Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-06-02
REPLIES To AMERICAN NOTE
REGARDING SINKING Of THE LUSNAN|A
Berlin Government Declare; ii Does Not Intend to Submit neutral
Ships to Submarine Attacks Alleges Clnard Liner was
Anned-Witnh0Ids Fina! Decision.

I have been specially LIdiheu .Ao
guns. The Lusitania, too, according
| to information received here, had can
non aboard, which were mounted anu
| concealed below decks.
THE Imperial government 1urther
| has the honor to direct the particular
! attention OF the American government
| to the fact that the British admiralty
| in a confidential instruction. issued IN
| February, 1915, recommended its mer-
| camille shipping not only to seek pro-
lection under neutral flags and dis
tinguishing marks, but also while thus
disguised to attack German subma-
rines by ramming. AS a special incl
tation to merchantmen to destroy sub
marines, the British government also
offered high prizes and has already
paid such rewards. ,r i.
THE Imperial government in view
of these facts Individually known to
it, is unable to regard British mer-
chantmen in the % of naval opera
lions specified by the admiralty staff
Of the German navy as '~undetended.'
German commanders consequently are
no longer able to observe the custo-
mary regulations of the prize law
which they before always followed.
Canadian Troops Abroad?
Finally, the Imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania, on its last trip as on earlier
occasions, carried Canadian troops
and war material, including no less
than 5,400 cases of ammunition intend
ed for the destruction of the brave
German soldiers who are fulfilling.
their duty with self sacrifices and de-
votion in the fatherland's service.
"The German government believes
that it was acting in justified self-de-
Tense in seeking with all the means
of warfare at its disposition to pro-
tect the lives OF its soldiers by de-
stroying ammunition intended for the
enemy.
THE British shipping company must
have been aware of the danger to
which the passengers aboard the LUST
tania were exposed under these con-
ditions. The company in embarking
them, notwithstanding this, attempted
deliberately to use the lives Of Ameri.
can citizens as protection for the am
munition aboard and acted against
the clear provisions Of the American
law, which expressly prohibits the for
warding of passengers on ships carry
ing ammunition, and provides a pen-
atty therefor. The company, there
fore, is wantonly guilty of the death
of so many passengers. '...sa a...
Claims Ammunition Exploded. ~
There can be no doubt, according
to the definite report of the subma-
rine's commander, which is further
confirmed by all other information that
the quick sinking of the Lusitania is
primarily attributable to the explosion
of the ammunition shipment caused
by a torpedo. The Lusitania's passen.
gers would otherwise in all human
probability have been saved.
The Imperial government consid.
ers the above mentioned factors i'm.
portant enough to recommend them
to the attentive examination of the
American government. |
WithhoIds Final Dieision,
"The imperial government, while
Withholding its final decision on tha
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking of the Lusitania until the
receipt Of an answer from the Ameri.
can government, feels impelled in con.
clusion to recall here and now, that,
it took cognizance with satisfaction of
the mediatory proposals submitted by
the United States government to Der.
lin and London as a basis for q modus
vivendi for conducting the maritime
warfare between Germany and Great
Britain. The Imperial government, by
its readiness to enter upon a discus.
sion of these proposals, then demon.
strated its good intentions in ample
fashion. The realization Of these PRO
posals was defeated, as is well known
by the %declinatory attitude of the Brit.
ish government.
THE undersigned takes occasion.
etc.
(Sipnod\ D..