Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-05-11
THE GERMAN NOTE ON THE LUs1TAN1A

eminent regrets the deed Of its submarine.
Unofficially, the belief was expressed in
Washington yesterday that the United States
would expect at least formal apology, specific
ally to include the Lusitana incident, and such
reparation as Germany can make for the
Americans whose neutral lives were sacrificed
on the red altar of war. This first cOmmuni
cation of Germany since the Lusitania van
ished beneath the waves last Friday is in no
sense an apology nor does it offer what Ameri
cans could consider adequate reparation. The
message Ambassador Won Bernstorff was in
structed to communicate to the American state
department says:
The German government desires to express its
deepest sympathy for the loss of the lives in the
Isusitania The responsibility rests however, with
the British government Through its plan of starv-
ing civilians in Germany. Germany forced to
fetaliatory measures.
In spite of the German offer to stop the subma-
Tine warfare in the starvation plan given
up British merchant vessels have been armed and
repeatedly tried to the submarines, search
impossible
Therefore this be treated that of
ordinary merchant vessel.
It is admitted that the Lusitania had previously
carried material On her last voyage the Lus
tania carried 5400 cases of ammunition and the rest
of the cargo was chiefly contraband.
~ IL England, after repeated official warnings
sidered herself able declare that the boat
risk England assumed the responsibility for human
life. Germany, despite heartfelt sympathy at the
loss OF Americans. cannot but regret that the
Americans felt more inclined to trust to English
promises rather than to heed German warnings.
1t is probably significant that the German
note contains no expression of regret at the
sinking of the Lusitania, the word 'regret"
being used only in this phrase: Germany can
not but regret that the Americans felt more in
clfned to trust to English promises rather than
to heed German warnings" ..a...4.4
On the brief note there is not the slightest
acknowledgment that Germany has erred, not
the least hint that Officially the government
does not indorse the sinking of the Lusitania
and its attendant drowning of neutrals and
non-combatants. There is not the slightest as
surance that Germany is not prepared to repeat
the torpedoing upon any and every British
passenger vessel her submarines can reach.
The real significance of Germany s note is
that Americans must regard the sinking of the
Lusitania as part of Germany IS authorized
plan of war; not an individual instance where
submarine commander overstepped his orders
or went beyond German policy. When the
now-famous German proclamation of war
zone" around the British isles was issued three
months ago, Germany justified her plan Of a
Submarine war by the statement that the
British program of starvation forced her to
retaliatory measures 1t will be recalled that
America scarce credited Germany with the in
ton to sink merchant vessels by the wholesale.
They were soon forced to credit the Teutons
not only with the intention but with the deed.
On February IL, shortly after the German
proclamation was issued, an Associated Press
despatch from Washington said this:
1.-THE state department has warned Germany
with emphasis that the destruction of any
American vessel within the newly prescribed
war-zone will cause serious complications.
With what unconcern Germany viewed this
warning was soon shown. Four days later the
dispatches chronicled that 1.-THE Montag lei
tung of Berlin in an editorial today asks what
harm America can do Germany if it comes to a
showdown on the recent warning by the U. S.
against submarine attack on American ships.
America has no army. It's fleet dare not APP
proach nearer than does England's. America s
threats are too ridiculous for Germany to take
them seriously says the paper.
That is undoubtedly the view Germany takes
now Her note through Ambassador Won Bern
storff is more courteous but it contains nothing
that can possibly be construed as an apology.
Such being the case America must regard
the sinking of the Lusitania as typical Of what
Americans are to expect if they travel in waters
Germany chooses to declare embraced in a
swar-zonev They are not safe under their
own flag, as was shown when the Germans tor
pedoed the steamer Gulflight off the Sicily
Isles. They are not safe on passenger vessel
Ms - al