The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-06-04

Lusitan!a was one OF the lats ss built
fastest British mercnanI ouxiIiary
sr,,iser .nd carried expressly as su.
- ~ Nav LIST Issued by the br''is''
admiralty. .,e ,mperial
Government from trustworthy iepoi -
from its agents and neutral asa
rors that for q considerabi time p!ah
ticaIlv all the more Valuaple S' '.;.h
merchantmen have been eQulppsu thsr
cannon and ammunltloh' anu ,,hn
weapons, and manned with selsons ,,ing
have been specially trained ia AZ 10
Guns The Lusitania, too, accorolhs ~
;nfnrmation received here. had cannon
ohoord which were mounted ana CON-
ceaIed below decks. s,.,h.r
~rhe imperial government 1urtneI
hoe the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American COVE
mant "a the fact that the British au-
miraltv. in a confidential instruc',oii,
issued in February, 1915. recofililieilue,n .
it's mercantile shipping Sot Only ~ ~ S Si.N
prot ection under neutral naSs anu ~
tinguishing marks, hut also WIN ,naS
discussed, to attack German SupHa
rines by ramming. AS a speclal ihri-
tation to merchantmen to DESTROY SUI
marines, the British goVernmehI aiso
offered high prizes and has afeaus
paid such rewards.
THE imperial government, IN FlsW o.
these facts, Individually known 10 II. ~
unable to regard British merchanto'eh
in the zone of naval operations spe'l-
ted by the admiralty staff OF tAe 'Te'
man navy as 'urdefended. Ne,'llah
commanders consequently are no Ions
or able to observe the customary fegu-
nf ha W.
before always followed.
FINALLY. the imperial government
must point out particularly that me
Lusftania, on its last trip, as on carrier
occa sions. carried Canadian troops ana
war materials including no less IMAM
5.4OO cases of ammunition intended TOT
the destruction of the brave German
soldiers who are fulfilling their duty
with self-sacritice and devotion in the
fatherland's service.
The German government believes
it was acting in justified self-defense
in seeking with all the means Of war
fare at its disposition to protect the
lives of its, soldiers by destroying am
munition intended for the enemy.
The British shipping company must
have been aware of the danger to
which the passengers aboard the Lu-
sitania We're exposed under these con-
dtons. The company in embarking
them notwithstanding this. attempted
deliberately to use the lives of Amer
lean citizens as protection for the am
muniton aboard and acted against the
clear provisions OF the American law
which expressly prohibits the forward
ing of passengers on ships carrying
ammunition and provides a penalty
therefor. The company, therefore. is
Wantonly guilty of the death of so
many passengers.
There can be no doubt, according to
the definite report of the submarines
commander, which is further confirm
ed by all other information, that the
quick sinking of the Lusitania is pri-
marily attributable to the explosion OF
the ammunition shipment caused by
torpedo. The Lusitania passengers
would otherwise. in all human proba-
bilitv. have been saved.
THE imperial government considers
the above facts important
enough to recommend them to the at
tentive examination of the American
government, while withholding its
final decision on the demands advanced
in connection with the sinking of the
Lusitania until receipt of an answer
from the American government. feels
now that it took cognizance with sat
isfaction eff the mediatory proposals
submitted by the United States govern
ment to Berlin and London as a basis
for modus vivendi for conducting the
maritime warfare Germany and Great
Britain.
THE imperial government. by it's
readiness to enter upon discussion
of these proposals. then demonstrated
its good intentions in ample fashion
The realization of these proposals was
defeated, as is we'll known. by the de-
clinatory attitude of the British gov
eminent
1.-THE undersigned takes this coca
sion, ETC., JOGOW."