The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-06-12
GERMANY REGRETS ACT
SENDS APOLOGY TO U. 8. ron At
TACK ON ouLFLioHT.
Note From Berlin Promises Financial
Reparation-- Sinking Of ship
Was Mistake.

Reparation--s Sinking Of ship
Was Mistake.
Washington. June 6.-The state de-
| partment made public the German for
eign Offices reply to the inquiry of the
United States relative to the attacks
by German submarines on the Amer
lean vessels Gulfiight and Gushing. In
transmitting the German reply. Am
bassador Gerard stated to the depart
ment that he had been requested by
the foreign Office to use every en-
deavor to get 1t to the United States
| government at once. The German
reply follows:
Referring to the note Of May 28 the
undersigned has the honor to inform
his excellency. the ambassador of the
United States of America, Mr.. James
w. Gerard. that the examination un-
dertaken on the part Of the German
government concerning the American
steamers Gulfiight and Cushing, has
led to the following conclusions:
In regard to the attack on the steam
er Gulfight. the commander Of Ger
man submarine saw on the afternoon
Of May /, In the vicinity of the Scilly
Islands large merchant steamer COM
Ing in his direction which was accom-
panied by two smaller vessels. These
latter took subposition in relation to
the steamer that they formed a regu-
lation safeguard against submarines.
moreover, one of them had a wireless
apparatus, which Is not usual with
small vessels. From this it evidently
was case of English convoy vessels.
Since such vessels are regularly
armed the submarine could not APP
proach the steamer on the surface of
the water without running the danger
Of destruction. 1t was, on the other
hand, to be assumed that the steamer
was of considerable value 10 the Brit
ish government since 1t was so guard
ed. The commander could see no neu-
trail markings on 1t of any kind, that
Is. distinctive marks painted on the
freeboard recognizable at a distance
such as are now usual on neutral ships
in the English zone of naval warfare.
In consequence he arrived at the con-
clusion from all the circumstances
that he had to deal with an English
steamer. so he submerged and at
| tackled.
That the attacked steamer carried
the American flag was first observed
at the moment of firing the shot The
| fact that the steamship was pursuing
course which led neither to nor from
| America was further reason why 1t
did not occur to the commander of
the submarine that he was dealing
with an American ship.
Upon scrutiny of the time and place
| of the occurrence described, the Ger
man government has become con-
| vinced that the attacked steamship
was actually the American steamship
cording to the attending circam-
stanceS that the attack Is to be at
| tributed to an unfortunate accident
and not to the fault of the commander.
| The German government expresses
its regrets to the government of the
United States concerning this incident
and declares itself ready to furnish
recompense for the damage thereby
sustained by American citizens. 1t is
left to u e discretion of the American
| government to present statement
of this damage or, II doubts may arise
over individual points, to designate an
expert who would have to determine
| taoathnr With n N
amount of the damage.
| 1t has not been possible by means
| of an inquiry to clear up fully the case
of the American ship Cushing. Official
reports available report only one mer-
chant steamship attacked by Ger
man flying machine in the vicinity Of
Nordhind lightship.
The German aviator was forced to
consider the vessel as hostile. because
It carried no flag and further, because
of no recognizable neutral markings.
The attack of four bombs was, OF
course, not aimed at any American
ship.
However, that the ship attacked was
the American steamer Cushing is pos
sible. considering the time and place
Of the occurrence; nevertheless. the
German government accordingly re-
quests Of the American government
that 1t communicate to the German
government the material which was
submitted for judgment. In order that
with this as basis, further position
can be taken In the matter.