The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-06-03


facts having direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have
escaped the attention of the American
| Government.
An Auxiliary Cruiser.
I'm the interest Of q clear and com.
plete understanding which Is the aim
OF both Governments, the Imperial
Government considers it first, neces.
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 Govern
ment Of the United States proceeds on
the assumption that the Lusiatania
could be regarded as an ordinary un-
| armed merchantman. The Imperial
Government allows itself in this con-
nectton to point out that the Lusi-
tania was one OF the largest and fast
est British merchant ships, built with
Government funds as an auxiliary
cruiser and carried expressly as such
in the Navy list issued by the British
Admiralty.
ut is further known to the I'm
perial Government, from trustworthy
reports from it's agents and neutral
passengers, that for considerable
timo practically all the more valuable
British merchantmen have been
equipped with cannon and ammuni-
tion and other weapons and manned
with persons who have been specially
trained in serving guns. The Lusi-
tania, too, according to information.
| received here had cannon aboard
which were mounted and concealed
below decks.
Prizes for Ramming
"The Imperial Government further
has the honor to direct the particular
to the fact that the British admiralty
in confidential instruction, issued in
February. 1916, recommended it's mer
camille shipping not only to seek pro-
lection under neutral flags and distin-
gushing marks, but also, while thus
disguised to attack German subma-
rines by ramming. AS special Incl
tation to merchantmen to destroy sub
marines the British government also
offered high prizes and has already
| paid such rewards.
"The Imperial government in view
Of these facts, individually known to
it, is unable to regard British mer,
chantmen in the zone OF naval Oper.
ations specified by the admiralty staff
OF the German navy as 'undefended.
German commanders consequently are
no longer able to observe the custom.
airy regulations Of the prize law, which
they before always followed.
Carrier War Material.
Finally the Imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania on it's last trip, as on earlier
occasions, carried Canadian troops and
war material, Including no less than
5,400 cases Of ammunition intended
man soldiers who are fulfilling their
duty with self-sacrifice and devotion
In the fatherlands service
1.-THE German government believes
1t was acting in justified self-defense
In seeking with all the means Of war
fare at its disposition to protect the
lives OF its soldiers by destroying am
munition intended for the enemy.
"The British shipping company
to which the passengers aboard the
Lusitania were exposed under these
conditions. The company in embark
ing them, Notwithstanding this at
tempted deliberately 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 pro-
hibits the forwarding Of passengers on
ships carrying ammunition and pro-
vides a penalty therefor. The COM
pany, therefore, is wantonly guilty Of
the death OF SO many passengers
There can be no doubt, according
to the definite report OF the subma-
rine's commander, which Is further
| confirmed by all other information
that the quick sinking Of the Lus1tania
Is primarily attributable to the explo-
sion OF the ammunition shipment
caused by torpedo. The Lustania
passengers would otherwise, in all hu-
man probability, have been saved.
"The Imperial government consid.
ers the aforementioned facts impor-
tant enough to recommend them to
lio ulISullNS or In8
American government.
Withhods Final Decision.
'The Imperial government, while
Withholding It's final decision on the
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking OF the Lusitania until re-
ceipt Of an answer from the American
government feels impelled in conclu-
sion, to recall here and now, that it
took cogniZance with satisfaction OF
the mediatory proposals submitted by
tho United States government to Ber-
lin and London as basis for modus
vivendi for conducting the maritime
warfare between Germany and Great
Britain. The Imperial government, by
It's readiness to enter upon discus.
sion OF these proposals, then demon.
strated itB good intentions in ample
fashion. The realization OF these pro.
pOsals was defeated, as Is we'll known
by the declinatory attitude of the Brit
tsh government
| "The undersigned takes occasion