Putnam patriot., 1915-06-04
Berlin, via London.

British merchant ships. built with Gov cfums4 1Hua5 as 8u auxiliary cruiser, aaa carried expressly as such in tae ssHagy Iist issaed by Che British Ad- m5faty.
 Il is fefler known to the Imperial Government. rom trustworthy reports ff5m its aesut= and neutral passengers, tHat lgf siderable fme aelicaiiy ali the more valuable British merchant m9u have been equipped with cannon and amHauiIon and other weapons and manned with persons who have been specially uEued iH serving guns. The IazitaHla. loo. according to information received here bad cannon aboard which were mounted and concealed below decks
 The Imperial Government further, las the honor 10 direct the particular at- tenfi0u 0f fhe American Government 10 the fact that the British Admiralty, in q confidential instruction, issued in February. 1915, recommended it5 mer- eaHfiIe shipping not only to seek pro- tection under neutral flags and dis tnguishing marks but also. while thus disguised. 10 attack German submarines by rammng. As q special incitatlon 10 merchantmen to destroy submarines, the British Government also offered high prizes and has already paid such re- wards.
 The Imperial Government in view of these facts, indabitably known to if, IS unable 10 regard British merchantmen in the zone Of naval operations specified by the Admiralty Staff of the German Navy as .undefendcd German commanders consequently are 10 longer able to ob- serve tbe customary regulations of the prize law. which they before always fol- lowed
 Finally. the Imperial Government must point out particularly that the Lu- sitania on its last trip, as on ealIler oc- casons, carried Canadian troops and war material, including no less than 5,400 cases of ammunition intended for the de strnetion of the brave German soldiers who are fulfilling their duty with self sacrifice and devotion in the fatherand 8 service.
 The German Government believes that il was acting in justified self-defense in seeking with all the means of warfare at its disposition to protect the lives of it's soldiers by destroying ammunition ill., tended for the enemy
 The British shipping company must have been aware of the dahger 10 which the passengers aboard the Basitania were exposed under these conditions. The company in embarking them, not withstanding this. attempted deliberate lv tn Use the lives=of American citizens as protection for the ammunition aboard and acted against the clear provision of tbe American law which expressly prohibits the forwarding of passengers on ships carrying ammunition, anal pro- vldes a penalty therefor. The company, therefore. Is wantouly guilty of the death of so many passengers.
 There can be no doubt, according 10 the definite report of the submarine s Commander. whieh is further confirmed by all other information. that the quick sinking of the Lustania IS primarily at- tributable to the explosion of the ammu- tion shipment caused by a torpedo. The Lustania $ passengers would otherwise, in all human probability, have been saved
 The Imperial Government considers the above-mentioned facts important enough to recommend them to the at tentive examination of the American Government.
 The Imperial Government, while withholding it's final decision on the de- mands advanced in connection with the sinking of the Lusitania until receipt of an answer from the American Govern meut feels impeled. in conclusion, to recall here and now that it took cogniz- ancc with satisfaction of the mediatory proposals submitted hy the United States Government to Berlin and London as basis for a modus viveudi for conducting the maritime warfare between Germany and Great Britain.
 The Imperial Government, bv its readiness to enter upon discussion of these proposals, then demonstrated it's good intentions in ample fashion. The realization of these proposals was de feated as is well known hy the deelina- tory attitude of the British Government.
 The undersigned takes occasion, ct cetera,
 eJAGOW.