The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-06-04
GERMAN REPLY TO
U.s.N0TE RECEIVED
WlTHHoL0s FINAL ANSWER UN-
TIL WASHINGTON DETERMINES
STATUS OF LUslTANIA.
SAYS SHIP WAS CRUISER
Berlin Says the Act is Justified in At.
tempting to Destroy Ammunition
Intended for Use of Enemy.
Gulflight Case.

Berlin.-Germany withholds III
final decision on the demands ad
vanced by the United States govern
ment In connection with the sinking
Of the Lusitania, until the receipt o
an answer from the United States Il
the note which Herr Won Jagow, tht
foreign minister, has delivered to Am
bassador Gerard In reply to the Amer
lean note received by the German gov
eminent on May 10.
In its reply the German government
declares that it is not its intention tC
submit neutral ships in the war zone
which are guilty of no hostile acts
to attacks by submarines or aero
planes; that 1t is investigating the cir
cumstances in connection with the at
tacks on the American steamers Cush
ing and Gulflight, and that in all cases
where neutral vessels, through no fauit
of their own, have been damaged, Ger
many will pay indemni6cation
The reply urges that in the case OF
the Lusitania, which Germany alleges
was armed and carried large stores
of war munitions, it was acting in
justified self-defense in seeking with
all the means of warfare at It's dispo
sition to protect the lives of its sol
diers by destroying ammunition IN,
tended for the enemy"
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and Lon.
don, designed to end the submarine
warfare and the shutting out of food
supplies from Germany, which it de.
clares failed of their purpose because
of the refusal of the British govern
ment to agree to them.
The text of the German note was
made public May 81.
The following is the text of the Ger
man note:
1.-THE undersigned has the honor 10
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol.
lowing answer to the communication
of May 10, regarding the injury to
American interests through German
warfare
"The imperial government has sub
jected the communication of the Amer
lean government to a thorough inves-
tigation. 1t entertains also a keen
wish to cooperate In 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.
Regarding, firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. The American embassy has al
ready been informed that the German
government has no intention of submit
ting neutral ships in the war zone,
which are guilty of no hostile acts,
to attacks by submarine or subma.
rines 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
DISQUALIFICATION 10 to a uuacffou onfxy ~
quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse of flags. together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior OF the masters of the ships.
THE German government In all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
its investigations that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or ayiators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident and. II justified by conditions,
has offered naturalization.
"The cases of the Gushing and the
Gulflight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation OF both
cases is in progress, the result of
which win presently be communicated
10 the embassy. The investigation
can. If necessary, be supplemented by
an international call on the interna-
tional commission Of inquiry. as pro-
vided by article 3 of The Hague agree
ment OF October is, 1907.
"when sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the German
submarine had the intention Of allow
ing the passengers and crew a full
opportunity for safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the or
der to heave-to, but fled and sum-