The sun., 1916-01-16
GERMANY GIVES NOTICE
OF BARALONG REPRISALS
Rejecting London Suggestion of Special Court She Ac-
cuses British of Numbering Seamen and Says
Their Fate Will Be Avenged.

BERLIN, via Sayviiie, Jan. 1b.-The
text of the German reply to Sir Edward
Grcy's note on the Baralong Incident
was made public here to-day. It's maj
paragraph contains the following threat
of reprsal:
"lnasmuch a. the British Government
has declined to make amends for this
outrageous incident the German Gov
ernment feels itself compelled to take
into its own hands punishment for this
unatoned crime and to adopt measures
Of reprisai corresponding with the prov
ocation."
The note protests sharply against the
unprecedented and unprovoked accusa-
tions Of the British Government In re-
gard to the German army and navy.
denies that the three specific cases OF
alleged inhumanity on the high seas
mentioned by Sir Edward Grey were
violations Of international law and re-
jects positively the proposal OF the Brit
ish Foreign Minister to submit these
cases together with the Baralonk incl
dent to an impartial tribunal for investi-
CATION.
The stand Is taken that alleged VIOLA
tons BY members Of German forces are
only competent TO be tried BY German
authorities and that all that was ex-
pected in the case Of the Baralong was
a similar trial OF the captain and crew
OF the Baralong by English naval ofi-
GERS
Holds Britain Respoasfble.
The conclusion is reached. preceding
| the threat OF reprisal, that as the final
result Of the negotiations the British
Government under empty pretext has
left unfulflled the justified demands for
an invest cation on the BaralonB case
and therefore has made itself respon-
sble for the crime Of defying interna-
| tional law and humanity"
The complete text Of the note which
has been forwarded to Great Britain
through the American Embassy. follows
The British Government answered
| the German memorandum In the Bar
along case by expressing doubts. on the
ore hand, Of the Correctness OF the facts
| communicated by the German Govern.
| men,, and 10y making an accusation, on
| the other hand. against Herman mill.
c,ry and naval forces of having de-
lberately committed countless crimes
against intern ntional law and humanity
| which had been unpunlshed, and COM
pared with which the alleged offence OF
the captain und crew of the Bara. .ong
fades into ins s,gnifcance. The British
Government has contented itself with
mentioning without any evidence three
Incidents in connection with naval war
lare In which German officers are AL
legged to have committed atrocities in
violation OF international law.
THE British Government proposes an
| investigation OF these cases by court
| omposed OF American naval officers
and under this condition is ready to sub
nit the Haralons case TO the same court
Reply to British Charges.
The German Government protests
most sharply against the unprecedented
and unpros, k.d accusations OF the Brit.
ish Government in regard to the German
army and navy and the imputation tina,
the German authorities have not deal,
! with any such crimes as have come to
[ cir attention. The German army and
navy In this war observe the principles
| OF international law ard humanity. and
| the higher authorities Insist that In
| the event offences are committed they
shall be Investigated most closely and
punished sternly.
The & rec cases mentioned by the
British Government were investigated
thoroughly al the time by competent
German author tiles,
First, In the case of the sinking oi
the Arabic by a German submarine. tht
: investigation showed that the sub.
marine commander was forced from
| { r,umstauces to draw the conclusion
that the steamer was attempting TO ran
his craft. He therefore believed him
self to be acting in justihable self-de
| u.h b..l ha
THE second case mention d--the at
tack OF @, rman destroyer upon a
British submarine--o occurred In thi'
manner: a fight developed In thos,
waters between two warships. In which
the submarine defended itse.f by gun
fire. The British Government car