Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-06

=
Sayville) Following is the text of the
note OF the German government in reply
To the American note respecting sub
marine warfare. delivered on Thursday
by Gottlicb Won JaGow. the Foreign
Secretary. TO Ambassador Gerard:
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
10 the note OF April 30, regarding the
conduct Of German submarine warfare.
The German government handed
over To the proper naval authorities for
carly investigation the evidence con-
corning the Sussex, as communicated
by the government of the United States
Judging by the results that the in
res,iGation has hitherto yielded, the
German government is alive to tho pos
sibility that the ship mentioned. lin the
note OF April TO- as having been tor
pedoed by German submarine, is ac-
tually identical with the Sussex.
GERMANY HEPUDIATES
STATEMENTS ABOUT SUSSEX
The German government bcgs TO
reserve further communication on the
taincd. which are of decisive import
ance for establishing the facts OF the
case. Should it turn out that the com
mandcr was wrong in assuming the
vessel to be = -of-war. the Ger
man government will no, fail to draw
the consequence resulting. therefrom
lin connection with the case Of the
Sussex. 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 deliberate method OF
indisCriminatc obstruction of vessels Of
all sorts, nationalities and destinations
by German submarine commanders.
The German government must en-.
phatically repudiate the assertion. The
German government. however. thinks il
OF little avail TO enter into details in
the present stage @! affairs, more par
';cuiariy as the government OF the
United States omitted to substantia,e
the assertion by reference To concrete
facts
PLACE RESTRAINTS Ip0N
USE Or SUBMARINE
THE German government will only
state that IL has imposed far-reaching
restraints upon the use Of the sub
marine weapon. solely in consitlcrat ton
of neutrais interests. in spite of the
fact tina, these restrictions are neces-
sarilN Of advantage 10 Gcrmany's
enemies No such consideration has
ever been shown reutrais by Great
Britain and her allies
The German submarine forces have
had. In fact orders 10 conduct the sub
marine warfare in accordance with the
general principles Of visit and search
aud tic destruction, Of merchant YES
sells recognized by inLerna tionaI law
the sole exception being the conduct
OF warfare against enemy trade carried
on enemy freight ships encountered
IN the war zone surrounding Great
Britain. with regard TO these. no as
suranrc has ever been given to tho
government Of the United States No
such assurances are contained il the
declaration Of February S. 1916
The German government cannot ad-
NIT any doubt that these orders we're
given or are executed in good faith
Errors actually occurred. They can
III no kind Of warfare lie avoided al
together Allowances must be made IN
the conduc, of naval warfare against
an enemy rcsortinG to all kinds, Of
ruscs, whether permissible or Illicit
DANGER Turks IN WAR
ZONE FOH ALL AEuTHALS
But, apart from the possibility of
errors. naval warfare. just like war
fare on land. implies unavoidable dam
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone Even i'm
eases where the naval action is con-
fined TO ordinary forms of cruiser war
fare, neutral persons and goods re-
peatedly come to grief
The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly pointed out the
dangers from mines. that have led TO
the loss of numerous ships.
The German government has made
several proposals to the government
OF the United states. in order to reduce
10 a minimum for American travellers
and goods the inherent danEers of
naval warfare. Unfortunately, the
government Of the United States de-
cided not to accept the proposals. Had
it accepted. the government OF the
United states would have been instru-
mental in preventing the greater part
OF the accidents that American citizens
nave met with i'm tho meantime
Ihe German government still stands
by its offer To come to an agreement
along these lines.
As the German Eoyernment re-
peatcdly declared. il cannot dispense
with the use or the submarine weapou
IN the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade. The German govern
ment. however. has now decided to
make further concession. adapting
methods of submarine war to the in
terests of neutrals.
In reaching this decision. the Ger