The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-06-11

megaphones to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them twenty-three minutes time and
nred the torpedo only when sus-
plcious craft were Fastening to the
assistance of the Falaba
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania, the German gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned it's
Keen regrets that citizens Of their
states lost their lives.
On this occasion the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
1acts having a direct bearing on the
sinking of the Lusitania may have
escaped the attention of the Ameri-
can government
In the interest of clear and com
piete understanding, which is the aim
OF Doth governments, the imperial
government considers it first neces-
say TO convince itself that the infor-
inatlon accessible to both govern
ments about the facts of the case is
complete and in accord.
The government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
mat the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The imperial government allows
ltsen IN this connection to point out
that the Lusitania was one of the
largest and fastest British merchant
ships, built with government funds
as an auxiliary cruiser, and car
r1ed expressly as such in the navy
llst, issued by the British admiralty.
Says Lustania Was Arm ed.
1t is further known to the imperial
government, from trustworthy reports
from It's agents and neutral passen-
gers, that for considerable time
practically all the more valuable Brit
Ism merchantmen have been equipped
WIN cannon and ammunition and
otner weapons and manned with per-
sons VINO have been specially trained
IN serving guns. The Lusitania, too.
according to information received
mere, mad cannon aboard, which were
mounted and concealed below decks.
-Ine imperial government further
mas the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American govern.
ment to the fact that the British adj
.ulralty IN confidential instruction
issued In February, 1915, recommend
ca its mercantile shipping not only to
seek protection under neutral flags
and distinguishing marks, but also.
Wnlle thus disguised, to attack German
submarines by ramming. AS a. sneciaI
lncltatlon to merchantmen to DESTROY
submarines the British government
also offered prizes and has already
paid such rewards.
The imperial government. in view
OF these facts Individually known to II
is unable to regard British merchant
men in the zone of naval operations
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 followed.
Carried Ammunition.
Finally, the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitahla on It's last trip, as on earlier
occasions, carried Canadian troops and
war material, including no less than
5,400 cases of ammunition. intended
for the destruction of the brave Ger.
man soldiers who are fulfilling their
duty with self-sacrifices and devotion
IN the fatherland's service.
THE German government believes
that 1t was acting in justified self.
defense in seeking with all the means
OF warfare at it's disposition to pro-
tect the lives of it's soldiers by de.
stroying ammunition intended for the
enemy.
Blames Ship Company.
Inc British shipping company
must nave been aware of the danger
TO which the passengers aboard the
Lus!tanla were exposed under these
conditions. The company in embark
ing them, Notwithstanding this, at.
tempted 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 prohib-
It's the forwarding of passengers on
snlps carrying ammunition and pro-
Vldes penalty therefor. A. The COM
pany, therefore, is wantonly guilty of
the death OF so many passengers.
mere can be no doubt, according
to the definite report of the subma.
rlnes commander, which is further
confirmed by all other information.
that the quick sinking of the Lusi. |
tan1a is primarily attributable TO the
S-APACSAOA VI thC Sl1DmGDt !
caused by tori edo. The Lusitanias
passengers would otherwise, in all hu,
man probability, have been saved.
The imperial government consid.
ers the above mentioned facts import.
ant enough to recommend them to
the attentive examination of the Amer |
lean government.
No Final Decision.
The imperial government, while
Withholding its final decision on the I
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking of the Lusitania until re-
ceipt of an answer from the Ameri- /
can government, feels impelled. in
conclusion, to recall here and now
that 1t took cognizance with satisfac- I
ton of the mediatory proposals sub. /
mitted by the United States govern. +
ment to Berlin and London as a basis /
for a modus vivendi for conducting
the maritime warfare between Ger
many and Great Britain. The impe-
rial government by its readiness to
enter upon a discussion of these pro-
posals then demonstrated its good in.
tpQti0nS in amn1a 20 cbion 1,L.