Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1915-06-02
Garmaly EVadGs Important Points
Says lusitania was an Auxiliary Cruiser and
Carried Arms, Ammunition and Soldiers.

scsn note Oh the sinking of th'
Lasitania was slgned by Herr voI
Jagow, the Foreign Minister at l.
O'CLOCK last night AID delivered tt
Ambassador Gerard shis morning
for transnission to Washington.
The note expresses Germany't
regret. . for injuries sustained by
Americans as a result of subma'
rins and aeroplane attacks. and
off srs compensation in cases in
which Germany is found to De in
the wrong.
As indicated previously in these
tlisp patches, the note defers direct
answer to the Questions raised by
President Wilson, pending fur.
ther exchange of views. Germany
desires t. establish whether the
Lusitaliia was defenseless mer-
chant ship or was being used for
the transportation of war ammu'
nitions and soldiers, en- which un.
suspecsing passengers were pei NIT.
ted to take passage to safeguard
the war materials.
The American representations re
garding the torpedcing of the Bri'
tlsh steamer Falaba, in which an
American c'tiz IN lost his life are
al. red with the Statements that
1t wes intended to offer ample
time for the passengers and crew
b leave the chip. The action of
the captain in attempting to es.
Cape, however, necessltated more
summary action. Even then the
commander of th Q submarine
granted 10 minutes for those on
board TO leave the vessel and sub
sequently extended the time to %
minutes before sinking the ship.
Germany expresses regrets fer
"the unintsntional attacks" Oh
the American steamer Cushing
and the Gntisht. The Cushing
was attacked by German airmen
in the North Sea aud the Gulfght
was torpedoed of Sciily Islands.
Germany disavows any intention
to attack harmless neusral craft.
She offers to pay compensation
wherever she is found to he in the
wrong, and to refer doubtful cases
to the Hsgue for decision.
The passages in the American
note concerning a possible dlsa-
vowalby Germany of intent to sink
the Lusitania and the discontinn
ance Of her present practices Of
submarine warfare are not men.
toned specifically in the reply.
The note states tnat pending
the reply of the American Govern.
ment to the German assumptions
of the fact regarding the real
character ef the Lnsitania and her
cargo, no attempt will be made to
answer the demands contained in
ths American communication
These assumptions OF fact are as
follows:
"rhe Lusitania was built as an
auxiliary cruiser. subsidized and
carried on the Navy lists as such.
She carried. according to German
information, two guns mounted
and conceals d below decks.
British steamers sailing from
New Y ork, according to informa.
tion received from passengers and
other sources. repeatedly carried
soldiers, artillery. war supplies
and contraband to England, the
Lusitania on this trip had 4 500
cases of ammunition in addition
to other war supplies aid Canadi-
an troops en- route to the front.
Refereno oe is here made to the
fact that carrying explosives on
passenger stea m srs Is contrary to
American law. 1t is lntimated
that the German Government
would be glad to receive lnforma.
tlon as to how it happened that
munition was permitted to be
shipped OH bhs Lusitaula, vessel
crowded wlbh PASSENGERS. Strong
phrases are used regarding what is
considered as apparently the de.
liberate policy OF British shipping
companies to protsct war ship.
msuts by embarking American
passengers on the same ships.
Germany contends it is impossi.
bile TO settle the question whether
proper opportunity was given to
place the passengers and crew in