Marble Hill press., 1915-06-03
GERMAN REPLY TO AMERICAN note


government, from trustworthy reports
from It's agents and neutral passen.
gers. that for q considerable time
practically all the more valuable Brit
ish merchantmen have been equipped
with cannon and ammunition and 9th.
or Weapons. and manned with persons
who have been specially trained In
serving guns. Tho Lusitania, 600, ac-
cording TO information received hero.
had cannon aboard. which were
mounted and concealed below decks.
Regard British ships a. Defended
The imperial government, further,
has the honor TO direct the particular
atten ton OF the American government
to the fact that the British admiralty,
In confidential instruction, issued In
February, 1915, recommended ia mer'
camille shipping. not only tn seek pro
lection under neutral flars and dis
tinguishing marks, but also. while
thus disguised. to attack German sub.
marines by ramming, As a special
incitation TO merchantmen TO destroy
submarines. the British government
also offered high prizes and has al
ready paid such rewards.
The imperial government, in view
OF these facts indubltably known to
Il, Is unable TO regard British meT.
chantmen In the zone OF naval opera.
tons specified OF the admiralty staff
OF the German navy, as "undcfcnded -
Germon commanders consequently
are no longer able TO observe the cts
tomary regulations ot the prize law.
which they before always followed.
Believes Action Justified.
Finally. the imperial government;
mus, point out particularly that the
Lusitania on It's last trip, as on earlier
occasions. carried Canadian troops
and war material. including no less
than $500 cases of ammunition in
tended for the destruction of the
brave German soldiers who are tal
hlling their duty With selfsacrifces
and devotion In tho FatherlAnd . sarS
Ice.
The German government heiicy ~
that II Was acting 10 justified self de
fenso In seeking With all the meats
%. warfare AZ ia disposition by de-
siroying ammunition Intended fog the
enemy.
Hold cunaro Company Responsible.
Tho British Shipping Company
must have been aware Of the dan.
ser 10 which the passengers aboard
the i.usitania acre exposed under
these conditions. The company In
n'Gbarking them, nctw.thstandins
this. Attempted deliberately to use the
lives of American citizens As proiec.
t!on for the ammunition Ahnaryi and
acted Axainxi the clear provisions 81
tho American Law. whIch expressly
prohibits the .oTwsrSiiIg u passer,
gcrs on ships carrying ammunition.
and provides a penalty therefor The
company. therefore, ls ~autnnly
guilty ii the death ot no many pas
seusesz
There car h@ NO doahi. according
to the aeanisc report of the saatnA
rfnc'x commander, which IA further
confirmed hy all other information.
that the quick sinking %: ihc Lust,
,anlA Is primarily attributed to the
sxple~.na os the Am1n0attloa ship
meat caused BY torpedo Tho i.ast
tania's passengers *oaia others sse
sn all human probability. bare been
saved
The iGupvrtal government courid
crs the above mentioned facts igupors
Ant enough to recommend them 30 the
attentive examination OF the Aus.rS-
caa government
The irug-r.al government shlie
withholding its anal decision or the
demands advanced In connection aith
the sinking Of the Lasit&nta until rc-
ccipt Of al answer from the American
government, feels iFapeIled. ia conels
Blon. TO recall here and aow, tha, IL
took coEntEaRee with satisfaction nf
the mediatnry proposals submitted bp
thr United States government 10 net.
lin and Londou as a basis for Il tnedgs
riy yendt for concluding the maritime
warfare between Germany and GreAs
Britain.
The imperial government, by its
readiness TO enter upon a discussion
Of these proposals. then demonstrated
i,s good intentions In ample fashion
Tho realization OF thesr proposals
was defeated. gs Is veil known, hy
the deeliaatory attitude ot the British
The undersigned takes occasion,
etc
tStgnedl JAGOw.