Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-19
LUSITANIA SUNK
BY ITS OWN CARGO
Germans Take Position that Ship
Would Have Remained Afloat
but for Internal Explosion.
NO FURTHER WORD AS TO REPLY
BULLETIN.

BERLIN, May Is (via London) :.
The official text of the American
note to Germany was published
here today.
1t was said at the foreign office
that it would be some days before
the answer of the imperial govern
ment was ready. This because the
note raises many points and con-
sultation between several depart
ments of the government will be
preparing reply.
PARIS. May 1S.--(4:4O a. m.)--
Gernany's reply to the American
note on the. sinking OF tha Lusitanis
viii be sent Thursday. according to
the Mathis Amsterdam cofrssbon-
dent. who says he is informed II win
justify the attack on the steamer on
the ground that the submarine COM
mander has affirmed in his report
that only one torpedo was. fired,
which convinces him that the second
explosion was due to the fact that
the ship carried much munitions Of
war.
The report is said to state that the tor
pedo was fired in SUCH way that the
Lusitania would not have sunk II II had
not had explosives aboard.
The Mathis correspondent says It is
reported in Amsterdam that Germany
win throw the responsibility for the dis
aster on England and on the American
authorities who permitted passengers
70 embark on a ship carrying explosives.
II is believed in Holland. he asserts. that
Germany will decline to modify its meth
DDS OF submarine warfare.
No Fnrfhs- Wera from G~~ard.
WASHINGTON. May is.-Ambassador
Gerard has transmitted no indication
from the German foreign office as to
when a reply TO the American note may
be expected. Secretary Bryan said to-
day nothing OF any Importance had been
received from the ambassador. and that
the state department was without ad-
vices as to when the reply would be sent
As TO the United States seeking a safe
conduct for Dr. bernhard Dernberg
when he leaves the country. Secretary
Bryan said:
I'VE have no official knowledge OF DR.,
Dernberg." and refused to discuss the
question further.
Il View of Berlin Paper.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (via Lon
dom. May 1s.-Berlin newspapers as a
rule refrain from comment upon the
American note TO Germany. The Tases
zeitung. however. discussed the note in a
half column article. Il says:
The United States makes a bFusque
demand that Germany abandon submarine
war against Great Britain. The United
States disregards with complete disdain
the German war zone declaration com
munication to Washington on February .
and later in the course Of the exchange
OF notes, disapproves as surprising irreg-
ularity the German embassy's warning
in the press. and permits itself 20 impute
70 the German government as an excuse
the probability that German submarine
commanders acted contrary TO orders.
Whoever reads this notice without
prejudice can scarcely escape the impres.
sion that the British ambassador al
Washington was not far away when 4
was framed. One could equally as vel
imagine its contents to be a speech b.
Premier Asquith in the House OF Com
mons" .,....
Count Won Rsventlow. the naval critic
declares that the German war zone dec
laration followed the British declaration
against which America failed to protest
THE present note so far as concerns
torpedoed steamers. makes English con
elusions and untrue statements It's own.
he writes. Germany knew what il wa
doing when 1t made It's decision and hal
considered AL possible consequences.
Germany must and win go It's wa,
and leave It 70 the United States 10 choos
other ocean paths than those throug
4 the war zone II American citizens hay
desire 10 visit Europe in these times
: and American war materials are prolons
Q ing the bloody war"
o The Vossiche zeitung merely remark
4 incidentally that the authorized transli
, ton OF the American note shows IA
Il Eame sharp form as the version reoeiv,
from the Havas agency.