Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-15
Note Written BY President
Demands Cessation of
Under Sea Attack
CRAVE SITUATION
is BROUGHT ABOUT
Strife Is a Possibility if
Germany Declines to
Make Promises

Washington, D. c., May 14.-The
government and people of the United
States turned expectantly toward
Berlin, where Ambassador Gerard had
h,en instructed to present to the Ger
man foreign Office a note calling the
attention of the imperial government
to the unlawful and inhumane'' de-
struction of the Lusitania and other
violations of American rights on the
high seas.
Germany is asked in the note to dis
avow the acts of her submarine COM
manders In the torpedoing without
warning of the Lusitania, British
ship. with loss of more than 100
American lives, and the American
steamer Gulf1ight, "as result of
which two or more American citizens
met their DEATH Reparatfon, 80 far
as reparation is possible" Is asked
and the United States declares it
confidently expects that the imperial
German government will take immedi-
ate steps to prevent the recurrence"
of such acts and practices.
No Time Fixed TO! Reply.
No tine is specified for a reply, but
the communication says "The govern
ment and the people of the United
States look to the imperial German
government for just, prompt and en-
lightened action in this vital matter"
The course to be pursued by the
United States in the event Of non
compliance with it's requests and ex-
pectations is not stated, but high Of
,fcials pointed out that the conclusion
Of the note was intended to impress
on Germany that there should be no
misapprehension il Berlin of the firm
purpose of the United States to safe
guard its rights by any means neces-
sary. This is expressed in the final
sentence, which says:
"The imperial German government
will not expect the government of the
United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance OF
its sacred duty of maintaining the
rights Of the United States and its
citizens and of safeguarding their free
exercise and enjoyment"
u. First to Act.
It was Just week ago today that
the Lusitania was struck by Ger
man torpedo and sunk with the loss
of many neutral lives besides the
scores O, Americans. The United
States government is the first to act.
The other neutral nations, most Of
whom have been waiting for the pol
lev of the United S:ates to be revealed,
are now expected to decide what rep
resentations they will make.
AS the note was read today by dip
lomats and officials generally, one
feature that attracted wide comment
was the stand taken by the United
states against the use of the subma-
rine as a commerce destroyer, the at.
tention OF the German government be
Ing called to "the practical impossi-
bility'' of employing these under sea
craft to destroy merchantmen with
out disregarding those rules OF fair.
ness. reason, justice and humanity
which all modern opinion regards as
Imperative
This was taken by naval officers
versed in international law and dip
lomats to mean that not only during
the present war, but in future inter
national conferences to amend the
rules Of maritime war, the American
government. would be found aligned
AGAINST the use of the submarine
against merchantmen.
Regret Not Sufficient.
Another feature Of the note which
caused much comment among diplo,
mats was the statement in it replying
to the German circular to neutrals
which arrived here on Tuesday and
agrees to express regret and give repa-
ration for any mistaken attacks on
neutral vessels by submarines. The
communication points out that while
expression of regret and offers OF
reparation in case Of destruction OF
neutral ships sunk by mistake" may
.sasa ny, ma ee 51