The Benson signal., 1916-05-13
GERMANY MODIFIES U-BOAT WARFARE
Reply to American Note Says No More Merchant Vessels Will Be
Sunk Before Being Visited and Searched-Lays Blame on
British Methods and United States Favorism

The German government has
made one great concession to
Americas demands by ordering
commanders of submarines to
sink no more merchant vessels
without first visiting and search
ing them and giving those on
board a chance to save their
lives.
Berlin. - Germany's reply to the
American note respecting submarine
warfare, delivered by Foreign Secre-
tary Won Jagow to Ambassador Ge-
rard, is as follows:
The undersigned, on behalf of the i'm
perial German government, has the honor
to present to his excellency the ambassa-
dor of the United States, James w. Ge
rard, the following reply to the note Of
April 20 regarding the conduct Of German
submarine warfare.
The German government handed over
to the proper naval authorities for early
investigation the evidence concerning the
Sussex as communicated by the govern
ment of the United States. Judging by
the results that the investigation has
hitherto yielded. the German government
is alive, to the possibility that the ship
mentioned in the note of April 16 as hav-
ing been torpedoed by a German subma-
rine is actually identical with the Sus-
sex.
The German government begs to re-
serve further communication on the sub
tect until certain points are ascertained
which are of decisive Importance for es-
tablishing the facts in the case.
Should it turn out that the commander
was wrong in assuming the vessel to be
a man-of-war, the German government
will not fail to draw the consequences re-
sulting therefrom.
Denies Deliberate Intent!
In connection with the case of the Sus-
sex the government of the United States
made a series Of statements, the gist of
which is the assertion that the incident is
to be considered but one instance of a
deliberate method of indiscriminate de-
struction of vessels of all sorts, national
tiles and destinations by German subma-
rine commanders.
The German government must emphat-
ically repudiate the assertion. The Ger
man government, however thinks it of
little avail to enter into details in the
present stage of affairs, more particular
ly as the government of the United States
omitted to substantiate the assertion by
reference to concrete facts.
The German government will only state
that it has imposed far-reachings re-
straints upon the use of the submarine
weapon, solely in consideration of neu-
trails interests, in spite of the fact that
these restrictions are necessarily of ad-
vantage tc Germanys enemies No such
consideration has ever been shown neu-
trails by Great Britain and her allies
The German submarine forces have had
in fact, orders to conduct the submarine
warfare in accordance with the general
principles of visit and search and the de-
Struction Of merchant vessels recognized
by international law, the sole exception
being the conduct of warfare against enc
my trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surrounding
Great Britain. With regard to these, no
assurances have ever been given to the
government of the United States. No
such assurances are contained in the
declaration of February 8, 1916
Makes Further Concession.
| AS the German government repeatedly
| declared it cannot dispense with the use
| of the submarine weapon in the conduct
| of warfare against enemy trade. The
|
| decided to make it further concession.
adapting methods of submarine war to
| the interests of neutralS
In reaching this decision the German
| government is actuated by considerations
! which are above the level of the disputed
| question.
| The German government attaches no
! less Importance to the sacred principles
of humanity than the government of the
l 1p;% ifo+o niv1 frr11x fob %0
account that both governments for many
| years co-operated in developing interna-
tional law in conformity with these prin-
| ciples, the ultimate object of which has
| always been to confine warfare on sea
and land to armed forces of belligerents
and to safeguard as far as possible nom
cOmbatants against the horrors of war.
But although these considerations are of
great weight, they alone would not under
present circumstances have determined
the attitude of the German government.
| For in answer to the appeal by the gov
ernnlent of the United States on behalf
Of the sacred principles of humanity and
| International law. the German govern
! ment must repeat once more with all
emphasis. that it was not the German
but the British government which ignored
| all accepted rules of international law and
| extended this terrific war to the lives and
! property of noncombatantS
| In self-defense against the illegal con-
| duct of British warfare, while fighting a
bitter struggle for national existence
Germany had to resort to the hard but
effective weapon of submarine warfare.
AS matters stand, the German govern
ment cannot but reiterate regret that the
sentiments of humanity which the govern
ment of the United States extends with
such fervor to the unhappy victims of
submarine warfare are not extended with
the same warmth of feeling to many
millions of women and children who, ac-
cording to the avowed intention of the
British government, shall be starved, and
who, by sufferings, shall force the vic
torious armies of the central powers into
ignominious capitulation.
Accuses U. S. of Favortsm.
The German government. in agree
ment with the German people, fails to
understand the discrimination. all the
more as it has repeatedly and explicit
ly declared itself ready to the SUBJ
marine weapon in strict conformity
with the rules of international law as
recognized before the outbreak of the
war. if Great Britain likewise was
ready to adapt her conduct of warfare