The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-06-03

perial government from reliable information, fur
nished by officials and neutral passengers that for
some time practically all the more valuable English
merchant vessels have been provided with guns,
munitiOn and other weapons and reinforced with
crew specially practced in manning guns.
SAYS LINER CARRIED MASKED GUNS
According to reports at hand the Lusitania,
when she left New York, undoubtedly had guns
board which were mounted under decks and masked.
The imperial government, furthermore, has the
honor to direct the particular attention of the Amer
lean government to the fact that the British admir-
atty, by secret instruction of February of this year,
advised the British merchant marine not only to seek
protection behind neutral flags and markings but,
even when disguised to attack German submar-
ines by ramming them. High rewards have been Of
fered by the British government special incen-
tive for the destruction of the submarines by mer-
chant vessels, and such rewards already have been
paid out.
LINER NOT HELD "UNDEFENDED
TERRITORY"
In view of these facts, which are satisf actOrily
known to it, the imperial government is unable to
consider English merchant vessels any longer "un
defended territory in the of maritime war des-
ignated by the admiralty staff of the imperial Ger
man navy; the German commanders consequent
ture otherwise usual and with which they invariably
complied before this.
Lastly the imperial government must specially
point out that on her last trip the Lusitana,
earlier occasions, had Canadian troops and munitions
on board, including less than 5,4OO cases of am
muniton destined for the destruction of brave Ger
man soldiers who fulfilling with selfsacrfce and
DEVOTION their duty in the service of the faherland
The German government believes that it acts in just
soldiers by destroying ammunition destined for the
enemy with the means of war at it's command.
HOLDS COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATHS
The English steamship company must have been
aware of the dangers to which passengers on board
the Lusitania exposed under the circumstances
In taking them on board in spite of this, the COM
pany quite DELIBERATELY tried to the lives of
American citizens protection for the ammunition
carried, and violated the clear provisions of Amer
lean laws which expressly prohibit and provide pun
ishment for the carrying of passengers on ships
which have explosives board The company,
therefore, wantonly caused the death of many
passengers.
According to the express report of the submar-
inc comm ander concerned, which is further confirmed
by all other reports, there be doubt that the
rapid sinking of the Lustania was primarily due to
the explosion of the cargo of ammunition, caused by
the torpedo Otherwise in all human possibility the
passengers of the Lusitana would have been saved
RESERVES FINAL STATEMENT
The imperial government holds the facts recited
above to be of sufficient Importance to recommend
them to a careful examination by the American gov
eminent. The imperial government begs to reserve
final statement of its position with regard to the
demands made in connection with the sinking of the
Lusitana until reply is received from the Amer
lean government, and believes that it should recall
here that it took note with satisfaction of the pro-
posals of good offices submitted by the American
government in Berlin and London with view of
paving the way for a mOdus vvendi for the conduct
of maritime between Germany and Great Brit
ain. The imperial government furnished at that
time ample evidence of its good will by it's willing
to consider these proposals. The realization of
these proposals failed as is known, on account of
their rejection by the government of Great Britain.
The undersigned requests his exceency, the am
bassador to bring the above to the knowledge of the
American government and avails himself of the Op-
pOrtunity to renew, etc. Won Jagow,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.