The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-06-10
GermonY'S HnSsOer
TO u. s. Note

as an ordinary unarDed merchant
man. The imperial government al
Iws itself in this connection o p int
out that the Lusitania vas onr II
the largest and fastest British met.
chant ships, buiit with government
funds as an auxiliary cruiser and car
ried expressly as such in tie navy
list Issued by the British admiralty.
at Is further known to the lmoer-
ial government, from trust sorthy re-
ports from its agents and neutral pas
sengsrs, that for considerable time
practically all the moIe valuable
British merchantmen have been
equipped with cannon and ammuni-
tioH and other Neapons and manned
with persons WHO have been specially
trained In serving guns Tue l. ST.
tania. too, according TO information
received here, had cannon ABOARD,
which were mounted aud concealed
below decks.
"The imperial government further
has tile honor to direct the particular
attention OF the American govern
'uent N the fact tnat the British
admiralty in a confidential instruc.
tiuu issued Ia February 1915 recon-
mended It's mercantile snipping not
only to seek protection under ne utral
fiags and distinguishing marks but
also while thus disguised TO attack
German submarines by ramming
AS special incita,ion to merchant
men tn destroy submarines the Brit
ish government also offered high
prizes and has already paid such re-
wards
"The imperial government In view
OF these facts indubitibly kno sn t.
It is unable to regard British mer.
chantmen in the zone ~ naval opera
tions specified by the admiralty stan
OF the Germany navy as undefend-
ed. German commaade conse
quently are no niger able to observe
the customary re ulations OF the
prize law which theY before always
followed.
"Finally The imperial government
must point out particularly that the
LusItania on its last trip as on earlier
occasions carried Canadian troops
and war material including no ~
than 54OO cases OF ammunition in.
tended for the destruction OF the
brave German soldiers who are fulfil'
ling their duty with self-sscrifce
aud devotion IN the fatherland sery.
ice.
"The German government believes
that IL was acting in justified self
defense IN seeking with all tile means
OF warfare at it's disposition, 10 pro
tpcl the lives Of It's soldiers by de.
stroylng ammunil ion Intended ioU
4 the enemy.
"The British shipping company
must have been aware OF the DANCE
to which the passengers abuard tn,
! Lusitan.a were exposed un Ter these
conditions. The company In embark
ing them, rot Sithstandins this at
tempted deliberately TO use the live
Of American citizens as protection
Tor the ammunition a5uard and &C tee
against tile clear provisions of th,
American law, witch expressly pro
hihits the forwarding OF passenger
on s1ips carrying ammunition an'
provides penalty therefor. Tn
company therefore Is wAntOnly guilt,
OF the death Of 50 many passengers.
"There can be no doubt, aecordinI
to the definite report OF the suhmar
ines commander, when IL furthe
confirmed bE other information tina
the quick sinking Of the Lusitania
primarily attributable 20 the explo
sion Of the munitiun sbipuen
caused bv a torpedo, TIE Lusitania
passengers would otherwise, in a
human probability. have bfen saved
THE imperial government consid
. ers the above mentioned facts impoi
: tAnt enough 20 -cou mend IA m {
j J the attentive minati0u OF Oh
, American government
J "TEe imperial government, whiI
: withholding IT, final decision on "a
demands advanced IN connectio
= With tie sinking Of the Lusitanl
Z until receipt Of an answer from ~
/ American gov rnmsni, feels impeile'
? IN co ciusiOn, to recall h-re and nov
9 th~t IL to L cfgH Zaucs with salts "a
: tion 0i the meilat0rE Props lls sal
mittsd by the United Stats RoEsrl
= M mt 10 Berlin aid Loujou a. bas
D Tor . % bdus yiyendi for C nductir
] the maritime AarIAre between &c
= many and Great Britain. Tie "a
:. p-rial government, by its readiness
= e ter upon a discussion these pr
e pusals, lhen demonstrated it, 20,