The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-16

follows:
The Secretary OF State ad Interim
To the American Ambassador at Ber-
lin:
Department OF state.
Washington. June 8, 1915.
American Ambassador. Berlin:
You are instructed To deliver
tsxtuaiiy the following note TO the
minister OF foreign affairs:
I'm compliance with your excel
lency's request did not fail TO trans
init TO my government Immediately
upon their receipt your note OF May
rs In reply TO my note OF May 10. and
your supplementary note of June 1.
setting forth the conclusions so far
as reached by tho imperial German
government concerning the attacks on
the American steamers Cushing and
Gulnight. 1 am now instructed by
my government to communicate the
following In reply:
The government OF the United
States notes with qualification the full
recognition by the imperial German
government In discussing the cases OF
the Cushing and the Gulnight OF the
principles OF the freedom Of all parts
OF the open sea to neutral ships and
the frank willingness OF the imperial
German government to acknowledge
and meet its liability where the fact
OF attack upon neutral ships which
have not been guilty Of any hostile
act by German aircraft or vessels of
war II satisfactorily esta ablished; and
the government OF the United States
will In due course lay before the i'm
perial German government. at it's re-
quest. full information concerning the
attack on the steamer Cushing.
With regard to the sinking OF the
steamer Falaba. by which an Ameri-
can citizen lost his life. the govern
rnent OF the United States is surprised
to find the imperial German govern
ment contending that an effort on the
part OF a merchantmen to escape cap
ture and secure assistance alters the
obligation OF the officer seeking to
make the capture I'm respect OF the
safety OF the lives OF those on board
the merchantmen. although the ves-
sci had ceased her attempt to escape
when torpedoed. These are not new
circumstances. They have been In
the minds OF statesmen and OF inter-
nationa, jurists throughout the de-
velopment OF naval warfare. and the
government OF the United States does
not understand that they have ever
been held to alter the principles of
humanity upon which IL has insisted.
Nothing but actual forcibie resistance
or continued efforts to escape by flight
when ordered TO stop for the purpose
OF visit on the part OF the merchant
man has ever been held to forfeit the
lives or her passengers or crew. The
government OF the United States.
however, does not understand that
the imperial German government is
seeking In this case to relieve itself
Of liability but only intends to set
forth the circumstances which led
the commander OF the submarine to
allow himself to be hurried into the
course which he took.
Your excellency's note. In discuss
Ing the loss OF American lives result
Ing from the sinking OF the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length TO
certain information which the i'm
perisl German government has re-
ceiVed with regard To the character
and outfit OF that vessel. and your ex-
ceilency expresses the fear that this
Information may not have been
brought To the attention OF the gov
eminent OF the United states. II IS
stated In the note that the I.usitania
was undoubtedly equipped with mask
ed guns. supplied with trained gun
ners and special ammunition, trans
porting troops from Canada, carrying
a cargo not permitted under the laws
OF the United States to vessel also
carrying passengers. and serving. In
virtual effect. as an auxiliary to the
naval forces OF Great Britain. For
tunately these are matters concerning
which the governmcu, OF the United
States In. In a position To give the inn
perial German government official in
formation. OF the facts alleged In
your excellency's note. IL true, the
government OF the United States
would have been bound to take official
cognizance In performing It's recog-
nlzed duty as n neutral power and In