Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-08
T0RPED0|NG 0F
ARABIA LEGAL :?
Germany Insists It's Pledge
Has Not Been Violated;
Offers Recompense

Offers RecOmpense
! Washington, D. c., Dec. Germany
in a note made public by the state de
partment today contends that the Brit
ish steamer Arabia, sunk in the Medi
terranean on November 6, was In
reality "a transport ship for troops in
the service Of the British government
which is to be considered as an auxil
larry warship, according to international
law, and can therefore be treated like
q warship."
The German governments attitude,
however, like that in the Marina case,
is expressed to be one of readiness to
make amends If 1t be shown that the
submarine commander violated Ger
many's pledges to the United States.
The note. Addressed by the Berlin
foreign office to Charge Grew, in reply
to his inquiries made on instructions
from Washington, follows:
| Foreign office, Berlin, Dec. 4, 1915.
"The undersigned has the honor to
inform Mr.. Grew, charge d'affaires of
! the United States Of America, In re-
/ ply to the note of the 21st ultimo,
that the investigation conducted by
the German government concerning
the sinking of the British steamer
Arabia has led to the following re-
suits:
"On the morning of November q
German submarine encountered
large steamer coming from the Corigo
Straits. one hundred nautical miles
west of the island Of Corigo. The
steamer was painted black and had
a black superstructure and, not as is
otherwise the case with P. and o. line
superstructures, light color. The
steamer. which was Identical with the
Arabia, was not travelling on the route
regularly used by the passenger steam
ers between Port Said and Malta, as
is made plain on the enclosed map,
but was taking a zig gag course to-
ward the west, 120 nautical miles
north of that route This course on
which the submarine passed three
the same morning, leads from the
Aegean to Malta, SO that the Arabia
was moving on the transport route
Corigo-Malta, used solely for war pur-
poses, according to the experience un-
til now.
"The commander of the submarine
further ascertained that there were
large patches of Chinese and other col
ored persons in their national cos
tunes on board the steamer. He con-
sidered them to be workmen soldiers,
such as are used in great numbers be-
hind the front by the enemies Of Ger
many. In spite of the clear weather
and careful observation he did not
perceive any women and children.
'In these circumstances, the COM
mander of the submarine was convinc-
ed that in the case of this steamer he
was concerned with transport ship |
for troops In the service Of the British !
government which is to be considered |
as an auxiliary warship, according to |
law and therefore can be
treated like warship.. He according |
ly considered himself justified in at
tacking the steamer without delay and |
sinking it.
"Should the American government |
give the official data showing that the
Arabia was at the time of the torpedo
ing an ordinary passenger steamer the
action of the commander would not
have been in accordance with the in.
structions given him, since these in.
structions are now as before in agree
ment with the assurances of the Ger
man note Of May, 1916. This wouldd
hen be case OF regrettable mis-
AXE from which the German govern
nent would promptly draw the ap-
)ropriate consequences"
OFFICIALS Silent.
What action the state department
will take Is problematical. Secretary
lansing refused utterly to comment
IN the case today and other officials
we're reticent.
Should 1t be shown that the Arabia
vas as Germany contends, a trans
,ort. this government probably would
ldmit the sinking was justified.
If, however, it is shown that the
uhmarine commander was mistaken
n holding her to be transport. a most
erious situation will confront the
tate department At the time the
sussex was sunk Germany was told
hat this country could not tolerate
regrettable mistakes"
It may be said that the United
states does not regard the circun.
tances which the German note recites L
S showing justification for sinking the ,
Arabia without warning or as relieving ,
he submarine commander from estab. +,
lshing the status of the liner
1t may be stated authoritatiyely that ,
10 Immediate action will be taken. It +,
nges entirely on whether the pledges
tyen in the Sussex case were broken.
he note published today is not re.
arded in official quarters as making :
ut a strong case for Germany. =
The note signed by Minister of For l.
ign Affairs Zimmerman, is the first :.
eceived by the United States since
e assumed the post succeeding Gott )
eb Won Jagow.