Evening star., 1915-05-30
Secretary Bryan Silent.

Secretary Bryan declined to comment
on the Nebraskan case. referring in
quirers to an examination of the facts
as given out In formal statement
yesterday.
While officials did not care to com
ment on the German reply until they
had read the text. the forecast of its
contents was looked upon in well in
formed quarters as not difficult to an
swer because the American government
had made careful investigation of the
facts in the case before sending its
note.
The claim of Germany that the Lusi
tania was built as an auxiliary cruiser
and was carried the British navy
lists as such is met with the statement
that the British government had never
published the Lusitania it's navy
list and that such action was neces-
sary before it could be considered as
an auxiliary cruiser. Also. the Lusi-
tania carried no guns. either mounted
or dismounted. according to the in
vestigation by Collector Malone at New
York before the vessel sailed
There has been distinct understand
ing between the United States and
Great Britain. 1t was stated. that none
of her merchantmen sailing from the
United States would be armed. The
fact that merchantmen subsequent
ly might become an auxiliary cruiser
Is recognized as a possibility. but the
United States has always understood
the British position to be that such a
change could not be accomplished dur
ing voyage, and only in a home port
German Contention Irrelevant.
| The carrying of arms and ammunition
is not contrary to American law. as the
German reports claim. federal statutes
being directed against the transporta-
ton OF self-exploding material from
which class official rulings many years
ago excluded fixed ammunition.
Germany's contention that it is impos-
sible to settle the question of whether
! proper opportunity was given the pas
sengers to escape until 1t is determined
whether the Lusitania was equipped
/ with the Iifeboats and appurtenances
provided for In regulations adopted
after the Titanic sank looked upon
| In official quarters as Irrelevant. because
| IL was pointed out that the torpedoing
| Of the Lusitania without q moments
warning made 1t impossible to launch
| such lifeboats as the ship did carry.
From the brief outline it was not
believed that the German note went
| beyond the circular of May IL. which
| promised TO express regrets and make
| reparation for mistaken attacks on
neutral vessels.
In the American note of May 13 it
was pointed out that such promises
| did not remove the dangers to which
Americans and their vessels were sub
| ject
The absence in the forthcoming note
of any promises to safeguard Ameri-
| can lives on unarmed merchantmen of
| any nationality and the failure to dis
I avow the intention to destroy Ameri-
1 can lives on the Lusitania produced
| feeling of distinct disappointment in
many quarters.
| Speculation was widespread as to the
| Washington governments course. 1t
| was believed the German note would
\ be promptly answered with a state
| ment of facts understood by the
| United States and a reiteration of the
demand for reparation for past events
and guarantees as to the future. This
prediction was based. however, on no
comment from the White House but
on the general trend Of comment
among officials familiar with President
Wilson's viewpoint as expressed on
previous occasions.