Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-05
Communication Handed AM
baSSador Gerard Stating
That TorpedoiOg of Amer
lean Vessel Was Mistake,
MMANDER BELIEVED
IT BRITISH VESSEL
No Intention to Attack Ship Of
United Statesi Cushing In
Cident Is Now Under Con-
Slderation,

faY nops'Ho IouRnAI SPECIAL LsAsgo wlaEf
Washington, June 4.--Germany, Il
note cahled TO the state depart
ment today by Ambassador Gerard q
Berlin, expresses regrets that throuel
'an unfortunate accident a German
submarine had to torpedo the Ameri
can steamship Gulhight and declared
Itself ready to furnish full recon-
pense for the damage thereby sus
tained by American citizens
In the same communication tn,
German foreign Office said Il had no
yet been possible to clear up fully tn,
case Of the American steamer Cush
ing. reported attacked by a German
aeroplne. and asked that the Unit.
cd States communicate the informa.
tion in it's possession concerning the
incident.
Saw Flag Too Late.
Blame for the attack on the Gulf
light was placed by the foreign office
upon the proximity of two British
patrol boats and the absence from
the steamers freehoard OF the dis
tinctive markings usually carried by
neutral ships in the war zone. THAT
the attacked steamer carried the
flag" the note added, was first OBJ
served at the moment OF firing the
shot"
The Gulflight was torpedoed in the
English channel five weeks ago, while
bound from Port Arthur, Tex. for
Rouen, France with oil. She was
towed To Crows Sound and beached
for repairs. Two seamen were drown
ed when the crew took to the boats
Immediately after the attack, and the
captain died of heart trouble thcnext
day.
The expression Of regrets and Of
fer OF reparation in today's note, fol-
lows the principle outlined IN the
circular recently sent 20 neutral ma
tions by Germany disclaiming any
intention OF attacking neutral ves-
sells carrying non-eontrahand car
goes.
Text of German Note.
The text of the German note, which
was signed by the minister of foreign
follows.
Referring TO the note Of May 2Sth,
the undersigned has the honor to In
form his excellency, the ambassador
of the United States of America, Mr..
James w. Gerard, that the examina-
tion undertaken on the part Of the
German government concerning the
American steamers Gulflight and
Cushing has led TO the following con-
alusons.
In regard to the attack on the
steamer Gulflight, the commander of
n German submarine saw on the af-
ternoon of May /, in the vicinity Of
The Soilly islands, large merchant
steamer coming in his direction which
was accompanied by two smaller
steamers These latter took such a.
position in relation to the steamer
hat they formed a regulation safe
guard against submarines, moreover
one of them had wireless apparatus
which Is not usual with small vessels
From this it evidently was a case of
English convoy vessels. Since such
vessels are regularly armed the sub
marine could not approach the steam
n on the surface of the water without
the danger Of destruction. I'll
vas, on the other hand, TO be assumed
hat the steamer was OF considerable |
'aluc to the British government since |
{ was guarded. The commander
'ould see no neutral markings on II |
# any kind, that Is, distinctive marks |
PAINTED on the freeboard recognizable
It a distance and such as are now
isual on neutral ships in the English |
one Of naval warfare. In conse- |
luence he arrived at the conclusion |
rom all the circumstances that he |
lad to deal with an English steamer, |
ubmerged and attacked. The torpe- |
10 came in the immediate neghbor-
lood OF one of the convoy ships which |
Il once rapidly approached the point |
# firing, so that the submarine was
orced to go to a great depth to avoid |
ieing rammed. the conclusion of the |
commander that an English convoy |
hip was concerned was in this way
onflrmed. That the attacked steam
r carried the American tlag was first
bserVed at the moment Of firing the
hot The fact that the steamship
vas pursuing course which led
either to nor from America was a
urther reason why IL did not occur to
he commander Of the submarine that
e was dealing with an American
Upon scrutiny OF the time and
lace OF the occurrence described,
he German government has become
Onvinced that the attacked steam
hip was actually the steamship Gulf
ght. There can be no doubt. accord
1g to the attendant circumstances,
hat the attack Is To be attributed To
n unfortunate accident and not to
he fault Of the commander. The
ierman government expresses its re-
rets 70 the government Of the Unit
d States concerning this incident and
eclares itself ready TO furnish full
sc0nfps nsation for The damage there
y sustained by American citizens. It
] left TO the discretion OF the Ameri-
an government to present state
tent Of this damage, or. If doubts
iay arise over individual points, to
an expert who would have
, determine together with Germanl
xpert. the amount Of the damage.
ut has not yet been possible hyl,
ieans Of an inquiry to clear up full
z the case Of the American shipll