Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-06-05
GERMANY DEFENDS
SINKING LUS|TAN|A
DECLARES IT WAS AN ACT OF
SELF DEFENSE TO PROTECT
LIVES or HER SOLDIERS.
Berlin Note Says Germany Has No
Intention to Submit Neutral Ships
In the War Zone to Attacks
by Submarines.

Washington.-Germany's reply to
the American NOTE concerning the
sinking of the Lusitania with q loss
of more than 100 American lives, has
produced a feeling Of profound disap
pointment here.
Germany withholds its final decision
on the demands advanced by the Unit
ed States government In connection
with the sinking of the Lusitania, un'
til the receipt of an answer from the
United States to the note which Herr
Won Jagow, the foreign minister, has
delivered to Ambassador Gerard In re-
ply to the American note received by
the German government on May Is.
In Its reply the German government
declares that 1t is not its intention to
submit neutral ships In the war zone,
which are guilty of no hostile acts, to
attacks by submarines or aeroplanes;
that 1t is investigating the circum.
stances in connection with the attacks
on the American steamers Gushing
and Gulfiight, and that In all cases
where neutral vessels, through NO
fault of their own, have been dam.
aged, Germany will pay indemnifica'
ton.
The reply urges that In the case OF
the Lusitania, which Germany alleges
was armed and carried large stores
of war munitions, 1t was acting in
justified self-defense In seeking with
all the means of warfare at its dis
position to protect the lives OF Its sol
diers by destroying ammunition In
tended for the enemy"
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and Lon.
don, designed to end the submarine
warfare and the shutting out of food
supplies from Germany, which, 1t de.
clares, failed of their purpose be-
cause of the refusal of the British
government to agree to them.
President Wilson had retired early
Sunday night before the text arrived,
but from reading of the summary
published Sunday and Ambassador
Gerard's forecasts he had an accurate
impression of what 1t contained. Sec
retary Bryan would make no COM
ment. Other cabinet officers were re.
ticent, but there was little conceal.
nent anywhere that the answer from
Berlin had produced grave situation
In the relations between the United
States and Germany. Just what course
of action the United States will pur.
sue is undetermined.
The following Is the text of the
German note:
The undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol.
lowing answer to the communication
OF May Is regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare:
The imperial government has sub
1ected the communication of the
American government to a thorough
investigation. 1t entertains also al
keen wish to cooperate In a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a pos.
sible misunderstanding which may
have arisen in the relations between
the two governments through the
events mentioned by the American
government. Regarding, firstly, the
cases of the American steamers Cush.
ing and Gulfight. The American EN-.
bassy has already been informed that
the German government has no In.
tention of submitting neutral ships
In the war zone, which are guilty of
no hostile acts, to attacks by a sub
marine or submarines, or aviators. On
the contrary, the German forces have
repeatedly been instructed most speci.
fically to avoid attacks on such ships.
Sees cuIpable Behavior. i
IF neutral ships In recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mistakes |
In Identification, 1t Is question only |
of quite isolated and exceptional cases
which can be attributed to the Brit |
ish governments abuse of flags, to
gether with the suspicious or culpable |
behavior OF the masters of the ships. |
The German government, In all |
cases In which 1t has been shown by |
its Investigations that a neutral ship, |
not itself at fault, was damaged by |
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident, and, II justified by condi-
tions, has offered indemnification.
The cases Of the Cushing and the
Gulfight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation of both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communi-
Gated to the embassy. The investiga-
tion can, If necessary, be supplement-
ed by an International call on the In.
ternational commission OF inquiry as
provided by Article III of The Hague
agreement of October IS, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention OF
the passengers and crew q
full opportunity for a safe escape.
Only when the master did nat ohav