The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-02

Neutral Ships In war Lone TO Az
tacks by Submarines or Aero
planes.
Berlin, May 3O.-Germany with
holds it's final decision on the de-
mands advanced by the United States
government in connection with the
sinking of the Lusitania until the re-
ceipt of an answer from the United
States to the note which Herr Won
Jagow, the foreign minister, has de-
livered to Ambassador Gerard, IN
reply to the American note received
by the German government on May
Is. In it's reply the German govern
ment declares that it is not its inten-
ton to submit neutral ships in the
war zone, which are guilty of no hos
tile acts, to attacks by submarine or
aeroplane; that it is investigating
the circumstances in connection with
the attacks on the American steam
ers Cushing and Gulfight and that in
all cases where neutral vessels,
through no fault of their own, have
been damaged Germany will pay in
Identification.
The reply urges that in the case of
the Lusitania, which Germany allie
ges, was armed and carried large
stores of war munitions, "it was act
ing in justified self-defense in seek
ing with all the means of warfare at
its disposition to protect the lives of
the soldiers by destroying ammuni-
ton intended for the enemy"
Pass Buck to British.
The German government recalls
the proposals submitted by the Unit
ed States government to Berlin and
London, designed to end the subma-
rine warfare and the shutting out of
food supplies from Germany which,
it declares, failed of their purpose
because of the refusal of the British
government to agree to them.
The following is the text of the
German note made public today:
: "The undersigned has the honor
to submit to Ambassador Gerard the
following answer to the communica-
ton of May Is regarding the injury
to American interests through Ger
man submarine warfare.
"The imperial government has
subjected the communication of the
American government to a thorough
investigation. 1t entertains also
keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up
possible misunderstanding which
may have arisen in the relations be-
tween the two governments through
the events mentioned by the Ameri-
can government.
Regarding, firstly, the cases of
the American steamers Cushing and
Gulfight. The American embassy
has already been informed that the
German government has no inten-
ton of submitting neutral ships in
the war zone, which are guilty of no
hostile acts, to attacks by submarines
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
submarine warfare, owing to mis-
takes in Identification, it is a ques-
ton only of quite isolated and excep-
tional cases, which can be attributed
to the British governments abuse of
flags, together with the suspicious or
culpable behavior of the masters of
the ships.
The German government in all
cases in which it has been shown by
its Investigations that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortu-
nate accident and, if justified by con
ditions, has offered indemnifcation.
Cushing and Gulflight.
"The cases of the Cushing and the
Il L