The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-06-18
GERMANY REGRETS
ATTACKS ON SHIPS
ASKS MORE FACTS
Berlin Government Replies to
President Wilson's Note.
CALLS lUSITANIA A CRUISER
United States Asked to Investigate
Asserts Liner Carried Mounted
Guns and a Cargo of AmmunI-
tion-Justifes Sinking Of
the FaIaba.

washington, May 31.-The German
reply TO the American note sent aftel
the sinking OF the Lusitania was re
ceived IN Washington last night from
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin ant
made public here.
The following Is the text OF the
German note
The undersigned has the honor &c
submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol
lowing answer to the communication
OF May 10 regarding the injury to
American interests through German
submarine warfare.
The imperial government has sub.
1ected h communication of the Amer
ican government to a thorough inves-
tigation. 1t entertains also a keen
wish to cooperate In a frank and
friendly way in clearing up a possible
misunderstanding which may have
arisen in the relations between the
two governments through the events
mentioned by the American govern
ment.
Regarding. firstly, the cases of the
American steamers Cushing and
Gulfight. The American embassy has
already been informed that the Ger
man government has no intention of
submitting neutral ships in the war
zone, which r guilty OF no hostile
acts, to attacks by a submarine or
submarines or aviators. On the con-
trary, the German forces have repeat-
eddy been instructed most specifically
10 avoid attacks On such ships.
Cites Misuse Of Flags.
IF neutral ships in recent months
have suffered through the German sub
marine warfare, owing to mistakes in
identification, Ii is a question only of
quite isolated and exceptional cases.
which can be attributed to the British
governments abuse of flags, together
with the suspicious or culpable be-
havior of the masters of the ships.
The German government, in all
cases In which 1t has been shown by
its investigation that a neutral ship.
not itself at fault, was damaged over
the unfortunate accident, and if justi-
fed by conditions, has offered IN
Identification.
The cases of the Cushing and the
Gulfiight will be treated or the same
An investigation of both
cases is in progress. the resuA of
which will presently be communicated
to the embassy. The Investigation
If necessary be supplemented BY
an international call on the interna-
tlonal commission Of inquiry, as pro-
by artle III of The Hague agree
ment of October Is, 1907.
Justifies Sinking of FaIaba.
When sinking the British steamer
the commander of the Ger
man submarine had the intention of
allowing the passengers and crew a
'ull opportunity for a safe "a
Only when the master did not obey
he order to heave to, but fed and
summoned help by rocket signals. did
he German commander order the
rev and passengers by signals and
negaphone to leave the ship within
en- minutes. He actually allowed
hem % minutes time and fired the
orpedo only when suspicious craft
Fastening to the assistance oil
he Falaba.
Regarding the loss of life by the |
linking OF the British passenger steam |
II Lusitania the German government |
las already expressed to neutral gov !
concerned, its keen regret
hat citizens Of their states lost their
ives. |
"On this occasion the imperial gov
rnment, however, cannot escape the
IMPRESSION that certain important
having a direct bearing on the
linking of the Lusitania may have es-
aped the attention of the American
overnment.
In the interest of clear and com
lete understanding, which Is the aim
I o governments, the imperial
overnment considers it first neces-
AIRY TO convince itself hat the infor-
lation accessible to both governments
bout the facts of the case is COM
lete and in accord.
Calls lusitania a Cruiser.
The government of the United
tates proceeds on the assumption
lat the Lusitania could be regarded
5 an ordinary unarmed merchant
an. The imperial government allows
self In this connection to point out
lat the Lusitania was one of the
rgest and fastest British merchant
lips, built with government funds as
1 auxiliary cruiser and carried ex-
'essly as such in the navy list IS
led by the British admiralty.
1T is further known TO the imperial
'vernment from trustworthy reports
its agents and neutral passengers
1T Tor a considerable time practically
| the more valuable British mer-
have been equipped with
$500 -