The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-18

States government today cabled Am
bassador Gerard for presentation to
the German government note calling
attention ito the grave situation which
has resulted" from violation of AmeTi-
can rights on the high seas, culninat-
ing in the sinking of the Lusitania,
with loss of more than one hundred
American lives.
II communication expresses the
confident expectation of the United
States that the imperial German gov
ernment will disavow the acts Of
which the government of the United
States complains; that they will make
reparation so far as reparation is pos
sible for injuries which are without
measure, and that they will take i'm
mediate steps to prevent the recur-
renee of anything so obviously subver-
sive of the principles of warfare, for
which the imperial German govern
ment in the past so wisely and so
firmly contended."
In its conclusion the note states
"that the imperial German government
will not expect the government of
the United States to omit any word
or any act necessary to the perform
ance of its sacred duty of maintaining
the rights of the United States and
its citizens and of safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment"
Text Of the Note.
The full text of the note was made
public tonight by the State depart
ment as follows:
Department of State,
Washington, May 13, 1915.
'The Secretary of State to the Am
bassador at Berlin:
please call on the minister of for
eign affairs and, after reading to him
this communication, leave with him a
copy.
an view of recent acts of the Ger
man authorities in violation of Ameri-
can rights On the high seas, which cul-
minated in tie torpedoing and sinking
of the British steamship Lusitania on
May Z, 1915, by which over one hun
dred American citizens lost their lives,
it is clearly wise and desirable that
the government of the United States
and the imperial German government
should come to clear and full un-
derstanding as to, Uae grave situation
which has arisen.
"The sinking of the British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by German sub
marine on March %, through which
Leon C. ThresIaer, an American citizen,
was drowned; the attack on April %
on the American vessel Gushing by a
German aeroplane; the torpedoing on
May 1 of the American vessel Gulf
light by German submarine, as re-
suit of which two or more American
citizens met t:eir death, and finally,
the torpedoing and sinking of the
steamship Lusitania, constitute series
of eventsof events which the govern
ment of the United States mas observed
with growing concern, DISTRESS and
amazement.
Previous Attitude.
Recalling TIE humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government in mat
tiers of international right, and partic-
ularly with regard to the freedom OF
the seas; having learned to recognize
the German views and tie German in
fluence on the field of international OBJ
hgation as always engaged upon the
side of justice and humanity, and hav-
ing understood the instructors Of the
imperial German government to its
naval commanders to be upon the same
plane of humane action prescribed by
the naval codes OF o0ler nations, the
government of the United States was
loath to believe-it can not now bring
itself to believe-that these acts, so
absolutely contrary to the rules, the
practices and the spirit of modern
warfare, could have the countenance
or sanction of that great government.
It feels it to be its duty, therefore, to
address the imperial German govern
ment concerning them with the utmost
frankness and in the earnest hope taat
it is not mistaken in expecting action
on the part of the imperial German
government which will correct the un-
fortunate Impressions which have been
~created and vindicate once more the
position of that government with re-
gard to the sacred freedom of the
seas.
RetaliatOry Methods.