The Ordway new era., 1915-06-11
NERLUSITAn|A WAS ARMED WARSHI
GERMAArSREPLY T0AmERCAN PROTEST.
Answer to President Wilson'S Note Cabed From Berlin to WASH
inuton by Ambassador Gerard-Mo Facts Asked
osrsn
hs
Being s,t ,}SE

washington. May s1.-The German
reply TO the American note sent after
the sinking Of the Lusitania was re-
ceived in Washington last night from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin and
made public here.
The following II the text Of the
German note:
THE undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the communication
Of May It regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare. ~
THE imperial government has sub
jected the communication OF the Amer
'ican government to thorough inves-
tigation. 1t entertains also q keen
wish to cooperate in . frank and
friendly way In clearing up possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen in the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern.
ment. -5sg.s l||5 ~
Regarding. firstly. the cases Of the
American steamers Gushing and
Gulnight. The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has NO intention Of
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty Of NO hostile
acts, to attacks by . submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary; the German forces have repeat
ediy been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
cItss MIsuss Of Fiaga.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare. owing to mistakes in
Identification. It il . question only Of
quite isolated and exceptional cases.
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse o{ hags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior of the masters Of the ships.
"The German government. In all
cases In which II has been shown BY
its investigation that . neutral ship.
not itself 1t fault, was damaged over
the. unfortunate accident. and II justi-
ned by conditions. has offered In
Identification.
"Ths cases Of the Cushing and the
Gulfisht will be treated on the sarse
prjnciples. An invsstigxtion OF both
cases IL in progress, IT, result Of
which Will presently bs communicated
to the embassy. The investigation
can II necessary b supplemented By
an international call ON the interna-
tionai commission Of inquiry. .as pro
vided by article III Of The Hague's
agreement Of October 10. 1907.
JustIslss einklnS sf Fsisba-
xWhen sinking the British steamer
ralaba, the commander Of the Ger
man submarine had the intention Of
allowing the passengers and crew
full opportunity for . safe escape.
only when the master did mot obey
the order to heaye to. but ned and
summoned help by rocket signals. did
the German commander order the
crew and passenger by signals and
megaphone to leave tho ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them % minutes time and nred the
torpedo only when Suspicious craft
were Fastening to the assistance Of
the Falaba. ~
Regarding the loss Of life by the
sinking Of the British passenger steam
er Lusitania the German government
has already expressed to neutral gov
ernments concerned. its keen regret
that citizens Of their states lost their
lives.
"On this occasion the imperial gov.
ernment. however. cannot escape th.
impression that certain important
facts having direct bearing on the
sinking Of the Lusitania may have es-
capped the attention Of the American
government. s
"ln the interest Of clear and com
rlete understanding, which is the aim
of both governments. the imperial
government considers 1t hrst neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both governments
about the facts OF the case II com
plete and in accord.
Calls LusitanIa . Cruiser.
"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 a. such In the navy list Is
sued by the British admiralty. 6e
st is further known to the imperial
government from Trustworthy reports
from It's agents and neutral passengers
that for considerable time practical
ly all the more valuable British mer.
chantmen have been equipped with
cannon and ammunition and other
weapons and manned with persons
who have been specially trained in
serving guns. The Lusitania, too, &C.