The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-06-03
GERMANY REGRETS
[ ATTACKS ON SHIPS;
ASKS MORE FACTS
Berlin Government Replies to
President Wilson's Note.
CALLS LUSITANIA A CRUISER
United States Asked to Investigate
Asserts Liner Carried Mounted
Guns and a Cargo Of Ammunl-
tion-Justifes Sinking Of
the Falaba.


Washington, May 31.-The German
reply to the American note sent after
the sinking of the Lusitania was re-
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 May Is regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
} The imperial government has sub
Jected the communication of the Amer
ican government to a thorough inves-
tigation. II entertains also a keen
wish to cooperate In a frank and
friendly way in clearing up a 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
Gulfiight 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
fA nla nv ri r.
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary, the German forces have repeat
edly been instructed most specifically
to avoid attacks on such ships.
Cites Misuse of Flags.
III neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare. owing to mistakes in
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 it has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship,
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and If 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 will 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 1S, 1907.
Justifies Sinking Of FaIaba.
When sinking the British steamer
Falaba, the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew
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 fired 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
eminent, however cannot escape the
impression that certain important
facts having a direct bearing on the
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 it 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 q 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 as such in the navy list is
sued by the British admiralty.
1T is further known to the imperial
government from trustworthy reports
from it's agents and neutral passengers
that for a considerable time practically
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
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