The Dolores star., 1915-06-04
eERMAnY'S NOTE
REPLYING TO DEMAND or UNITED
STATES FOR EXPLANATION
OF attacks.
KAISER IGNORES WILSON Of.
MANo THAT SUBMARINE At.
TAcks MUST CEASE.

western Newspaper Union News Service.
Berlin. May 3O.-The undersigned
has the honor to submit to Ambas-
sador Gerard the following answer to
the communication OF May Is. regard
Ing the injury to American interests
through German submarine warfare:
The imperial government has sub
Iected the Communication Of the
American government to q thorough
Investigation. 1t entertains . keen
wish to cooperate in . frank and
friendly way in clearing up q possible
Misunderstanding which may have
arisen In the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern.
ment.
Regarding. firstly. the cases Of the
American steamers Cushing and Gulf.
light. The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger.
man government has no intention Of
submitting neutral ships in the war
some which are guilty Of no hostile
acts. to attacks by submarine or sub
marines. or aviators. On the contrary.
the German forces have repeatedly
been instructed most specifically to
avoid attacks on such ships.
II neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mistakes
in Identification. It 10 q question only
OF quite isolated and exceptional
cases. which can be attributed to the
British governments abuse Of flags,
together with the suspicious or culpa.
BILE behavior of the masters of the
ships.
The German government, in all
cases In which It has been shown by
investigations that neutral ship, not
itself at fault, was damaged by Ger.
man submarines or aviators, has ex.
pressed regret over the unfortunate
accident. and. II Justified by condi.
tons. has offered disqualification.
The cases Of the Cushing and Gulf
light will be treated on the same prin.
ciples. An investigation OF both cases
Is In progress. the result of which will
presently>be communicated to the en-
can be supplemented by an inter
national call on the international
commission of inquiry. as provided BY
Article III of The Hague agreemea.
Of October. IS, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander OF the German
submarine had the intention OF allow
Ing the passengers and crew q full
opportunity for a safe escape. Onl.
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 ter
minutes. He actually allowed then
twenty-three minutes time, and firet
the torpedo only when suspicious Graf
we're Fastening to the assistance o
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 iti
keen regrets that citizens Of theil
states lost their lives.
On this occasion, the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have es
capped the attention of the American
government.
In the Interest Of a clear and com
plete understanding, which is the ain
OF both governments. the imperial
government considers It first neces
sary to convince itself that the infor
nation accessible to both government
about the facts Of the case Ia ,complet
and in accord.
The government OF the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchantmen