantities OF
war material. On the present voyage
the Lusitania carried 5,400 cases Of
ammunition, while the rest of the
cargo consisted chiefly Of contraband
'If England, after repeated ot1l'
cial and unofficial warnings. consld'
cred herself able to declare that thai
boat ran no risk and thus light-heart'
edly assumed responsibility for the
human life on board a steamer
which, owing to its armament anc
cargo, vas liable t destruction. the
German government, in spite OF its
heartfelt sympathy for the loss o.
American lives, can not but regre
, that Americans felt more inclined t
trust the English promises rather
than pay attention to the warning:
, from the German side.
(Sicned) Foreign Office
= TO DISREGARD COMMISSION.