The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-06-01
GERMANY'S ANSWER
IS NOT CONCLUSIVE
Reply to American Note Deliver
ed to Ambassador Gerard.
QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED
Many Phases of Situation Not Dis
cussed Pending Further Inter-
change of Views.

DSIllu, May ZS.-lne German re-
ply to the American note after the
sinking Of the Lusitania was signed
by Herr Won Jagow, the foreign min
ister, at II O'Clock last night and de-
livered to Ambassador Gerard this
morning for transmission to Wash
ington.
The note expresses Germany's re-
gret for injuries sustained by Ameri-
cans as result Of submarine and
aeroplane attacks, and offers COM
pensation in cases in which Germany
Is found to be in the wrong.
AS indicated previously in these
dispatches the note defers a direct
answer to the questions raised by
President Wilson pending a further
exchange of views. Germany desires
to establish whether the Lusitania
was a defenseless merchant ship or
was being used for the transporta-
tion of war munition and soldiers on
which unsuspecting passengers were
permitted to take passage to safe
guard the materials. The American
IcSdIulES lue IOT-
pedoing of the British steamer
Falaba in which an American 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. The action of the
captain in attempting to escape, how
ever, necessitated more summary ac-
ton. Even then the commander of
the submarine granted ten minutes
for those on board to leave The ves-
sci and subsequently extended the
time to % minutes before sinking
the ship.
Germany expresses regrets for "the
unintentional attacks" on the Ameri-
can steamer Gushing and the Gulf
light The Cushing was attacked by
German airmen in the North sea and
the Gulflight was torpedoed Off Sc!lly
islands. Germany disavows any in
tention to attack harmless neutral
craft. She offers to pay compensa-
the wrong, end to refer dou.ttui
cases to The Hague for decision.
The passages in the American note
concerning a possible disavowel BY
Germany Of intent 10 sink the Lusi-
tania and the discon:inuance OF ntr
present practices Of submarine war
fare Gre not mentioned specifically in
the reply. The note states that pond
ing the reply OF the American gov
ernment to the German assumptions
of fact regarding the real character
of the Lusitania and her cargo no
attempt will be made to answer the
demands contained in the American
communication.
These assumptions OF fact are as
follows:
The Lusitania was built as an aux
iliary cruiser, subsidized and carried
on the navy list as such. She car
ried, according to German informa-
ton, two guns mounted and conceal
ed below decks.
The British steamer sailed from
New York according to information
from passengers and other sources,
carrying soldiers, artillery, war sup
plies and contraband to England, the
Lusitania on this trip carrying spe-
cifically $500 cases of ammunition
in addition to other war supplies and
Canadian troops en- route to the
front.
Reference is here made to the fact
that carrying explosives on passen-
ger steamers is contrary to American
law. 1t is intimated that the German
government would be glad to receive
information as to how IL happened
that ammunition was permitted to be
shipped on the Lusitania and the YES
sci crowded with passengers. Strong
phrases are used regarding what is
considered apparently deliberate pol
icy of British shipping companies to
protect war shipments by emba rking
American passengers on the same
ship. Germany contends IL is impos-
sible to settle the question whether
proper opportunity was given to riace
the passengers and crew in safety
until 1t is determined whether the
regulations adopted after the sinking
of the Titanic, regarding a proper