Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-06-03
GERMAN ANSWER TO PRESIDENT

expressly such as in the navy list"
issued by the British admiralty.
1t is further known to the imperial
government from trustworthy reports
from its agents and neutral passen.
| gers, that for a considerable time
! practically all the more valuable Brit.
ish merchantmen have been equipped
with cannon and ammunition and 9th.
er weapons, and manned with persons
who have been especially trained in
serving guns. The Lusitania, too, &C.
cording TO information received here,
bad cannon aboard, which were
mounted and concealed below decks.
Regard British Ships az "Defended."
The imperial government, further,
has the honor to direct the particular
attention of the American government
to the fact that the British admiralty,
in confidential instruction, issued in
February, 1915, recommended its mer.
camille shipping, not only to seek pro.
lection under neutral flags and dis.
tinguishing marks, but also, while
thus disguised, to attach German sub
marines by ramming. AS a special
mediation to merchantmen to destroy
submarines, the British government
also offered high prizes and has al.
ready paid such rewards.
The imperial government, in view
Of these facts indubitably known to
It.. is unable to regard British mer-
chantmen in the zone of naval opera
tions specified of the admiralty staff
OF the German navy, as "undefended {"
German commanders consequently
are no longer able to observe the Gus
tomary regulations Of the prize law,
which they before alweys followed.
Believes Action Justified.
Finally, the imperial government
must point out particularly that the
! Lusitania on its last trip, as on earlier
occasions, carried Canadian troops
and war material, including no less
than 5,400 cases of ammunition in
tended for the destruction of the
brave German soldiers who are full
filling their duty with eelfsacrifices
and devotion in the Fatherland's serv-
ice.
The German. government believes
that 1t was acting in justified self-de-
tense in seeking with all the means
Of warfare at its disposition by de-
stroying ammunition intended for the
enemy.
Hold cunard Company Responsible.
The British Shipping Company
must have been aware of the dan
ger to which the passengers aboard
the Lusitania were exposed under
these conditions. The company in
embarking them, notwithstanding
this attempted deliberately to use the
lives Of American citizens as protec-
ton for the ammunition aboard and
acted against the clear provisions OF
the American law, which expressly
prohibits the forwarding OF passen-
gers on ships carrying ammunition,
and provides a penalty therefor. The
company, therefore, is wantonly
guilty of the death Of so many pas
sengers.
There can be no doubt, according
to the definite report Of the subma-
rine's commander, which is further
confirmed by all other information,
that the quick sinking of the Lust
tania is primarily attributed to the
explosion Of the. ammunition ship
ment caused by a torpedo. The Lusi-
tania's passengers would otherwise,
In all human probability, have been
saved.
The imperial government consid-
ere the above mentioned facts import
ant enough to recommend them TO the
attentive examination of the Ameri-
can government
The imperial government, while
withholding it's final decision on the
demands advanced in connection with
the sinking Of the Lusitania until re-
ceipt of an answer from the American
government, feels impelled, In conclu-
sion, to recall here and now, that it
took cognizance with satisfaction Of
the mediatory proposals submitted by
the United States government to Ber-
LIN and London as basis for modus
vivendl for concluding the maritime
warfare between Germany and Great
Britain.
The imperial government, by its
readiness 10 enter upon Discussion
of these proposals, then demonstrated
its good intentions in ample fashion.
The realization of these proposals
was defeated, as is well known, by
the declinatory attitude Of the British
government
The undersigned takes occasion,
etc.
(Signed) JAGOW.