Middletown transcript., 1915-06-05
GERMANY CLAIMS JUSTIFICATION
FOR The ACTS OF HER SUBMARINES
Expressing Regret For Loss OF Life On Lusitania.
1t Holds That Ammunition Aboard Liner
Made 1t Fairly Subject To Attack.

German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident, and, If justified by condi.
tions, has offered indemnifcation.
Suggests Reference To The Hague.
The cases Of the Cushing and the
Gulhight 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, If necessary, be supplemented by
an international call on the Interna-
t1onal Commission of Inquiry, as pro-
Vided by Article of The Hague agree
ment of October Is, 1907.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba the commander of the German
submarine had the intention of allow
ing the passengers and crew a full op-
portunity for safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the or
der to heave to, but fed and sum
moned help. by rocket signals did the
German commander order the crew
and passengers by signals and mega
| F-S~ W ASoNN NAC sup NllAllu ~
utes. He actually allowed them 23
minutes time, and fred the torpedo
only when suspicious craft were hast
ening to the assistance of the Falaba
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking Of the British passenger
steamer Lusitania. the German Gov
eminent has already expressed to the
neutral governments concerned its
keen regret that citizens of their
states lost their lives.
Thinks v. s. May Lack Facts.
"on 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
escaped the attention of the American
Government
'In the interest of clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
Of both governments, the Imperial
Government considers it first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both govern
ments about the facts of the case is
complete and in accord.
The Government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
as an ordinary unarmed merchant
man. The Imperial Government allows
itself in this connection to point out
that the Lusitania was one of the
largest and fastest British merchant
ships, built with Government funds as
an auxiliary cruiser and carried ex-
pressly as such in the navy list is
sued by the British Admiralty.
Declares Lusltania Was Armed.
TT is further known to the Imperial
Government, from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passen-
gers, that for considerable time prac-
tically all the more valuable British
merchantmen have been equipped with
cannon and ammunition and other
weapons and manned with persons
who have beeen specially trained in
serving guns. The Lusitania, too, ac-
cording to information received here,
had cannon aboard, which we're mount
ed and concealed below decks.
"The Imperial Government, further,
has the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American Govern
ment to the fact that the British Ad-
miralty. in confidential instruction,
issued in February. 1915 recommend
ed Its mercantile shipping not only to
seek protection under neutral flags and
distinguishing marks, but also, while
thus disguised to attack German sub
marines by ramming. AS a special
incitation to merchantmen to destroy
submarines, TIE British Government
also offered high prizes and has al
ready paid such rewards.
Prize Law Set Aside.
"The Imperial Government in view
of these facts, indubitably known to it,
is unable to regard British merchant
men in the zone of naval operations
specified by the Admiralty stan of the
German Navy as 'undefended.' Ger
man commanders consequently are no
longer able to observe the customary
regulations of the prize law, which
| lney DeIOTe Always lOllOW6u.
Finally, the Imperial Government
must point out particularly that the
Lusitania on its last trip, as on earlier
occasions, carried Canadian troops and
war material, including no less than
s, 400 cases of ammunition intended for
the destruction of the brave German
soldiers who are fulfilling their duty
with self-sacrifice and devotion in the
Fatherland's service.
1.-THE German Government believes
that 1t was acting in justified self-de-
fense in seeking with all the means of
warfare at its disposition to protect
the lives of its soldiers by destroying
ammunition intended for the enemy.
Declares U. S. Law Violated.
1.-THE British shipping company
must have been aware of the danger
to which the passengers aboard the
Lusitania were exposed under these
conditions. The company in embark
ing them, Notwithstanding this, at
tempted to deliberately use the lives
of American citizens as protection for
the ammunition aboard, and acted
RE 1AIMA NAgIAe hIt-A bANE