Bisbee daily review., 1915-05-30
NE83ASKAN IS VICTIM IF
 WASP
Such Was Proven by the ln- vestigstion of American Naval Men in Liverpool Upon the Boats Arrival.
PRESIDENT RESERVES
 COMMENT OF REPLY
Proof That Nebraskan Was Torpedoed Adds Another
 Grave Factor 10 Already Tense Situation in Matter.

WASHINGTON. Fay 2g.-Uuu thc official text Of the German reply 60 the American note, concerning the vie olatiou of neutral rights in the war zone is received which Is probable toe morrow. Che president win reserve comment This came from Inc White House tonight. after press dispatches outlining the German note. were re. ceived It is known however. the United States is prepared to contr0- vert any point mentioned in the sum. mary of the German position as pub lished here
 The press outline conforms to Am- erican Ambassador Gerard's despatah- es of the last few days iorecastius the nature Of the German reply E1- ideuce of an indisputable character was gathered by the Washington gov ernment prior Co sending the note to Germany May 13 to prove the Lusl- tania carried no guns. mounted or uu- mounted and that she carried no eN- ploslves, within the meaning of Amer ican statutes. also that no British ves- sels had cleared American poT;s for several months carrying any guns of any character
 A grave factor was added Co the sit- nation by thc finding Of the American commission appointed by Ambassador Page, that the American steamer Ne braskan. was torpedoed without warn ing by a submarine In German quar- ters it is claimed consistently that the vessel must have struck a mine
 The British ambassador here is pre- pairing to transmit assurances from the British government that the Lusi- tanIa was not armed and that she could not be carried on the naval list as an auxiliary cruiser unless armed and commissioned. the latter change from a peaceful merchantmen to an auxiliary cruiser being possible, ar- cording to British practice, only in home ports.
 The United States, moreover holds the carrying or arms or ammunition or other contraband, or a few unarmsi individuals who might be prospective soldiers, does not destroy tie right. under international law and Humanity that belligerent merchantmen be vis- tied and searched before destroyed, and that neutral or combatant passeE- gers transferred Co a place of safety.
 While the phrasooloey Of the Ger man reply is awited with much inter est, there is a feeling of pessimism in many quarters over the evasion of the presidents demands for reparati1l for the loss Of more than a hundred American lives. and the guarantees that submarine warfare win be SO cen. ducted in the future, as t0 safeguard American lives and vessels.
 Lieutenant Towers, the naval ai. tache and Naval Constructor McBrid of the American embassy. with Con. sul Washington at Liverpool, report ed through Ambassador Page that af ter a technical examination of the Ne braskan and on the testimony of tho chief engineer of the vessel that he saw the wake oi torpedo, they had no doubt that the ship was attacked by a submarine lnasmuch as the sur marines Of the allied powers have mol attacked merchantmen, the presump tion Of officials is similar to thai reached after che investigation of th' attack on the Gulnight that a German submarine is responsible. Inquiry tC the German foreign office for its re port on the case is expected to go ir a day or two.