Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-03

ONAAhB many OiiONAuB 10 INC
text Of the German reply to the Unit
ed States note on the sinking of the
Lusitania, in which lis Americans
lost their lives:
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 sub
jected the communication Of the
American government to a thorough
investigation. It entertains also a
keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a pos
sible misunderstanding which may
have arisen in the relations between
the two governments through the
events mentioned by the American
government.
Regarding firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Gushing and Gulf
light. The American embassy has al
ready 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.
Flag Misuse Attack Cause.
If neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to a mis-
take in identification, it is a question
only of quite isolated and exceptional
cases, which al be attributed to the
British governments abuse of flags,
together with the suspicious or cul-
pable behavior of the masters of the
ships.
The German government, in all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
its Investigations that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regrete over the unfortu-
nate accident, and, if justified by con
ditions, has offered indemnification.
The cases Of the Gushing and the
Gulflight 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 Article III OF The Hague
agreement of October IS, 1907.
Blames FaIaha Captain.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander Of the German
submarine had the intention of al
lowing the passengers and crew a full
opportunity for a safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the
order to heave to but fled and sum-
moned help by rocket signals, did the
German commander order the crew
and passengers by signals and mega
phones to leave the ship within 10
minutes. He actually allowed them
% minutes time and fired the torpe-
do only when suspicious craft was
Fastening to the assistance of the
Falaba.
Regarding the loss Of life by the
sinking of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania, the German gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned it's
keen regret that citizens of their
states lost their lives.
Would Fix Status of Lusltania.
On this occasion the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have es-
capped the attention of the American
government.
In the interest of q clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
by both governments, the imperial
SONOAAIlCnI SoLoiuSio IL HISJ ueCSS-
sary to convince itself that the in.
formation accessible to both govern
ments about the facts of the case is
complete and in accord.
The government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as IN ordinary unarmeG 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 merchant
ships, built with government funds
as an auxiliary cruiser and carried
expressly as such in the navy list"
isued by the British admiralty.