Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-06-04
ABLE TO CoNTROVERT GERMAN
ARGUMENT IN REPLY TO NOTE
OF PRES. WILSON.
LUSITANIA CARRIED NO GUNS
Nor Was Explosives Aboard Within
Meaning Of American Statutes-
No British Ships Cleared From
America Carrying Guns.

washing IOH.-lu 0 Oullcu 0IdIc5
government is prepared to controvert
every one of the points mentioned in
the summary of the German position
as published here.
Evidence of an lndisputable char
acter was gathered by the Washing
ton government prior to the sending
of the note Of May 13 to prove that
the Luistania carried no guns, either
mounted or unmounted; that she car
ried no explosives within the meaning
of American statutes, and that no
British vessels have cleared from
American ports for several months
carrying guns of any character.
Not Auxiliary Cruiser.
The British ambassador here is pre-
pairing to transmit assurances from
the British government that the Lusi-
tania was not armed and that she
could not be carried on the naval lists
as an auxiliary cruiser unless she were
armed and commissioned, the latter
change from a peaceful merchantmen
to an auxiliary cruiser being possible,
according to British practice, only in
home ports.
The United States, moreover, holds
that the carrying of arms or ammuni-
ton or other contraband, or a few un-
armed individuals who might be pro-
spective soldiers, does not destroy the
right, under international law and
humanity, of the belligerent mer-
chairman to be visited and searched
before being destroyed and the neu-
trail or noncombatant passengers
transferred to place of safety.
The carrying Of arms and ammuni-
ton is not contrary to American law,
rs the German reports claim, federal
statutes being directed against the
transportation Of self-exploding ma
terial, from which class official rul-
ings for many years have excluded
fixed ammunition.
Evasive Answer Resented.
There is a feeling Of pessimism in
many quarters over the reported eva.
sion of President Wilson's demands
for reparation for the loss of more
than 100 American lives and guaran-
tees that submarine warfare would be
so conducted in the future as to safe.
guard American lives and vessels.
A grave factor has been added to
the situation by the finding of the
American commission appointed by
Ambassador Page that the American
steamer Nebraska was torpedoed
without warning by submarine. In
German quarters the claim was per
sistent that the vessel must have
struck mine.
/ Nebraskan 'Torpedoed.
Lieutenant John H. Towers, naval
attache, and Naval Constructor Lewis
B. Mcbride of the American embassy
and Consul Washington at Liverpool
have reported through Ambassador
Page that after technical examina
ton Of the vessel and on the testi
mony of the chief engineer of the Ne
braskan that he saw the wake of 9
torpedo, they have no doubt that the
ship was attacked by submarine.
Inasmuch as submarines of the al
lied powers have not attacked mer
chantmen, the presumption of official.
is similar to that reached after an in
vestigation Of the attack on the Gulf
Ilight-that a German submarine wat
, responsible-and an inquiry to ths
German foreign office for it's repor
ON the case is expected to go forward
within day or two.
Tension Increased.
The preponderance of evidence show
ing an attack on the Nebraskan aftel
1t was believed that submarine at
tacks on vessels would cease, at leas
|, while the negotiations were in prog
; ress, admittedly increased the tension
in relations with Germany. In German
quarters it was suggested that if the
ship was attacked by a German sub
marine the commander may have beer
: away from his base too long to learI
! Of the new developments and the pre-
, cautions to be taken with respect t.
[ neutral ships.
ii The fact that the Nebraskan haG
hauled down her flag at dark was also
i. mentioned as possible reason for sus
pecting that she was an enemy vessel
! although Captain Greene in his aft
davit declares the name of his shiI
, was painted on her sides in letters 81,
, feet high and that it was possible fol
a submarine commander to see them
Incidentally, the state department re
ceived from Ambassador Gerard Sat
: urday a circular issued by the Ger
) man government warning neutral yes
: sells to keep their names Illuminated
: at night and to bear as many distin
} gushing marks as possible, because
Of the possibility a mistaken attacks