Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-31
Grave Situation Produced in
Relations BetUeen Countries

sinking ef the British passenger
steamer Lusitania. the German gov
ernmcnt has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned It's
keen regret that citizens OF their
states lost their lives.
On this occasion, the imperial gov
ernment, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have
escaped the attention of the American
government
In the interest OF clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments, the imperial
government considers 1t first ueces-
sary TO convince itself that the lnforr
nation accessible To both govern
mcnts about the facts of the case NJ
complete and la accord
Questions United states ASsumptiOnS
The government nf the United
states npcceds on Tho assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary marmed merchant
man. The imperial government al
lows itself in this connection 10 point
out that the Lusltania was one of the
largest and Fastest merchant ships,
built with government funds MS an
auxiliary cruiser and carried oxpress-
Is as such In the "naVy list" issued by
the British admiralty.
at is further known to the I'M
perial government, from Trustworthy
reports from its AGENTS ana neutral
passcngcrs that for "A considerable
time practically all the more valuable
British merchantmen have been
equipped with cannon and ammuni-
tion ana other weapons and mounted
with persons who have been special
Is trained In serving guns. The Lusi-
tana, TOO, according TO Information
received here. had cannon aboard,
which were mounted and concealed
below decks.
"The imperial government further
has the honor TO direct the particu-
lar attention of the American gov
ernment To the fact that the British
admiralty, I'm a confidential instruc-
tion, issued IN February, 1915, recon-
mended its mercantile shipping not
only To seek protection under neutral
flags and DISTINGUISHING marks, but
also, while thus disguised, 70 attack
German submarines by ramming As
a special incitation to merchantmen
to destroy submarines, the British
government also offered high prizes
and has already paid such rewards.
Cannot Observe Regulations.
The imperial government, In view
of these facts indubitably known 10
It. is unable to regard British mer-
chantmen in the zone OF naval oper-
ations specified by the admiralty STAFF
Of the German navy as 'undefended
German commanders consequently
are no longer able to observe the
customary regulations of the prize
law, which they before always fol-
lowed
FINALLY, the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lustania on its last trip, as on earlier
occasions. carried Canadian troops
and war material, including no less
than 5,400 cases Of ammunition in
tended for the destruction OF the
brave German soldiers who are ful-
filling their duty with self-sacrifices
and devotion IN the fatherland's SER
vice
Acting In Self-dcfensc.
"rhe German government belieVcsl
that il was acting in justified self-de-
Tense in seeking with all the means
OF warfare NJ llA VlhptSdl 10 IlihlttA
the lives of It's soldiers by destroying
ammunition Intended for the enemy
"The British shipping company
must have been aware of the danger
to which the passengers aboard the
Lusitania were exposed under these
conditions. The company in embark
ing them, Notwithstanding this, at
deliberately to use the lives
of American citizens as protection for
the ammunition aboard and acted
against the clear provisions Of the
American law which expressly pro-
hibits the forwarding of passengers
on ships carrying ammunition, and
provides O penalty therefor The com |
pany therefore is wantonly guilty ofI
the death of so many passengers.
Blamcs Internal Explosion.
There can be no doubt according |
to the definite report of the suhma |
rine's commander, which is further
confirmed by all other Information, |
that the quick sinking of the Lnsl |
tanit Is primarily attributable to the
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