The Green Forest tribune., 1915-06-04

i Lusitania was one of the largest and fastest British merchant ships. built with government funds as an auxiliary cruiser and carried expressly as such 1 in the Navy List issued by the British 1 admiralty.
 Tt is further known to the imperial l government. from trustworthy reports | from it's agents and neutral pasSen- gers. that for a considerable time prac- | tically all the more valuable British merchantmen have been equipped with 1 cannon and ammunition. and other
 weapons, and manned with persons who have been specially trained in serving guns. The Lusitania, too, according to information received here, had cannon aboard, which were mounted and con- cealed below decks.
 The imperial government further has the honor to direct the particular attention of the American govern ment to the fact that the British ad-
 miralty, in a confidential instruction
 issued in February, 1915. recommended
 it's mercantile shipping not only to seek protection under neutral flags and dis
 tinguishing marks, but also, while thus disguised. to attack German subna- rines by ramming. As a 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, indubitably known to it, is uHaDI6 to regard IoTIUlSn InercnaNIDlen in the zone of naval operations speci- fed by the admiralty staff of the Ger man navy as undefended.' German commanders consequently are no long, CT able to observe the customary regu- lations of the prize law, which they before always followed
 Finally, the imperial government must point out particularly that the Lusitania, on it's last trip, as on earlier occasions, carried Canadian troops and
 materials inclOdipp- no fbar 5.400 cases of ammunition intended for the destruction of the brave German soldiers who are fulfilling their duty with self-sacrifice and devotion in the fatherland's service.
 'fhe German government believes It vas acting in justified self-defense in seeking with all the means of war fare at it's disposition to protect the lives of it's soldiers by destroying am- munition intended for the enemy
 The British shipping company must have been aware of the danger to which the passengers aboard the Lu- sitania were exposed under these con- ditions. The company in embarking them, notwithstanding this, attempted deliberately to use the lives of Amer lcan citizens as protection for the am munit1on aboard and acted against the clear provisions of the American law which expressly prohibits the forward ing of passengers on ships carrying ammunition and provides a penalty lheFeIor. The company, therefore, is wantonly guilty of the death of so many passengers.
 There can be no doubt, according to the definite report of the submarines commander, which is further confirm ed by all other information, that the quick sinking of the Lusitania is pri- marily attributable to the explosion of the ammunition shipment caused by a torpedo. The Lusitania passengers would otherwise. in all human proba- bilitY have been saved
 The imperial government considers the aforementioned facts important enough to recommend them to the at tentiYe examination of the American government, while withholding its final decision on the demands advanced In connection with the sinking of the LuSltania until receipt of an answer rom the American government, feels now that 1t took cognizance with sat of the mediatory proposals submitted by the United States govern lnent to Berlin and London as a basis for a moduS Vivendi for conducting the maritime warfare Germany and Great Britain.
 The imperial government, by it's readiness to enter upon a discussion of these proposals, then demonstrated Us good intentions in ample fashion 35a se2 iizagtion of, treS1 io4eposfiss was, defeated. IS is well known, by the de- attitude of the British gov ernfnent
 The undersigned takes this occa- sloh, etc, JOGOW."