Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-10
GERMAN NOTE MADE PUBLIC.
Regret Expressed But Responsibility i
DiscIaimed.

0iscIaimed.
Berlin, via London, Sept 10.-In It's
note to the United States on the sink
ing OF the White Star liner Arabic, the
German government says it "most
deeply regrets that lives were lost thru
the action OF the commander; 1t par
ticularly expresses this regret to the
government of the United States on
account Of the death Of American citi-
zens' and adds:
The German government is un-
able, however, to acknowledge any
obligation to grant indemnity in the
roatter. even II the commander should
have been mistaken as to the aggres-
sive intentions Of the Arabic"
Germany's note is In the form of a
memorandum under date Of Sept. Z,
the text OF which follows:
"On Aug. 10, a German submarine
stopped the English steamer Dunsley,
about sixteen nautical miles south of
Kinsale. and was on the point OF sink
ing the prize by gunf1re after the crew
had left the vessel. At this moment
the commander saw a large steamer
making directly toward him. This
steamer, as developed later, was the
FhIopAS. S1iC "tto LSSOSIlLSu dS dIl
enemy vessel. as she did not fly any
flag and bore no neutral markings.
when she approached she altered
her original course. but then again
pointed directly toward the subma-
rine. From this the commander be-
came convinced that the steamer had
the intention of attacking and ram
ming him.
I'm order to anticipate this attack,
he gave orders for the submarine to
dive and fired a torpedo at the steaAn-
er. After firing he convinced himself
that the people on board were being
rescued in fifteen life boats.
Came Without Instructions.
According to his instructions. the
commander was not allowed to attack
the Arabic without warning and with
out saving the lives unless the ship at
tempted to escape or offered resist
ance. He was forced. however to
conclude from the attendant circum-
stances that the Arabic planned a
violent attack on the submarine.
This conclusion Is all the more obs
vious as he had been fred upon at a
great distance In the Irish sea on
Aug I4-that is few days before
by large passenger steamer appar-
entity belonging to the British Royal
Mail Steam Packet Company, which he
had neither attacked nor stopped.
The German government most
deeply regrets that lives were lost
thru the action OF the commander.
It particularly expresses this regret to
the government OF the United States on
account OF the death OF American citi-
zens.
Al Obligations Denied.
'The German government Is unable,
however, to acknowledge any obliga-
tion to grant indemnity in the mat
ter. even II the commander should
have been mistaken as to the aggres-
sive Intentions OF tho Arabic.
III it should prove to be the case
.he. y is impossible for the German
and American government to reach q
harmonious opinion on this point
tho German government would be
prepared to submit the difference oi
opinion, as being q question OF inter-
national law. to The Hague tribunal
for arbitration. pursuant to Article "a
OF The Hague convention for the pa.
enc settlement OF international dis
putes.
I'm SO doing 1t assumes that an q
matter of course the arbitral dscision
shall not be admitted to have I'm
portance OF a general decision on the
permissibility or ten converse under
international law of German subIua ...
warfare"