The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-06-03
THREE

as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The Imperial Government al
lows itself in this connection to point
out that the Lusitania was one OF
the largest and fastest British mer-
chant shi ps, built with Government
funds as an auxiliary cruiser and
carried expressly as such in the navy
list issued by the British Admiralty.
1t is further known to the I'M
perial Government from trustworthy
reports from its agents and neutral
passengers that for a considerable
time practically all the more yalu-
able British merchantmen have been
equipped with cannon and ammuni-
tion and other weapons and manned
with persons who have been special
ly trained in serving guns. The
Lusitania too, according to informa-
! ton received here, had cannon
aboard which were mounted and
concealed below decks.
CAN NO LONGER OBSERVE PRIZE LAW.
The Imperial Government, further,
/ has the the honor to direct the par
ticular attention Of the American
Government to the fact that the
British Admiralty, in a confidential
instruction issued in February, 1915.
recommended its mercantile ship
ping not only to seek protection.
under neutral flags and distinguish
ing marks, but also, while thus dis
guised, to attack German sabma-
rines by ramming. AS special in
citation to merchantmen to destroy
submarines, the British Government
also offered high prizes and has al
ready paid such rewards.
The Imperial Government, in view
Of these facts individually known to
it, is unable to regard British mer-
chantmen in the zone of naval opera
tions specified by the Admiralty staff
of the German navy as 'undefend-
ed" German commanders, conse-
quentIy, are no longer able to OBJ
serve the customary regulations Of
the prize law which they before al
ways followed.
Finally, the Imperial Government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania on it's last trip, as On
earlier occasions, carried Canad'&n
troops and war material, inclndi g
no less than 5,400 cases of ammu-
milton intended for the destruction
of the brave German soldiers who
are fulfilling their duty with self
sacrifice and devotion in the Father
lands service.
AN ACT OF JUSTIFIED SELF-DEFENSE.
The German Government believes
that it was acting in justified self
defense 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, dan
ger to which the passengers aboard
the Lusitania were exposed under
these conditions. The company in
embarking them, Notwithstanding
this, attempted deliberately to use
the lives of American citizens as pro-
lection for the ammunition a hoard,
and acted against the clear provis-
ions of the American law which ex-
pressly prohibits the forwarding Of
:. passengers on ships carrying am
munition and provides a penalty
therefor. The company, therefore.
is wantonly guilty of the death of
so many passengers.
There can be no doubt, according
; to the definite report of the sub
marines commander, which is fur
ther confirmed by all other informc-
ton, that the quick sinking Of the
Lusitania is primarily attributable
to the explosion of the ammunition
shipment caused by a torpedo. The