Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-10
TEXT OF GERMAN REPLY
PROMISES PROTECTION
TO AMERICAN SHIPS
lContinaed from Page 0ne)

Continued from Page 0ne)
crew to a place Of safety would be ac-
/ comphshed. 1t was recognized that
Germany in its latest note had ignored
/ this vital question and had shifted, now
emphasizing the conditions under
which it would promise complete inn
munity from danger to Americans
travelling even on American ships,
situation which, since Garmany's cir
cuiar note with reference to neutral
vessels received on May il. had not
/ been called into question.
Lusitania Stand d Surprise.
The reference in the new note to the
Lusitania tragedy created a profound
impression. After having asked the
United States in the first place TO con-
slider that the Lusitahia was in reality
an armed cruiser ana carried high OK
pIosives which the American govern
ment in its note contradicted with Of
fetal information, the German govern
ment. it now sees. had formally iusti-
fed the action Of the submarine COM
mander in sinking the vessel. thereby
refusing to disavow the act as the
United States had requested. The
statement that the German submarine
commander could not have halted the
vessel without submitting mis- boat ana
crew to danger of destruction, and the
assertion that it was not expected that
the Lusitauia would sink Immediately
after being tOrpedoed, but would re-
main af1oat while passengers were re-
moved 10 her boats, was taken 10 mean
shat Germany held that regardless OF
whether the Lusiyania was ,rmed, the
submarine commander took a proper
course in torpedoing the ship without
warning,
The view that Americans on board
belligerent ships were entitled to no
more protection than neutrals would
be on land in a war zone, was vigOr-
ously disputed by officials, who point
ed out that Jurisdiction of the belIiger- |
eut on land was complete while the
high seas are jointly owned by all ma
tons
The only definite proposal made by
Germany TO change the present status /
the suggestion that four enemy ships I
could sail under the American flag If /
neutral passenger facilities proved in
adequate considered certain Of /
rejection because the United States /
could not undertake to guarantee in /
reference with lawful shipment Of .
contrabaud from its shores.
The official text OF the note today /
was probably somewhere between Co.
penhagen and New York on its way /
to the state department The first
word that came to the state depart
ment today was that Ambassador Ger
ard had late yesterday notified the .
telegraph Office at Copenhagen that it
was on its way to the cable. /
Officials thought the first sections :
would begin coming through tonight
The last note from Berlin took so hours
to reach Washington. II viii take
several hours TO decipher the text at
ter it arrives.
Comment of Berlin Paper.
Berlin. July 10, (via London. Com
menting on the German reply Of July 8
to the American note dated June 9. rel
ative to Germany's submarine warfare
and its effect on American interests,
the Morgen Post today says;
THE answer is every way worthy Of
Germany. 1t shows the calm Of 8
good conscience, q willingness to les
sen the fearfulness OF war as far as
possible and an upright wish 10 live in
peace with America But Il also ex-
presses a firm viii not 10 abate one
lot or title OF Germany's rights. The
answer clearly shows that the respon-
sibinty for the reform OF submarine
warfare rests on Great Britain"
The Morgen Post quotes the Ameri-
can note where it declares that the
Of the United States can
not admit that the proclamation Of a
war zone from which neutral ships
have been warned TO keep away may
be made to operate as in any degree
an abbreviation Of the rights either Of (,
American ship masters or of American
bound on lawful errands. as
passengers on merchant ships Of bel
lirerent nationality" and says
This was point on which AFnerf~
can and German conceptions were OPP !