The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-06-03
GERMANY REGRETS
ATTACKS ON SHIPS;
ASKS MORE FACTS
Berlin Government Replies to
President Wilson's Note.
CALLS LUSITANIA A CRUISER
United States Asked to Investigate
Asserts Liner Carried Mounted
Guns and Cargo Of Ammuni-
tion-Justifies Sinking Of
the FaIaba.

Washington, May 31.-The Germa
reply to the American note sent afte
the sinking Of the Lusitania was re
ceived in Washington last night fron
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin an
made public here.
The following is the text of tn
German note:
THE undersigned has the honor t
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol
lowing answer to the communication
OF May is regarding the injury t,
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
THE imperial government has sub
jected the communication of the Amer
lean government to thorough inves
tigation. 1t entertains also a keer
wish to cooperate In frank and
friendly way in clearing up possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen in the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern
mept.
RC6ol uiA6 III otlyB IAc CdSSS " IAc
American steamers Cushing and
Gulfight. The American embassy has
already 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
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary. the German forces have repeat
eddy been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse Of Flags.
III neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through, the German sub
marine warfare. owing to mistakes in
Identification it is question only Of
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 it has been shown by
Its investigation that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault. was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and if justi-
fed by conditions, has offered in
Identification.
The cases of the Cushing 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 communicated
to the embassy. The investigation
can If necessary be supplemented by
an international call on the interna
tional commission of inquiry as, pro
vided by artle III of The Hague agree
ment of October IS, 1907.
Justifies Sinking Of FaIaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba. the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphOne to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them % minutes time and fired the
torpedo only when suspicious craft !,
were Fastening to the assistance of
the Falaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking Of the British passenger steam |
or Lusitania the German government I
has already expressed to neutral gov.
ernments concerned. its keen regret !
that citizens of their states lost their
lives.
ION this occasion the imperial gov
eminent. however, cannot escape the !
impression that certain important t
facts having a direct bearing on the |
sinking OF the Lusitania may have es-
capped the attention of the American
government.
I'm the interest of clear and. com.
Dlete' understanding, which il the aim
Of both governments, the imperial
government considers It first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both governments.
about the facts Of the case 10 COM
plets and In accord.
Calls lusitania . Cruiser.
The government Of the United
etatea proceeds on the assumption
that The Eusitaaia could b regarded
- an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The imperial government allows
itsslf tu this eonnsction to point ont
tAat the lueltAnia was one Or the