Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-10

I when neutral property. Just as it was also with the BoerS, the German peo- pie is now to be given the choice of perishing from starvation with it's women and children or of relinquish- ing it's independence.
 Makes Claim of Self Defense. While our enemies thus loudly and openly proclaimed war without mercy l unto our utter destruction, we were I conducting a war in self defense for | our national existence and for the sake of peace of an assured perman- ency. We have been obliged to adopt a submarine warfare to meet the de- the method of warfare adopted by | them in contTavention of international l law.
 Knew Neutrals Might Suffer.
 with all its efforts in principle to protect neutral life and property from damage as much as possible, the Ger man government recognized unre- servedly in its memorandum of Febru- ary that the interests of neutrals might suffer from the submarine war fare. However, the American govern ment will also understand and appre- ciate that in the fight for existence which has been forced upon Germany by its adversaries and announced by them 1t is the sacred duty of the Im- perial government to do all within its power to protect and save the lives of German subjects. If the Imperial German were derelict in these it's du- ties, 1t would be guilty before God and history of the violation of those principles of highest humanity which are the foundation of every national existence.
 +4The case of the Lusitania shows with horrible clearness to what jeop- ardizing of human lives the manner of conducting war employed by our adverSarieS leads. In the most di- rect contradiction of international law all distinctions between merchantmen and war vessels have been obliterated by the orders to British merchantmen to arm themselves and to ram sub- marines, and the promise of rewards therefor, and neutrals who use mer- chantmen as travellers thereby have been exposed in an increasing degree to all the dangers of war.
 Assumes Risk to Submarine.
 If the commander of the German submarine which destroyed the Lusi- tania had caused the crew and pas sengers to take to the boats before firing a torpedo this would have meant the sure destruction of his own ves- sel. After the experience in sinking much smaller and less seaworthy ves- sels 1t was to be expected that a mighty ship like the Lusitania would remain above water long enough even after the torpedoing to permit pas sengers to enter the ships boats. Cir cumstances of a very peculiar kind, especially the presence on board of large quantities of highly explosive materials (word omitted possibly Ndissipated'C this expectation. In ad- dition 1t may be pointed out that if the Lusitania had been spared thous- ands Of cases of munitions would have been sent to Germany's enemies and thereby thousands of German mothers and children robbed of breadwinners, Would Not JeoPardize American Lives.
 "In the spirit of friendship where with the German nation has been im- oued towards the Union and it's in habitants since the earliest days of it's existence, the Imperial government will always be ready to do all it can during the present war also to prevent the Jeopardizing of lives of American citizens. The Imperial government. tnereIore. repeats the assurances that American ships will not be hindered in the prosecution of legitimate ship ping and the lives of American cits- zens in neutral vessels shall not be placed in jeopardy.
 Markings For American Passenaer
 Boats.
 Tn order to exclude any unforeseen dangers to American passenger steam CTS, made possible in view of the con- duct of maritime war by Germany's adversar1es, German submarines will De instructed to permit the free and sare passage of such passenger steam CTS when made recognizable by special markings and notified a reasonable time in advance. The Imperial gov- ernment. however, confidently hopes mat the American gomernment these vessels have no contraband d on board. details of arrangement for the unhampered passage of these ves- sells to be agreed upon by the naval authorities of both sides.
 More Passenger Steamers. Tn. order to nuruish ,adequate facfl- It1es Tor travel across the Atlantic for ernment submits for consideration a proposal to increase the number of available steamers by installing in passenger service a reasonable number Iof neutral steamers under the American flag. the exact number to be agreed upon under the same condi- tions as the above mentioned Ameri- can steamers.
 "The Imperial government believes it can assume that in this manner adequate facilities for travel across the Atlantic ocean can be afforded American citizens. There would. therefore, appear to be no compelling necessity for American citizens to travel to Europe in time of war on ships carrying an enemy flag. Tn par ticular. the Imperial government is unable to admit that American cit 5 al