The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-06-05

The indications are at the present time,
that Germany and the United States will
be able to adjust their difficulties without
recourse to arms
The German reply to this government s
note over the sinking Of the Lusitania is
courteous, friendly, but firm.
While unsatisfactory Ito use term
literally employed in the connection :
Germany's note opens the way to a sane,
unimpaSsiOned discussion Of the issues at
stake, and about which there is disagree
ment as to facts.
Germany defends the sinking of the
Lusitania on the ground that:
1. The Lusitania was armed" and
carried two guns mounted and concealed
below deck
2. That British passenger steamers
sailing from New York have repeatedly
carried soldiers, artillery, war supplies,
and contraband" ("
3. That the Lusitania carried "5, 400
cases Of ammunition, other war supplies,
anu CdHdu1du troops ell route 10 IHe
front
Attention is also called to the fact that
rewards are paid to masters of British
merchantmen for ramming submarines.
The note also states that the only effec-
tive sea weapon Germany possesses in pre-
venting the delivery of ammunition to the
enemy is the use Of her submarines, and
argues that these cannot conform to sea
law formulated before submarines were
used
1t asserts it's right to continue it's sub
marine warfare, and places the necessity
for it on Britain.
Germany is willing to stop the sub
marine fight if the United States will in
duce Great Britain to lift the blockade on
food stuffs intended for German civilian
population, and thus restore the freedom
of the seas.
Collector of Customs Malone assured the
president that the Lusitania was not
armed" and that nothing in her cargo
violated our laws, before President Will
sons note was written. He assumed this
to be a fact
In an interview with the German am
bassadOr, Count Won Bernstorff, this week,
four affidavits made by neutral passengers
on the Lusitania were presented, which
stated positively that there were guns on
board which were mounted below decks
and masked, and also as to the presence of
munitions on the ship.
The establishment of the truth or falsity
of these statements WILL no doubt, have
great bearing on the question.
The president, it is understood, will not
reply to Germany's note until further in
vestigation of this point.
1t is becoming increasingly clear to all
unprejudiced minds that the passengers
of the ill-fated ship were playing hide-and-
seek with Death when they embarked, as
suming a responsibility thereby which no
amount of natural sympathy for tragic
ending of life can disguise.
Moreover: The government, at the pres
ent moment, is in the peculiar position of
insisting that American manufacturers
may sell whatever purchaser wishes to
buy, though the thing purchased may spell
defeat for Germany and yet deny the Ger
mans their right of stopping such ship
ments.
There is no longer any question between
the two governments regarding the Gulf
light and Cushing, Germany having ex-
pressed regret and being prepared to make
ample reparation.
1t is not over-optimistic, therefore, to
see in the general situation way for the
amicable settlement Of the trouble which,
for time, looked dark indeed
This, however, is only the shaft of light
casting an illumination across the dark,
dark cloud-it may disappear as suddenly
as it has come.