Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-12
KAISER WILL PAY
FOR ALL NEUTRAL
SHIPS TORPEDOED
Imperial Government Announces
that Subsea Chiefs Told Not
to Harm Noncombstant
Vessels.
TO RECOGNIZE RESPONSIBILITY
II Matter of Blame in Doubt, Will
ing to Have International
Court Decide.
JUsTIFIEs UNDERWATER RAIDS

WASHINGTON, May ii,-Ger-
many, through Ambassador Gerard.
today 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.
Ships carrying contraband will be
dealt with, the announcement says.
according to the rules of naval war
fare. II neutral ships are ac-
cidentally damaged in the war Eone,
Germany will express its regret and
pay damage without prize court pro-
ceedings.
The German government justities its
submarine warfare on the ground that
England Is threatening TO starvo the
civilian population OF Germany by sup
pressing neutral commerce in foodstuffs
and other necessaries.
Text Of Statement.
The text of the announcement made by
Ambassador Gerard was issued by
the Berlin foreign office in the form
of circular as follows:
! First, the imperial German govern
ment naturally has no intention OF oaus-
| ing to be attacked by submarines or air
craft such neutral ships OF commerce In
the zone of naval warfare or definitely
described In the notice of the German ad-
miralty staff of February last, as have
been guilty OF no hostile act. ON the
contrary the most definite Instructions
repeatedly have been issued TO German
war vessels to avoid attacks on such ships
under all circumstances. Even when
such ships have. contraband OF war on
board. they arc dealt with by submarines
solely according to the rule OF interna-
tionsl law applying to prize warfare.
'2. Should a neutral ship nevertheless
come to harm through German SUBJ
marines or aircraft or on account OF an
unfortunate Cs) in the above mentioned
zone of naval warfare the German gov
ernment will unreseryedly recognize III
responsibility therefore. In such a case
! Il VIII express It's regrets and afford
damages without first lnstituting a prize
court action.
To Make InvestiRntion.
80 II Is the custom OF the German gov
eminent as soon as the sinking Of q
neutral ship in the above mentioned zone
! Of naval warfare Ia ascribed to German
war vessels to institute an Immediate In
vestigation into the cause. If grounds APP
pear thereby TO be given for association
OF such a hypothesis. the German navy
places itself In communication with the
! interested neutral government so that
the latter may also institute an investi-
gation.
III the German government In thereby
convinced that the ship has boen de-
stroyed by German war vessels, II will
not delay in carrying out the provisions
OF paragraph two above. In case the
German government, contrary TO the view
point of the neutral government. In MOI
convinced by the request for the inVesti
CATION the German government has also
already on several occasions declared f.
self ready to allow. the question TO b'
decided by an international investigation
committee according to chapter three o.
The Hague convention October IS. 1907
for the peaceful solution Of intenationa
disputes"
Indicates word missing In text