The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-19
TEXT OF LATEST NOTE.
MUST SEE To SAFETY OF NON
COMBArANTS BEFORE AT.
TACKING.
United states Demands That Germans
Stop Present Methods OF subma-
rine Warfare ON Unarmcd Vessels
Carrying Neutrals and Non-combat-
ants.

the German government n note call
ing attention TO the grave situation
which has resulted" from violation
of American rights on the high seas,
eliminating I'm the sinking OF the
Lusitania with a loss OF more than
100 American lives.
The communication expresses the
confident expectation OF the United
states that the imperial German
government will disavow the acts of
which the government OF the United
states complains. that they will
mako reparation so far as reparation
In possible for injuries which are
without measure. and that they will
take immediate steps to prevent the
recurrence OF anything so obviously
subversive of the opportunities OF
warfare for which the imperial Ger
man government In the past so wise
ly and so firmly contended."
In Its conclusion. the note states
thaS 'the imperial German govern
ment will not expect the government
Of the United States to omit any word
or any act necessary to the perform
snce OF It's sacred duty OF maintain
Ing the rights OF the United States
and Its citizens and OF safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment"
The full text OF the note was made
public tonight by the state depart
msnt as follows:
Department OF State. Washington.
May Is. 1915.
The Secretary OF State to the
American Ambassador at Berlin:
Please call on the minister of
foreign affairs and after reading to
him this communication leave with
him n copy.
I'm view OF recent acts Of the Ger
man authorities In violation of Amer
lean rights on the high seas which
eliminated In the torpedoing and
sinking OF the British steamship Lus-
itania on May z. 1916. by which over
100 American citizens lost their lives
IL is clearly wise and desirable that
the government OF the United States
and the imperial German government
should come to clear and full un-
derstandins as to the grave situation
which has resulted.
The sinking OF the British pas
senger steamer Falaba by n German
submarine or March 2S,. through
which Leon c. Thresher. an Ameri-
can citizen. was drowned: the attack
on April rs on the American vessel
Cushing by German aeroplane.
the torpedoing on May OF the Amer
lean vessel Gulflight by n German
submarine. as result OF which two
or more American citizens met their
death; and. finally the torpedoing
and sinking OF the steamship Lusi-
tsnia. constitute n series OF events
which the government OF the United
states has observed with growing
concern. distress and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlight-
ened attitude hitherto assumed by the
imperial German government In mat
ters OF international right. and partic.
ularly with regard TO the freedom of
tho seas: having learned TO recognize
the German Views and the German in
nuence on the field OF international OBJ.
hgation as always engaged upon the
side OF justice and humanity; and hav-
ing understood the instruction OF the
imperial German government TO its
naval commanders to be upon the
same plane OF humane action pre-
scribed by the naval codes OF other
nations. the government OF the United
states was loath to believe-it can not
now bring itself to belleve-that these
acts 80 absolutely contrary to the
rules the practices and the spirit
OF modern warfare. could have tho
eountenance or sanction of that greai
government.
III feels IL to be It's duty. there
fore. To address 'he imperial German
government concerning them with the
utmost frankness and in the earnest
nope that II Is not mistaken In ex-
pecting action on the part OF the i'm
perial German government which will
correct the unfortunate impression,
which have been created and vindi-
cate once more the position of tina,
government with regard To the sa.
cred freedom of the seas.
The government OF the United
states has been apprised that the i'm.
perial German government consider