The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-07-22

Washington, July 15.-Although the
officials of the United States are
pleased by the receipt Of a memoran-
dunn from Ambassador Gerard formal
ly transmitting Germany's admission
of liability and her expression of re-
greet for the attack by German subma-
rine on the American steamer Nebras-
kan, they have practically decided that
the legal points raised by the incident
require the dispatch of note on the
subject further to conserve American
right in the war zone.
The legal officers of the American
government, who examined the Ger
man memorandum, pointed out this
evening many respects where the case
resembled that of the William Frye.
the American ship sunk by the Prinz
Eitel Friedrich.
In both cases the German govern
ment expressed regret at the occur
renee and offered to compensate the
American citizens for the losses sus-
tanned, but the action of the German
commanders was declared justified
under the circumstances.
TO admit this the officials here
say would establish a dangerous pre-
cedent. Officials take the view that
the case of the Nebraskan proves
conclusively that the merchantmen
must be visited in order to determ-
inc its nationality and the character
of the cargo before attacked.
The navy's report on the Nebras-
kan, regarding whether mine or
submarine caused the explosion
wrecking her, was never made public.
but in view of the admission by Ger
many today, officials do not hesitate
in saying the finding of the officers
is confirmed by the German memoir
andum.
The memorandum reads: "The Ger
man government received from news
paper reports the intelligence that the
American steamer Nebraskan had
been damaged by a mine or torpedo
on the southwest coast of Ireland.
1t, therefore, started a thorough inves-
tigation of the case without delay and
from the result of the investigation it
has become convinced that the dam
age to the Nebraskan was caused by
an attack by submarine.
ION the evening of May Is last the
submarine met a steamer bound west
ward without flag and with no
nautical markings on her freeboard,
about thirty-five miles west of Fastnet
Rock No appliance of any kind for
the illumination of the flag or mark
| ings was to be seen.
'In the twilight, which had already
set in, the name of the steamer was
not visible from the submarine. Since
the commander of the submarine was
Obliged to assume from his wide ex-
perience in the area Of maritime war
that only English steamers and no
neutral steamers traversed this war
area without a flag and markings, he
attacked the vessel with torpedo, in
the conviction that he had an enemy
vessel before him.
Some time after the shot the COM
mander saw that the vessel had in the
meantime hoisted the American flag.
AS consequence he, of course, re-
Trained from further attack. Since
the vessel remained afloat he had NO
occasion to concern himself further
with the boats, which had been
launched.
1T results from this without doubt
that the attack on the Nebraskan was
not meant for the American flag, nor
is it traceable to any fault on the part
of the commander of the German sub
marine, but it is to be considered an
unfortunate accident. The German
government expresses it's regret at the
occurrence to the government of the
United States of America, and de-
clares it's readiness to make compen-
sation for the damage thereby sus"
tanned by American citizens"