The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-06-12
GERMANY MAKES
FURTHER INQUIRY;
REPLY IS EvAsIvE
Answer to President Wilson's
Message Received in Wash
ington From Gerard.
aEW ISSUE IS OPENED
Berlin Government Regrets Attacks on
Neutral vssssis-Holds Liner
Lusltanla Was crulser--Asks
v. .. TO Investigate.

v. D. 70 Inveouoatos
washington, May 31.-The German
reply to the American note sent after
the sinking Of tho Lusitania was 70
ceived in Washington last night from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin ana
made public here:
The following II the text or the
German note:
The undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the he\conmunication
of May 15. regarding the injury TO
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
"The imperial government has sub
jected the communication Of the Amer
ican government to thorough inves-
tigation. 1t entertains also keen
wish to cooperate In a frank ana
friendly way in clearing up possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen In the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern
ment.
Regarding, firstly, the cases Of the
American steamers Cushing and
Gulflight. The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has no intention OF
submitting neutral ships In the war
zone, which are guilty Of no hostile
acts, to attacks by submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary. the German forces have repeat
edly been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse Of Flags.
'Tf neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes In
Identification, II is a question only OF
quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior OF the masters of the ships.
"The German government, In all
cases In which 1t has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship.
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and II justi-
fed by conditions, has offered in
Identification.
"The cases OF the Cushing and the
Gulnight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation Of both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicated
to the embassy. The Investigation
can II necessary be supplemented by
an international call on the interna-
tional commission OF inquiry, as pro-
vided by article III of The Hague
agreement of October IS, 1907.
Justifles Sinking Of Faiaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander Of the Ger
man submarine had the intention Of
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for a safe escape.
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals. did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them % minutes time and fred the
torpedo only when suspicious craft
were Fastening to the assistance Of
the Falaba.
Regarding the loss Of life by the
sinking OF the British passenger steam.
or Lusitania the German government
has already expressed to neutral gov
ernments concerned, its keen regret
that citizens of their state lost their
lives.
ION this occasion the imperial gov
ernment, however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have es.
capped -the attention of the American
government.
'In the interest Of clear and com.
plete understanding. which il the aim
Of both governments, the imperial
government considers It first neces
sary to convince itself that the infor
nation accessible to both governments
about the facts Of the case n com
plete and in accord.
Calls LusItanIa . Cruiser.
Tho government OF the Unitet
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
= an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The imperial government allow
itself In this connection 70 point on
that the Lusitania WAS one Of th
largest and fastest British mercban
ships, built with government funds .
an auxiliary cruiser and carried q
pressly - such IN the navy LIST 4
sued By the British admiralty.
IT = further known 10 the imDsFis
oovgFnmsnt from Trustworthy rspogt
6sUn its agents and neutral passsnssr
tnat for . considerable time practicail
n the 'mcso valuable British me-
lsAantuon hsSU besh etuiDpel VI
|snnon an1 ammunition and otAs
iwodpons nnd manne6 ,v1lh pessen
Nv noxo boon sDoe16lly trolns1 Z
~o~-~>~a~,<, Sr~~a H>An Yssnakn0ea k0oL -