The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09
LINER WAS WARSHIP,
DERNBURG DECLARES
Refers to Hague Rules as JUS
tification Of the Lusitanias
Destruction.
CTNARD AGENTS DENY

cr.ryELAxr. May s.--Allegins that
England carried American passengers
IN her ships as shields to protect her
.,nportations Of arms. Or. DernburG
today dictated a statement which he
characterized as the most important
statement he has yet issued In this
country.
Great Britain declared the North
Sra war zone in the winter" he
sad NO protest was made by the
United States or any neutral. Great
Britain held mp all neutral ships car
rying non-contraband goods No food
SUITS Of any KIND have actually
reached Germany since the war be-
can. international law does not rec
osnize any right to starve out a whole
peop.e.
In retaliation Germany declared
the waters around England war zone
ard started a submarine warfare. II
became known in February that Brit
ish ships were flying the American
flag as a protection.
Great Britain replied by officially
declaring its purpose 10 starve 100
100000 Germans and Austrians. The
United States very thoughtfully tried
{, mediate. proposing that foodstufYs
should he passed and submarine war
fare he stopped Germany agreed;
Ens.and turred the proposal down.
Vessels carrying contraband are
liable to destruction unless they can
he taken to a port Of the country that
captures them. oil Is contraband. like
war munitions and all metals. The
master of the Gulfight swpre before
customs officials to his cargo OF oil for
France. The master OF the I.usitania
similarly swore to his manifest of
cargo OF metals and ammunition. Both
the Gu.fiight and the Lusitania were
STACKED. It is obvious.
The Lusiiania's manifest showed
'he carried for Liverpool 100000
pounds Of brass. 10000 pounds of cop
per. isa cases of military goods. 1871
cases Of ammunition. and for London
loo cases Of cartridges.
Vessels of that kind can he seized
end destroyed under Hague rules
without any respect To a war zone.
The Lusitania was British auxiliary
cruiser a man-of-war. The passen-
-e's had had full warning. first ny
the German note to England in Feb
rulry. second by advertisement.
Germany wants to do anything
reasonable SO as not to make the
United States or it, citizens s"frer IN
any way. But she cannot do 81 TIL
less Americans will take necessary
precautions Ito protect themselves
from dangers Of which they are cog
INFANT.
What Germany has done she has
done by way Il retaliation after her
offer through President Wilson re-
garding submarine warfare was turned
DOWN and after Brits declared the
war vas directed toward the 100. 900.
600 innocent non-combatants. Women
ard children.
Americans can do their own think.
Ing when the facts are laid before
them"
Asked point blank whether he antic.
ipated action by the United States
vticn might result, in pulling her into
the war because Of the Lusltania' s
snk.ng Or. Dernburg said:
That Is a question ! cannot discuss
] can only say that any ship fiyina
the American flag and not carrying
Contrdhand OF war is and Will he as
tafe as cradle
Or. Dernburc said Great Britain
lad advanced money at low interest tc
the Cunard Line to build the Lusi'
tania with the aim OF comma ndeerine
her in time Of wa He asserted thai
the Cunard Line obtained funds a
%, per cent. interest in view OF the
agreement.
I'D Cunard Lire officials warn thu
1usitanla passengers that the vesse
carried great cargo OF powder ant
ammunition. contr band of war"
await an answer. II that warnins
was not given American passenger!
were being used to cloak England,
war shipments
1T is not reasona HE that such {
vessel could not he sunk because there
we're American passengers on board
They had been warned hy German,
OF he danger
England could hire one American
tn travel to and from on each OF heI
'nipS, carry on shipment of arms an,
place her men Of war anywhere. II tn
TACT is that American passengers car
be used as shields"
Answering DIR. Dernburg'5 state
m'nt that tha Lusitam!a carried
large cargo Of munitions az war tn
'unard Line agents declared thu
mere we're only 5.t7i cases OF small
arms cartridges