The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-06
United States is Notified by
Germany That Certain Or
derS Are Given Navy.
WARNING IN SOME CASES
Sussex Case is Reserved until
Certain Points Are AsCer-
tanned by Germany.


BERLIN, May 6.-CBy wireless to
Sayville)-Following is the text of the
note of the German government in re-
ply to the American note respecting
submarine warfare:
THE undersigned, on behalf of the
imperial German government has the
honor to present to his excellency the
ambassador Of the United States, Mr..
James w. Gerard, the following reply
to the note Of April 20 regarding the
conduct OF German submarine war
fare. r.
1.-THE German government handed
over to the proper naval authorities
for early investigation the evidence
concerning the Sussex as communi-
Gated by the government 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 10 as having been
torpedoed by German submarine is
actually identical with the Sussex.
THE German government begs to
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are ascer-
tanned, which are of decisive import
ance for establishing the facts OF the
case. Should ii turn out that the COM
mandcr was wrong in assuming the
vessel to be man Of war, the German
government will not fail to draw the
consequence resulting therefrom.
I'm connection with the case OF the
SlgGnV F,f hn T,fs Il
States made a series of statements, the
Gist of which is the assertion that the
incident is TO be considered but one
instance of deliberate method of in
discriminate destruction Of vessels OF
all sorts, nationalitles and destinations
by German submarine commanders.
THE German government must en-
phatically repudiate the assertion The
German government, however. thinks
1t OF little avail to enter into details In
the present state of affairs. more par
ticularly as the government OF the
United States omitted to substaniate
the assertion by reference to concrete
facts.
1.-THE German government will only
state that 1t has imposed far reaching
restraints upon the use OF the sub
marine weapon. solely in consideration
of neutrals interests, in spite Of the
fact that these restrictions are neces-
sary of advantage to Germanys enem-
les. No such consideration has ever
been shown neutrals by Great Britain
and its Allies.
1.-THE German submarine forces have
had, in fact, orders to conduct the
submarine warfare in accordance with
the general principals OF visit and
search and the destruction Of mer-
chant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, the sole exception being
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surround
ing Great Britain. With regard to
these no assurances have ever been
given to the government Of the United
States. No such assurances are con-
tanned in the declaration of February
s, 1916.
1.-THE German government cannot
admit any doubt that these orders were
given or are executed in good faith.
Errors actually occurred. They can in
no kind OF warfare be avoided alto
gether. Allowances must be made in
the conduct Of naval warfare against
any enemy resorting to all kinds OF