The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-11
CLAIM SELF DEFENSE,
GERMAN NOTE EXPLAINS u.
BOAT ORDERS AND EX.
PRESSES REGRET.
Commander of Submarine, Supposed
Lost, Returns With Story of Being
Forced to Destroy White Star Liner
to Save Ills Own Craft,


the United States concerning the sink
ing of the White Star line steamer
Arabic by a German submarine was
communicated to James w. Gerard.
the American ambassador, yesterday
evening. The note ascribes the de-
struction of the liner to an act of
self defense on the part of the sub
marine, expresses the German gov
ernments deep regret that American
lives were lost thereby and offers to
refer the questions of reparation and
compensation to The Hague for ad-
justment.
\ The note reveals in detail the in
1 structions to submarine commanders
concerning their treatment Of liners
They are ordered not to attack a pas
senger steamer except in case of an
attempt to escape after it is ordered
to halt or unless it's actions indicate
an intention to attack the submarine.
The submarine commander, accord
ing to his report concerning the send
ing Of the Arabic to the bottom, said
he believed the Arabic was about to
|attack him and that he acted within
his instructions. German naval ex-
lperts declare that there is no other
lcoursn open to submarines under the
lpreseLt condition when, they assert,
Ievery merchantmen, from liner down
to fishing smack, is presumptive ene-
my and perhaps carrying guns to at
tack the vulnerable submarine by
Igunfire or by ramming.
The submarine commanders report
says the submarine was engaged in
destroying freighter when the Ara
bic was sighted. The submarine then
was on the surface.
1 The Arabic, the commander de-
lclares. swung around and headed to-
wards the freighter as if to attack
the submarine. The commander of
1.-THE nnderseae craft remained in doubt
as to. the Arabic's intentions when
she changed her course few points,
but still kept headed in direction
bringing her nearer to the scene.
The commander reports that he
continued to observe the actions of
the liner until he saw the Arabic
again change her course and head di-
rectly for the spot where the subma-
4 rine lay, as if she had sighted the un-
dersea boat.
Then the submarine commander. be-
lieving his craft was in danger, he de-
clared, submerged and fired tor
pedo.
J This news was communicated i'm
mediately to James w. Gerard. Ameri-
can ambassador, for transmission to
Washington.
Prior to receipt Of the submarine
commanders report admiralty officials
believed the submarine lost. No rea-
son for her delay in returning to port
has been given.
A high official of the foreign Of
nee. said the commander of the
submarine evidently had adequate
reasons for believing the subma-
rine was about to be attacked, and
was justified in taking steps necessary
to save his boat and crew. The tor
pedoing of the Arabic, according to
this official, could not be considered
IAN unprovoked act without warning.
but measure of self-defense which
the commander of the underwater
boat was compelled to adopt by the
alleged suspicious actions of the
Arabic.
News of the submarines return and
the commanders report has not been
published in Germany.
There still is no report available
regarding the sinking of the Hes
lperian.