The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-05
ny United PRESS.

bEhl5H tNb9 WifcicrS W ces
VILE, L. ID. May s.-rhe text OF III,
German reply to President WILSON,
summarizing demands, as trsnsmit
ted to Ambassador Gerard last nigh
by Foreign Secretary Won Jagov
follows:
The undersigned. on behalf o.
the imperial German government
has the honor to present to his ex
cellency. the ambassador OF the Unit
ed States, Mr.. James W. Gerard. tho
following reply to the note OF Aprf
20. regarding the conduct OF Ger
mau submarine warfare.
The German government handed
over to the proper naval authoritie.
for further Investigation evidences
concerning the SUSSEX as ocmmuni
Gated by the government OF the
United States. Judging by the re
suits that investigation hitherto
yielded, the German government is
alive 10 the possibility that the ship
mentioned In the note OF April 10 rs
torpcdced BY . German submarine is
actually identical with the Sussex.
The German government begs To
reserve further Communications on
The matter until certain pc
ascertained which are Of decisive I'm
portance for establishing the facts
of the case. Should il turn out that
the commander Was wrong in assum
ing the vessel 10 be q man OF war
the German government vii, not fail
to draw the consequences resulting
therefrom-
In connection with fhe case OF
the SUSSEX, the government Of the
United States made . series of state
nents. the gist OF which II the as
sertion tina, the incident Is to Be
considered but one in stance for levi
IDENTIFY should read or q deliberate
method of indiscriminate destruction
of vessels OF ali sorts. na,ionalities
and destinations by German subma
rtne commanders The German gov
ernwenf must emphatically repudi-
ate the assertion. The German gov
eminent. however. thinks II Of little
avail to. enter into the details in the
present stage Of aRairs, more par
ticulariy as the government OF thu
United States omitted 10 suhstan
tiate the assertion by reference u
concrete factA ~
"The German erernment vii
only state that IL has imposed IA
reaching restraints upon the use o
the submarine weapon solely In con
sideratiop Of neufrals' interests, II
spite Of the fact that these restric
tious necessarily were of advsntag'
10 Cermany's enemies. No suci
consideration has ever been showr
neutrals by Grea: Britain and bel
allies.
German submarine forces have
had. In fact. orders to conduct sub
marine warfare IN accordance with
the general principles Of visit
search and destruction Of merchant
vessels recognized by internationsl
Jaw, tho sole exception being the
conduct OF warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ship.
encountered In the war zone sur
rounding Great Britain. With re
gard TO these 10 assurances evel
have been given TO the government
Of the United States. No such a.
surance was contained In the decia
ration o Feb. 2. 1916.
The German government canno'
admit any douo, that these ORDER
we're given and are executed In goo<
faith. Errors actually occurred
They can in no kind OF warfare b.
avoided altogether, and allowance.
must BE- made in the conduct o
naval warfare saainst an enemy re
sorting 80 all kinds OF ruses. wheth
err permissible or Illicit. But, spar
from the possibility of errors, navs
warfare, just like land warfare. i'm
plies unavoidable dangers for net
trail persons and goods entering IN
hghting zone. Even In cases vher
naval action is confined TO ordinar
forms OF cruiser warfare neutrs
persons and goods repeatedly com
10 grief. The German government
has repeatedly and explicitly poin
I'd out the dangers from mines q
they have led 70 the loss Of nume
oua ships. The German governmer
made several proposals TO the GO
eminent o; the United States In O
der TO reduce TO the minimum Il
American travellers and goods N
inherent Danger OF naval warfar
Unfortunately, the government {
the United States decided not TO q
cept the proposals. Had II accep
ed. the government OF the Unite
States would have been instrume
tai In preventing the greater pa
Of the accidents that American eli
sens have met with In meantim
The German government still stan,
By its offer TO come TO IN asre
ment along these lines.
cas- see German ssveruuest b
IUoDeoee61y declared. d eaoses ~
Ioeooe WITH the ose 81 sobDavlaos
. Wooppo - tie eeo1oct 81 wsgfa
Io0ooooo eoe0y TRADE. Tbe 0ee0s
IUgvesooeoe. boWeves. has sew 1ees
/ - % uDoee further eoseesseoa. aasp
lug &c rseeho6s ~ soh0assne We
ooee - eAe eneerests 81 aeotrols.
reeehIns this decision the Germs