Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
NO PROOF THAT GERMAN
SUBMARINE Sank ship
Count Won Bernstein VIII Not Admit
That One OF Kaiser's Boats Sent
Lusitania to Bottom.
DECLINES TO MAKE STATEMENT
Believed That Berlin Government
VIII Take Fullest Advantage of
Difficulty in Establishing Beyond
Doubt Identity of Destroyer.
Especial to The Times-p,spatch. !

NEW 1Ofh,. May S.-SOunt Won
Bernstorn. German ambassador. made
1t plain tonight that Germany would
not yet admit that the Lusitania was
sunk by a German submarine. In the
course OF nm interview, he asked these
significant Questions:
do we know positively that the
Lusitania was torpedoed?"
What proof has been furnished that
one torpedo entered the engine-room
and another stokehole of the Lusi-
tania?"
"On whose authority has 1t been said
that German submarine. sank the
shlp?"
What is the legal evidence to back
such statement?'
The Interview with the German am
bassador was obtained aboard the 500
p. NJ. train for Washington. as It stood
in the Pennsylvania Station. The
count seemed to be gasping for breath.
From his apartments In the Ritz Carl
ton he had driven to the station in hot
haste. and to all the questions OF tho
newspaper men who followed. he re-
piled with ever-increasing emphasis:
II have nothing to say. Nothing to
say"
British American In the group had
shouted: =.
Have not more than 100 Americans
been murdered by this German cub
martinez"
But to this Count Won Berns,orn re-
sponded:
Not a word"
IDENTITY IMMEDIATELY
KNOWN TO PASSENGERS
AS the count rushed onto the train
his Identity became Immediately known
to the crowds of passengers. When
found in a smoking compartment. the
German ambassador was asked:
Don't you think that. in view of tho
intense public interest and the adver-
tised warnings from the German en-
bassy that such catastrophe might
happen, you should say something"
Not at this time he replied.
Why not now. when everybody is
talking about what has happened?'
do we know exactly what has hap
pened?" was tho German ambassadors
sudden sally.
The counts attention was then
called to newspaper headings. stating
that tho Lus!tania had heen sunk by
German submarine. and moro than
100 Americans killed. AT this the Ger
man diplomat responded by another
question:
DO we know that the Lusitania was
torpedoed?"
The German ambassador was then
asked II 1t had not been oficially
stated that two torpedoes had been
fred at the Lusitania, and he answered
by asking:
Where do you get that information?
From the newspapers or from other
sources?'
When II was-stated that tho Official
announcements OF tho Cunard Line and
the British admiralty agreed In the
charge that the torpedoes Of Ger
man submarine were responsible for
1900 deaths. Count Won Bernstorft
asked:
But what proof. what real proof,
has been furnished TO this effect?"
Then you will made no statement
until II is proved that the Lusitania
was sunk by German submarine ?" he
was asked.
That's It exactly" was the reply.
AT the present time I have not the
necessary information on which to
base a staten int"
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE
HELD DURING DAY
During day conference was
held In apartment eco of the Rita Carl
ton between Count Won Bernstorff.
embassy. and Julius p. Meyer. director
OF the Hamburg-American Line. 1t
was denied that Captain Boy Ed. naval
attache, and Captain Won Papen, mill
tary attache, were present, as repre-
senting tho German secret service in
the United States. Jacob H. Schir
called at the hotel, but explained it
was not to consult the German am
bassador concerning German financial
matters.
Tho employees OF the hotel were in
structed, so one of them said to- day,
that the ambassador had already left
for Washington. Even his valet said
he was not there. although a few
minutes later he came down in the
ELEVATOR and hurried to a taxicab.
Because OF the counts long confer
ence with his legal adviser and his In
sistent inference that II had not yet
been proved that the Lusitania had
been the prey of German submarine.
the following deductions were drawn:
/. That the German government will
not admit responsibility for the sink
ing OF the LuSitania or the 1900 deaths
Of the catastrophe.
g That, in the claims that will he
made against Germany by this coun-
try. Germany Will set up the answer
THAT there must be absolute proof that
German submarine sank the ship, and
not mines, an internal machine hid
within the ship, or other unknown en-
g!nes OF destruction. .-.
8. That Germany will take the fullest
advantage OF the difTiculty OF proving
+. m the testimony Of the Lusitania's
engers or crew that a submarine
m, the attack, even II an object was
sseh which looked like a periscope
l. How can 1t be proved to be the
periscope Of German undersea boat
which shot the fatal torpedoes?
Burned By ExpIosioa on Boat.