New-York tribune., 1916-01-08
Germany Will Guard
Life on Vessels i'm
Mediterranean.
AGREES TO VIEW
ON SMALL BOATS
Frye Case Is Now Settled
Would Punish Captain
for Persia Sinking.
iron. N. T-hur, Bureau

Prom rhe Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. e. -Germany
prepared the way to-day 20 assume
responsibility for the sinking Of the
Persia. At the same time, as though
TO make such an assumption easier.
it moved for a settlement Of the
Lusitania case by proposing to pay
an indemnity for the Americans lost
on the Cunarder.
Two communications from Berlin
we're presented 10 Secretary Lansing
ty Count Won Bernstorff to-day.
One made new offers in the Lusi-
tania case. The other conveyed as
surances that German submarine
commanders would safeguard the
lives Of passengers and crews Of YES
sells sailing the Mediterranean.
This second message declares that
German U-boats in the Mediterra-
rean are instructed not TO attack
merchant vessels Of any kind with
out warning, and not TO torpedo
them except If they resist or at
tempt 10 eScape-until the paSsen-
GERS and crew have been placed in
safety. Measures Of reprisal, as
applied in the war zone around the
British Isle" are "to be excluded"
I'm Force From start"
These orders. the memorandum
says. have been in force from the
be ginning" II adds that all cases
Of the destruction of merchant ships
under these orders are investigated
and referred 10 the prize courts.
Should the Persia prove 20 have been
destroyed by German submarine,
the memorandum concludes, the case
will be submitted to this procedure.
Should any commander be found TO
have disobeyed the instructions he
will be punished and reparation will
he made for the death or injury of
americans.
The memorandum contains the ad-
that German submarines are
operating in the Mediterranean, and
leaves a strong inference that they
have already destroyed merchant
vessels.
1t was revealed to-day, too. that
in the reply to the last note regard
ing the William =. Frye, the Berlin
Office agreed with the
American view that small boats can
rot, under all conditions, be con
s;dered a place Of safety for persons
leaving a ship about to be attacked.
State Department Puzzled
Germany's purpose in presenting the
memorandum on the Persia is puz-
zling the State Department. In some
quarters il is thought 10 foreshadow
an admission from Berlin that the
Persia was attacked by "A German
submarine contrary 10 lnstruc-
tons" In others it is believed 20 be
designed chiefly to point out the diff
ference between the conditions in the
North Sea, where a war zone existed
and reprisals were ordered. and
those in the Mediterranean. Taken
in this way, it serves to explain the
difference between the liberality of
the Austrian assurances and the
meagreness Of Germany's conces-
sions in the Arabic case.
In connection with the first theory. il
is suggested that Berlin is preparing TO
help Austria out Of the Persia situa-
tion by assuming responsibility for the
sinking in return for similar favor
granted By Austria in the Ancona case.
The suggestion its in well with the
long standing suspicious Of the State
Department that II was really Ger
man submarine that sank the Ancona.
The administration. besides being
puzzled by this new move from Berlin.
IS apparently deeply gratihed. Assur-
ances from both Austria and Germany
are now thought 20 be complete. The
only case outstanding. unless new fact.
are received on the Persia. Is that OF
the Lusitauia.
Tension regarding the sitire sabms