Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-06-09
GERMANY REGRETS
II ATTACKS ON SHIPS;
ASKS MORE FACTS
Berlin Government Replies to
President Wilson's Note.
CALLS LUsITANlA A CRUISER
United States Asked to Investigate
Asserts Liner Carried Mounted
Guns and Cargo Of Ammuni-
tion--Jsstifes Sinking Of
the Faiaba.


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 is the text OF the
German note:
THE undersigned has the honor to
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol
lowing answer to the communication
of Nay Is regarding the injury TO
American interests through German
submarine warfare
The imperial government has sub
| jected the communication of the Amer
lean government to a thorough inves-
tigation. It entertains also keen
wish to cooperate in a 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.
Regarding. firstly. the cases of the
American steamers Cushing and
Gulfight. The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has no intention q
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone. which are guilty of no hostile
Icts, to attacks by a submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
rrary, the German forces have repeat
edly been instructed most specifically
TO avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse Of Flags.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes ia
Identification, it is a question only Of
quite isolated and exceptional cases,
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior of the masters Of the ships.
"The German government, in all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
Its investigation that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and II justi-
fed by conditions. has offered in
| Identification.
"The cases OF the Cushing and the
| Gulflight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation of both
cases is in progress, the result Of
which viii presently be communicated
| to the embassy The investigation
can If necessary be supplemented by
an international call on the interna-
tional commission of inquiry, as pro-
vided by artle III Of The Hague agree
ment of October Is, 1907.
JustIfies Sinking Of FaIaba.
when sinking the British steamsS
Falaba, the commander of the GEE
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew a
full opportunity for a safe escape
Only when the master did not obey
the order to heave to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals, did
the German commander order the
crew and passengers by signals and
megaphone to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed
them % minutes time and fred the
torpedo only when suspicious craft
were Fastening to the assistance Of
the F'alaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the
sinking OF the British passenger steam
err Lusitania the German government
has already expressed to neutral gov
ernments concerned, its keen regret
that citizens OF their states lost their
lives.
ION this occasion the imperial gov
eminent. however, cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on rhe
sinking of the Lusitania may have es-
capped 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 IL first neces-
sary to convince itself that the infor-
nation accessible to both governments
about the facts Of the case is com
plete and in accord.
Calls Lusitania Cruiser.
1.-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.
ut is further known to the imperial
government from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passengers
that for considerable time practically
all the more valuable British mer
chantmen have been equipped will
e.nnon and ammunition and othel
weapons and manned with persons
who have been specially trained II
serving guns. The Lusitsnia, too. &C