The Penn's Grove record., 1915-06-04
Berlin, via London.


eminent funds as an auxiliary cruiser,
and carried expressly as such in the
'tnavy list" issued by the British Adj
miralty.
1t is further known to the Imperial
Government, from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passengers,
that for a considerable time practically
all the more valuable British merchant
men have been equipped with cannon
and ammunition and other weapons and
manned with persons who have been
specially trained in serving guns. The
Lusitania, too, according to information
received here, had cannon aboard which
were mounted and concealed below
decks.
The Imperial Government, further,
has the honor to direct the particular at
tention 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 submarines
by ramming. AS a special incitatiOn to
merchantmen to destroy submarines, the
British Government also offered high
prizes and has already paid such re-
wards.
The Imperial Government, in view of
these facts, Individually known to it, is
unable to regard British merchantmen in
the zone Of naval operations specified by
the Admiralty Staff Of the German Navy
as 'undefended." German commanders
consequently are no longer able to OBJ
serve the customary regulations of the
prize law, which they before always fol-
lowed.
Finally, the Imperial Government
must point out particularly that the Lu-
sitania on it's last trip, as on earlier oc-
c%asions, carried Canadian troops and war
material, including no less than $500
cases of ammunition intended for the de-
struction of the brave German soldiers
who are fulfilling their duty with self
sacrifice and devotion in the fatherland's
service.
The German Government believes that
it was acting in justified self-defense in
seeking with all the means of warfare
at it's disposition to protect the lives of
it's soldiers by destroying ammunition in
tended for the enemy.
lit ohAPPAA6 OOhAPUAJ ANS
have been aware of the danger to which
the passengers aboard the Lusitania
were exposed under these conditions.
The company in embarking them, not
withstanding this, attempted deliberate
ly to use the lives of American citizens
as protection for the ammunition aboard
and acted against the clear provisions
Of the American law, which expressly
prohibits the forwarding of passengers
on ships carrying ammunition, and pro-
vides 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 submarines
Commander, which is further confirmed
by all other information, that the quick
sinking Of the Lusitania is primarily at
~tributable to the explosion of the ammu-
ton shipment caused by a torpedo. The
Lusitania's passengers would otherwise,
in all human probability, have been
saved.
The Imperial Government considers
the aforementioned facts important
enough to recommend them to the at
tentive examination of the American
Government.
The Imperial Government, while
withholding its final decision on the de-
mands advanced in connection with the
sinking of the Lusitania until receipt of
an answer from the American Govern
ment, feels impelled, in conclusion, to
recall here and now that it took cogniz-
ance with satisfaction of the mediatory
proposals submitted by the United States
Government to Berlin and London as a
basis for a modus vivendi for conducting
the maritime warfare between Germany
and Great Britain.
The Imperial Government, by its
readiness to enter Upon a discussion Of
these proposals, then demonstrated its
good is.entions in ample fashion. The
realization of these proposals was de-
feated, as is well known, by the declina-
tory attitude of the British Government.
The undersigned takes occasion, ct
c%etera,
.JAGOW