The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-06-03
main ISSUES
ARE EVADED
BY GERMANY
AS Forecast In Saturdays Dis
patches Berlin Government
First Seeks Agreement on
Basis of Fact"
HOLDS BRITAIN TO BLAME
Want Assurances That Lusi-
tania Was Unarmed and ALI
Precautions Taken to
Save Passengers.

0dVe passengers.
Berlin, June 1.-As forecast in Sat-
arday,s dispatches, the German reply
70 the American note on the sinking
of theL usitania and the conduct of the
German submarine warfare in general
sVades the main issue of President Will
sons representations. The German re-
ply Is 1nt no sense an answer to the
points raised by the American govern
ment.
On the other hand it seeks to ''estab-
nsh a common basis of fact" before
continuing a discussion of the issues in
volved. The German government with
holds final decision on these particular
demands, especially the disavowal of
an intention to sink the Lusitania and
the d1scontinuance of submarine at
lacks upon vessels of n nationality
carrying acknowledgements and passen-
gers of neutral nationalities.
IN It's reply the German government
with respect to the Lusitania urges it's
SELF defense in that it alleges that the
Lusltanla was carrying war munitions
diers.
These facts as set forth in the Ger
man answer are that the Lusitania was
a British auxiliary cruiser; that she
mad cannon mounted and concealed be-
low her decks; hat the British ad-
dN uSlSu lis H1CICdUIllc
shipping to seek protection under neu-
tral flags and to attack German subma-
rlnes; that prizes were offered for the
latter; that the Lusitania carried Ca
nadlan troops II war material, and
that she could not be considered as IN
defended.
Supplementing the German answer,
Herr Won Jagow, the German foreign
secretary, explains the reason for what
might be called a preliminary note say
ing, the issues involved are Of such
Importance, n views in regard to the
Lusltania show such variance, that the
German government believed it essen
TIA to establish a common basis Of fact
before entering into a discussion of the
Issues involved"
Text of German Note.
The following is the text Of the Ger
man note:
The undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the communication
OF May 5. regarding the injury of
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
The imperial German government
has subjected the communication of
the American government to a thor
ough investigation. 1t en%tertains also
a keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a
possible misunderstanding which may
have arisen in the relations between
the two governments through the
events mentioned by the American
government, REGARDING, first, the cases
Of the American steamers, Gushing
and Outright. The American en-
bassy has already been informed that
The German government has no in
tention of submitting neutral ships in
the war zone which are guilty of no
hostile acts, to attacks by a ub1na-
rine or submarines, or aviators. On
the contrary, the German forces have
repeatedly been instructed most spe-
officially to avoid attacks on such
ships.
IF neutral ships in recent months
nave suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mistakes
in identification. it is a question only
of quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the Brit
lsh governments abuse Of flags, to-
gether with the suspicious or culpa-
BILE behavior of the masters Of the
ships.
THE German government in all
cases N which it has been shown by
it's Investigations that a neutral ship
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident. and. if justified by condi-
lions, has offered naturalization.
THE cases of the Gushing and the
Gulflight will be treated on the same
PRINCIPLES. An investigation Of both
cases is in progress. the result Of which
will be presumably communicated to
the embassy. The investigation, can if
necessary, be supplemented by an inter-
national call on the international COM
mission of inquiry provided in article
III Of The Hague agreement Of October
Is, 1907.
Cites Alleged British Faults.
"The imperial government further
has the honor to direct the particular
attention Of the American government
to the fact that the British admiralty
in a confidential instruction ISSUED in
February, 1915, recommended its mer-
camille shipping not only to seek pro-
lection under neutral flags and distin-
gushing marks, but also While thus
disguised to attack German submarines
by ramming. AS a special inducement
for merchants to destroy submarines
the British government also offered
high prizes n has already paid such
rewards.
The imperial government, in view Of
these facts, indubitably known to it, is
Unable to regard British merchantmen
in the zone of naval operations speci-
fled by the admiralty staff of the Ger
man navy as 'undefended.' German
er able to observe the customary regu-
~lations of the prize law, which they
before always followed.
FINALLY, the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania on it's last trip, as on earlier
OCCASIONS, carried Canadian troops and
war material, including no less thar
5.4O0 cases Of ammunition intended for
the destruction of the brave German
soldiers who are fulfilling their duty
with self sacrifices and devotion in
the Netherlands service.
'The German government believed
that it is acting in juzeifed self de-
tense in seeking, with all the means
of warfare at it's disposal. to protect
the lives of its soldiers by destroying
ammunition intended for the enemy.
+ c.. Watterson, an Atchison, Kan,
,,iIor can take a mans measurement
for a suit and remember every bit Of