The Dolores star., 1915-07-16


ne interests Of neutrals might suffer-
uom the submarine WasfAre. How.
ever, the American govenmeat WIN
eAeo understand and APPRECIATE that
IN the Tight for existenee which has
been forced upon Germany BY its o.
versartes and announced b. them, tt
10 the sacred duty OF the imperial Sow
ernment to do all within It's power 10
protect and save the lives Of German
| subjects.
Gnsmtse BLAMED fer lwsitania herree.
If the imperial government were
dereifct in these. its duties, II woulA
be guilty before God and history q
the violation OF those principles oe
highest humanity which are the foun-
datton Of every national existence.
The case Of the Lusitania shows
| with horrible clearness to what 3ooD-
ardisins Of human lives the manner oe
conducting war employed BY our 81
versaries leads. In the most direct
contradictioa Of international law. IN
distinction between merchantmen aad
war vessels has been obliterated ~
the order to British msechantmen to
arm themselves and to ram subma-
rtnes, and the promise Of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen ~ trave;srs thereby have
| been exposed In an increasing degree
| to all the dangers OF war
III the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lust
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing . torpedo, this would have
meant the sure destruction Of his own
vessel. After the experiences in sink
ing much smaller and less seaworthy
VESSELS, II was to be expected that .
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough even
after the torpedoing to permit pas
sengers to enter the ships boats.
| Explosion hastened Destruction.
| circumstance Of . very peculiar
kind, especially the presence ON
board Of large quantities Of highly az
plosive materials defeated this expec-
tation.
| In addition It may be pointed out
that II the LusitAnia had been spared.
thousands Of cases of munitions would
have been sent to Germany's enemies
and thereby Thousands Of German
mothers and children robbed Of bread
winners.
In the spirit Of friendship where.
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the Union and its inhabi-
tants since the earliest days Of its ex-
istence, the imperial government will
always be ready to do all It can dur.
ing the present war also to prevent
citizens. The imperial government,
therefore, repeats the assurances that
American ships will not be hindered
In the prosecution Of legitimate ship
ping and the lives of American citi-
Zens In neutral vessels shall not be
placed in jeopardy.
In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers, made possible in view Of the con.
duct Of maritime war by Germany's
adversafies, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage Of such passenger steam.
ers. when made recognizable by spe-
cial markings and notified a reason
able time in advance.
/ The imperial government, however.
confidently hopes that the American
government will assume to guarantee
that thesa vessels hayecno, contraband
ON board. details OF arrangement for
the unhampered passage Of these YES
sells to be agreed upon by the naval
authorities Of both sides.
Nsutrais suffered on Ensmy's Ships.
I'm order to furnish adequate "A
cilities for travel across the Atlantic
for American citizens, the German
government submits for consideration
a proposal to increase the number of
available steamers by installing in
passenger service q reasonable num-
Der OF neutral steamers, under the
American flag. the exact number to
be agreed upon under the same con-
dition as the above mentioned Ameri-
can steamers.
The imperial government believes
1t can assume that in this manner ade-
Quate facilities for travel across the
Atlantic ocean can be afforded Ameri-
can citizens. There would. therefore,
appear to be no compelling necessity
for American citizens to travel to Eu-
rope in time of war on ships carry
ing an enemy flag.
I'm particular the imperial gov
eminent 10 unable to admit that
American citizens can protect an
enemy ship through the mere fact
of their presence on board.
: Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared
part OF the high sea an area OF war.
Consequently, accidents suffered by
neutrals on enemy ships In this area
of war cannot well be judged differ
emily from accidents to which neu-
trails are at all times exposed ut the
seat Of war on land when they be-
take themselves into dangerous To-
calities in spite of previous warn.
ings Ill.,. -
IF. however. 1t should not be pos
sible for the American government to
require an adequate number Of neu-
trail passenger steamers. the imperial
government Is prepared to interpose
NO objections to the placing under the
American flag by the American gov
eminent Of four enemy passenger
steamers for passenger traffic be-
tween North America and England.
Aaasea Aw>ss~~.s Qss. n....-~