The Ely miner., 1915-06-04

ment In connection with the sinking
Of the L9sitania until the receipt of
an answer from the United States to
the nese which Herr Won Jagow, the
foreign minister, has delivered to Am
bassador Gerard, In reply to the
American note received by the Ger
man government on May 15.
In it's reply. the German govern
ment declares that 1t Is not its inten-
tion to submit neutral ships in the war
zone, which are guilty of no hostile
acts, to attacks by submarines or aero
planes; that it is investigating the
circumstances in connection with the
attacks on the American steamers
Gushing and Gulflight, and that in
all cases where neutral vessels,
through no fault of their own, have
been damaged, Germany will pay In
Identification.
The reply urges that in the case of
the Lusitania which Germany alleges
was armed and carried large stores Of
war munitions, it was "acting in JUS
tilted sef-defense in seeking with all
the means of warfare at its disposi-
tfen to protect the lives of its soldiers
by destroying ammunition intended for
che enemy"
The German government recalls the
proposals submitted by the United
States government to Berlin and Lon
don, designed to end the submarine
warfare and the shutting out of food
supplies from Germany, which, it de-
clared, failed of their purpose because
of the refusal of the British govern
ment 10 agree to them.
Text of German Reply.
Berlin, via London, May 3l.-The
following is the text of the German
reply to the note of the United States
government:
THE undersigned has the honor to
submit to ambassador Gerard the fol-
lowing answer to the communication
of May Is regarding the injury to
American interest through German
submarine warfare:
THE Imperial government has sub
5ected the communication Of the
American government to a thorough
Investigation. 1t entertains also a
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.
To Avoid Attacks on Neutras.
pnn fno of ha
American steamers Cushing and Gulf
fight. The American embassy has al
ready 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 sub
marines OF aviators. On the contrary,
che German forces have repeatedly
been instructed most specifically to
avoid attacks on such ships.
"If neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes in
identification, it is 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.
Expresses Deep Regret.
"The German government in all
cases in which it has been shown by
its investigations that neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
accident, and, if justified by conditions
has offered indemnifcation.
The cases of the Gushing end the
Gulfiight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation of both
cases is in progress, the result OF
which will presently be communicat
ed to the embassy. The investiga
tion, II necessary, will be supplement
ed by An international call on the in
ternational commission of inquiry, as
provided by Article III of The Hague
agreement Of October IS. 1907.
Sinking of the Falaba.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention o.
allowing the passengers and crew {
full opportunity for safe escape
Only when the master did not ODE!
the order to heave-to, but fed ant
summoned help by rocket signals, dit
the German commander order tn,
crew and passengers by signals ant
megaphones to leave the ship within
ten minutes. He actually allowed then
Is minutes time, and fired the torped
only when suspicious craft were hast
ening to the assistance Of the Falaba
Regarding the Lusitania.
Regarding the loss of life by tn
sinking of the British passenge
steamer Lusitania, the German go,
ernment has already expressed to th
neutral governments concerned 1t
keen regret that citizens of their state
lost their lives.
"On this occasion the Imperial go
eminent, however, cannot escape th
Impression that certain importaI
facts having direct bearing on tn
sinking of the Lusitania may have e
U. S. Destroyer Launched.