The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-06-04
GERMANY REPLIES To AMERICAN NOTE
REGARDING SINKING Of THE UUSTAN|A
Berlin Government Declares it Does Not Intend to Submit Neut1a
Ships to Submarine Attacks Alleges Cunard Liner Was
Armed WithhoIds Final Decision.

lE mai CeGlslOl On the demands 3a-
yanced by the United States govern
ment in connection with the sinking
Of the Lnsitania until the receipt Of
an answer from the United States to
the note which Herr Won Jaggw. the
foreign minister, has delivered to Am
bassador Gerard. in reply TO the
American note received by the Ger
man government on May Is.
In its reply, The German govern
| nent declares that 1t is not its inten-
ton to submit neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty Of no hostile
acts, to attacks b. submarines or aero
planes; that it Is Investigating the
circumstances in connection With the
attacks on the American steamers
Cushing and G~ulnight, and that in
all cases where neutral vessels,
through no fault of their own have
been damaged, Germany will pay in
Gensnifcation,
The reply urges that in the case Of
the Lusitania which Germany alleges
was armed and carried large stores of
war munitions, ii was acting in JUS
titled ~seif-defense in seeking with all
the means Of warfare at its disposi-
ton to protect the lives of its soldiers
by destroying ammunition intended for
the enemy"
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and Lon
I don, designed to end the submarine
warfare and the shutting out OF food
supplies from Germany, which, 1t de-
clared, failed of their purpose because
Of the refusal Of he British govern
ment to agree to them.
Text Of German Reply.
Berlin. via London, May 3i.-The
following is the text of the German
reply to the note of the United States
government:
The undersigned has the honor TO
submit to ambassador Gerard the fol
lowing answer to the communication
OF May Is regarding the injury to
American interest through German
submarine warfare:
THE Imperial government has sub
tected the communication Of the
I'LL I1ah iliii18tl = q
Investigation 1t e%ntertains also a
keen wish to cooperate in a frank and
friendly way in clearing up a possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen in the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern
ment.
ANNtA A%%4NLr An M>vAr ~
Regarding. firstly. the cases of the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. The American embassy has al
ready been Informed that the Ger
man government has no intention OF
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty Of no hostile
acts, to attacks by a submarine or sub
marines or aviators. On the contrary.
the German forces have repeatedly
been instructed most specifically to
avoid attacks on such ships.
If neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare. owing to mistakes in
identification, it is a question only of
quite isolated aud exceptional cases.
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse Of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpahle be-
havior of the masters of the SHIPS.
Expresses Deep Regret.
The German government in all
cases in which it has beer shown by
its Investigations that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
/ German rinoc or oy;aforc hac
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident, and, If justified by conditions
has offered indemnification.
The cases of the Gushing 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 communicate
ed to the embassy. The investiga-
ton. II necessary. will be supplement-
ed by an international call on the in
ternef!nnal commission Of inquiry, as
provided by Article III of The Hague
agreement Of October Is. 1907.
Sinking Of the Faiaba.
when Esnking the British steamer
EAlaba. the commander Of the Ger
man E.hmarine had the intention of
| allowing tie passengers and crew a
full opportunity for a safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to h~eaye-tO, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
| crew and passengers by signals and
megaphones to leave the ship within
| ten minutes. He actually allowed them
23 minutes time. and fired the torpedo
only when suspicious craft were hast
e1ing to the assistance of the Falaba.
Regarding the Lusitania.
Regarding the loss Of life by the
| sinking OF the British passenger
steausor Lusitania, the German gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned its
keen regret that citizens Of their states
lost their lives.
ION this occasion the Imperial gov