Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-06-03

to the American nO," is regarded as
m effort to gain tim" and to open the
/ way for n parley of diplomatic pro
portions in order that Germany may
not have to declare an altered policy
with respect TO its submarine war
fare.
To Indemnify EeutraIs.
The reply acknowledges the will
in"ncss of Germany to recompense
neutral hor all losHes when such
losses occur through no fault of the
neutral ships or thoir commanders.
No attacks have been ordered upon
American shipping or neutral ships,
declares the reply, and meme will be
ordered.
IF neutral ships have come to grief
through submarine warfare. contin-
ues the German reply. through mis-
take. it is a question of isolated and
! exceptional cases (which are trace
able to the misuse of flags BY the
British government in connection
with the carelessness Or suspicious
actions on the part of the captains
OF the vessels"
Two Instances Acknowledged.
IN regard to the steamers Cushing
and Gulflight, each of which met dis
reply acknowledges the possible er.
r0r. IN international cOmml. siLn is
suggested. In any event, Germany
pledges itself to rccomrcnsc for dam.
ages done to neutral shipping that Is
| rrutral in fact as Wcll rs in name
but points out the great risk assumed
IL,
war Zonn, and "sp", tally within th"
zone over which Germany has de,
! clarcd its submarine blockade.
The Lusitania Case.
But in the case Of the Lusitanin, tn"
reply does not admit Gcrmanys la
bilty or that Germany erred in de
! strnNn" il. More Information is
sought.
"Thc government Of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania is t. ht. considered
rs an ordinary unnl ned merchant vr:-
sci. The imperial government bcg
IN this connection to point oul that
the LuSitaniA was one Of the fastest
and largest En@lish coiu'nr:rr steam
"ri ccHs1rurtrd with %oyrrnmrut
funds - auxiliary cruisers. and is cx,
! pl"ssly included in tn" navy list pub
| ;%h"h hy the British admiralty. II
| i however, known to the imperial
cove un"nt frcm rrliHt,c information
| furnished hy lis officials ami n"u1ra,
passengers, that for some time prac.
| 'inI!y all the mora valuable ltngli:h
chant vrssck' have been provided
/ ... guns, ammunition and other
! - .,itOns and reinforced with crew
! o.: "rially practicrd in manning guns
Says Liner Carried Masked Guns.
".\r "Crding to reports at hand the
LuSitanin. when She left New York
undoubtedly had guns on board which
were mounted under decks and were
masked.
"Thc inn crial government, further
! more, hu. The honor to direct the par
tierlar atlcntiCn of the American SOY.
c!nErN' to III "t that The British
admiralty, ly i rcret instruction of
February tf ~: year. advised the
British mrTrh"Nl marine not only to
seek pIatcv ion :rhind neutral flags
and markin =. !,I even when so dis
yuiSed 10 attack German submarines
by rammin" them. High rewards have
been offered by the British govern,
:"cnro rs u special incentive for the
4" Il ruciion Cf the submarines by mer-
chant vessels, and such rewards al
ready have been paid out
Holds Company Responsible.
"The English steamship company
must have been aware of the dangers
to which passengers on board the
Lusitania were exposed under the cir
cumstances. In taking them on board
in spite of this, the company quite
deliberately tried 70 use the lives of
American citizens as protection for
the ammunition carried and violated
the clear provisions of American laws