Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-05-11
GERMANY MAKES
CONCESSIONS IN
NOTE; WARFARE
TO Be MODIFIED
BERLIN GOVERNMENT DECIDES
TO ADOPT METHODS or SUB
SEA ATTACKS TO The IN
TEREsTs OF NEuTRALs.
NEW ORDERS TO U-BOAT
CAPTAINS EFFECTIVE NOW

Search and Safety OF Human Life
and Follow international Law
Are sIgnificant---R to
Make Demands on Britain.
Berlin, (By Wireless via sayville.
N. Y.) May 6.~-FoiIowing liz the text
OF the note of the German government
In reply to the American note respec-
ting submarine warfare, delivered by
Gottlieb Won Jagow, the foreign secret.
ary, to Ambassador Gerard:
The undersigned, on behalf OF the
Imperial German government has the
honor to present to his excelency the
Ambassador OF the United States, Mr..
James w. Gerard the following reply
TO the note of April 20 regarding the
conduct OF the German submarine war
fare:
Identical With Sussex.
The German government handed
over To the proper naval authorities
for early Investigation the evidence
concerning the Sussex as communicate
ed by the government OF the United
States. Judging by the results that
the investigation has hitherto yielded,
the German government In alive to the
possibility that the ship mentioned
I'm the note Of April 10 az having been
torpedoed by German submarine ls
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 impor-
lance for establishing the facts of the
case.
Should IL turn out that the com.
mander was wrong In assuming the
vessel to be q man-ofwar, the German
government will not fail to draw the
consequence resulting therefrom.
Regulates U. 9. Assertion.
In connection with the case OF the
Sussex. the government of the United
States made a series of statements. the
gist OF which Ia the assertion that the
incident Ia to be considered but one
instance OF deliberate method of In.
discriminate destruction of vessels of
NIL sorts. nationalities and destinations
by German submarine commanders.
The German government must EN-.
phatically repudiate the assertion. The
German government. however. thinks
II OF little avail to enter into details
In present stage Of affairs. more par
ticularly ms the government of the
United States omitted to substantiate
the assertion by reference to concrete
facts.
Has imposed Restraint.
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-
sarily Of advantage to Germany's enc.
mics, No such consideration has ever
been shown neutrals by Great Britain
and her allies"
The German submarine forces have
had, In fact, orders to conduct the sub.
marine warfare In accordance with the
general principles OF visit and search
and the destruction of merchant YES.
sells recognized by international law,
the sole exception being the conduct
Of warfare against enemy trade car.
ried on enemy freight ships encoun.
tered In the war zone surrounding
Great Britain.
Has Given No Assurances.
with regard to these. no assurances
have ever been given TO the govern
ment Of the United States. No such
assurances are contained In the dcclar.
alton OF February 8, 1915.
The German government cannot
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or executed in good faith,
Errors actually occurred They can
In no kind be avoided altogether Al.
lowances must be made In the con.
duct Of naval warfare against an enc.
my resorting to all kinds of ruses.
whether permissible or Illicit.
implies Dangers For Neutrals.
But apart from the possibility Of
errors. naval warfare Just like war
fare on land, implies unavoidable
dangers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting xesss. Even In
cases where the naval action IL con,
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser
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