Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-30
KAISER ANS WERS
LUSITANIA IN FACT
VESSEL OF WAR
derman Reply Argues Liner Carried
Hidden Guns and Ammunition
for Forces of Entente
Allies.
OTHER ACTIONS UNINTENTIoNAL
Offers to Make Compensation Where
Imperial Government Found
to Be in Wrong.
REGRETS FOR AMERICANS HURT

AAAAAA@@s4O~@ANS
BERLIN, May 29.-(Via London.)
The German reply to the American
note sent after the sinking of the
Lusitania was signed by Herr Won
Jagow, the foreign minister, at IL
o'clock last night, and delivered to
Ambassador Gerard this forenoon
for transmission to Washington.
Tho note expresses Germany.s regret
for injuries sustained by Americans as a
result of submarine and aeroplane at
tacks and offers compensation in cases
where Germany is found to be in the
wrong.
Defers Direct Answer.
AS indicated previously in these dis
patches. tie note defers direct answer
70 the questions raised by President VII
son pending further exchange Of views
Germany desires to establish whether the
Lusitania was a defenseless merchant
\ ship or was being used for the transpor-
(tstion Of war munitions and soldiers on
(which unsuspecting passengers were per-
mittcd 70 take passage to safeguard the
war material.
the -torpedoing of the British steamer
Falaba, In which an American citizen lost
his life, are answered with the statement
that it was intended to offer ample time
for the passengers and crew to leave the
ship.
Grants Ten Minutes.
The action of the captain In attempting
TO escape. however, necessitated more
enar, ha
mander of the submarine granted ten
minutes for those on board TO leave the
vessel and subsequently entended the
tlno to twenty-three minutes before
sinking the ship.
Germany expresses regrets for the
unintentionnl attacks, on the American
steamer Gushing and the Guifilghti Tho
Gushing vac attacked by German airnen
in the North sea aud the Gulflisht was
torpedoed off Scilly Islands, Germany
disavows any intention TO attack harm-
less neutral craft II offers TO pay CONF
pcnsation wherever 1t is found to be in
the wrong and to refer doubtful cases to
The Hague for decision. ~
Dssavowal Question Not Met.
The passages in the american note-con-
oerning possible disavowsl By Ger
many of intent to sink the Lusitania
and the discontinuance Of It's present
practices OF submarine warfare. are not
mentioned specifically IN the reply. The
note states that pending the reply Of
the American government to the German
assumptions of fact regarding the rural
character of the Lusitania and its cargo,
no attempts win be made 20 answer the
demands contained IN the American
communication. These assumptions of
fact are as follows:
''The Lusitanis was built as an auxil-
iary cruiser, subsidized and carried on
the navy lists as such. 1t carried, ac-
cording TO German information two
guns mounted and concealed below decks.
Carried Soldiers.
British steamers sailing from New
1York, according TO information received
from passengers and other sources. re-
peatedly carried soldiers, artillery. war
supplies and contraband to England, the
Lusitania on this trip carrying specifi-
cally $500 cases of ammVnition in ad-
dition to other wa rsupplies and Canad-
ian troops en- route to the front.
Reference is here made to the fact
that carrying explosives on passenger
steamers is contrary to American law.
II is intimated that the German govern
ment would be glad to receive informa-
ton as to how 1t happened that ammu-
milton was permitted to be shipped on
the Lusitania, a vessel crowded with
passengers. Strong phrases are used re-
garding what is considered as appar-
entity the deliberate policy OF British
shipping companies to protect war ship
ments by embsrking American pas
seneers on the same chips.
Germany contends it Is impossible to
settle the question whether proper op-
pcrtunity was given to place the assem-
gers and crew in safety until 1t is de-
ternined whether the regulations adopted
after the sinking of the Titanic regarding
a proper supply of boats and watertight
buIkhe ads, which are now a part OF the
American law. were observed in the case
of the Lusitania-
Asks u. 5. Questions.
Finally the American mediatory pro-
posals designed TO end submarine war
fare and the throttling of food supplies
and other conditional contraband for
Germany are recalled. The. government
expresses the desire to know what steps
If any have been taken to induce Great
Britain to embark on negotiations to this
end after Germany indicated its willing
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