Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-06-04
DEFENDS
WARFARE
Germany Replies To
American Note.
ASKS FOR MORE FACTS
Maintains Lusitania Was an
Armed British Vessel.

DtI1lIl, MAY oil ne LOl4OWIuS ID lue
text of the German note:
1.-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
American government to a thorough
investigation. 1t entertains also a
keen wish to cooperate in a frank
and friendly way in clearing up a pos
sible misunderstanding which may
have arisen in the relations between
the two governments through the
events mentioned by the American
government.
Regarding, firstly. the cases of the
American steamers Cushing and Gull
fight. The American embassy al
ready has 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
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary, the German forces have been
repeatedly instructed most specifical-
ly to avoid attacks on such ships.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German
submarine warfare, owing to mistakes
in Identification, it is a question only
of quite isolated and exceptional cases
which can be attributed to the Brit
ish governments abuse Of flags, to-
gether with the suspicious or culpable
behavior Of the masters Of the ships.
Regrets Some Incidents.
1.-THE German government in all
cases in which 1t has been shown by
it's Investigations that neutral ship,
not itself at fault-was damaged by
German submarines or aviators, has
expressed regret over the unfortunate
attack and. If justified by conditions.
has offered Naturalization.
The cases of the Gushing and the
Gulfight will be treated on the same
principles. An investigation of both
cases is in progress, the result of
which will be communicated present
ly to the embassy. The investigation
can, II necessary, be supplemented by
an International call on the interna.
tional commission of inquiry, as pro.
vided by article III. of The Hague
agreement of Oct. 10, 1907.
when sinking the British steamer
Falaba the commander of the German
submarine had the intention of al
lowing the passengers and crew full
opportunity for q safe escape. Only
when the master did not obey the or
der to heave to, but fed and summon
ed help by rocket signals, did the
German commander order the crew
and passengers by signals and mega
phones to leave the ship within ten
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
steamer Lusitania the German gov
eminent already has expressed to the
neutral governments concerned its
keen regret that citizens Of their
states lost their lives.
Some Facts Overlooked.
ION this occasion the imperial gov
eminent, however, cannot escape the
that certain important
facts having direct bearing on the
of the Lusitania may have
escaped the attention of the Ameri-
ian government.
In the interest Of . clear and COM
plete understanding, which is the aim
Of both governments, the imperial
government considers 1t first neces-
sary to convince itself that the in
accessible to both govern
ments about the facts Of the case is
complete and in accord.
The government of the United
States proceeds on the assumption
that the Lusitania could be regarded
IL