The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1916-05-12

Berlin. by wireless to SayVille, N.
f.-Following is the text OF the note
the German government, In reply
20 the American note respecting sub
marine warfare. delivered on Thurs
day. by Gottlieb Won Jagow. the for.
sign 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 to the note of April 20, regard
Ing the conduct OF German submarine
warfare:
The German government handed
over 10 the proper naval authorities
for early investigation the evidence
concerning the Sussex as communIcat.
ed by the government OF the United
states. Judging by the results that
the investigation has hitherto yielded,
the German government Is alive to
the possibility that the ship men
toned In the note OF April 10 as hav.
tng been torpedoed by German sub
marine is actually identical with the
Sussex.
THE German government begs to
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are ascer.
tained, which are OF decisive import.
ance for establishing the facts OF the
case. Should II turn out that the com.
mander was wrong In assuming the
vessel to be a man OF war, the Ger
man government will not fail to draw
the consequence resulting therefrom
penies II 10 One Of Series.
In connection with the case OF the
Sussex the government OF the United
States made q series Of statements.
the gist OF which ID the assertion that
the incident IL TO be considered, but
one instance OF q deliberate method
Of indiscriminate destruction OF yes
sells OF all sorts, nationalitles and des.
tinatlona BY German submarine com
manders.
The German government must EN-.
phatically Fepudlate the assertion. |
The German government. however,
thinks II Of little avail to enter into |
details In the present stage of affairs.
more particularly as the government
Of the United States omitted to sub
ntantiate the assertion by reference
10 concrete facts.
The German government will only
state that II has imposed far.reachlnE
restraints upon the use OF the sub
marine weapon. solely In considera.
lion Of neutrals' interests. in spite OF
The fact that these restrictions are
necessarily OF advantage 20 Germany's
enemies. No such consideration has
over been shown neutrals by Great
Britain and her allies"
Principles Of Submarine Warfare.
The German submarine forces have
had. In fact. orders to conduct the
submarine warfare In accordance with
he general principles OF visit and
search and the destruction OF mer.
shanf vessels recognized by interna.
iona law, the sole exception being
ne conduct OF warfare against enemy
rade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered In the war zone surround.
nG Great Britain. With regard 20
hese. no assurances have ever been
oven 10 the government of the Unit.
d States No such assurances are
'ontained In the declaration OF Feb
'uary 8. 1915
"The German government can not
dmit any doubt that these orders
Fere given or are executed In good
Ailh. Errors actually occurred they
an In no kind OF warfare be avoided /
together, Allowances must De made !
D the conduct of naval warfare ,
gainst an enemy resorting TO all I
inds OF rnses, whether permissible /
r Illicit.
but apart from the possibility of A
rFors, naval warfare Just like warfare a
land, implies unavoidable dangers 4
or neutral persons and goods enter. /
~ the hGhtinK zone Even In cases
here the naval action Ii confined 10
rdinary forms Of cruiser warfare. neu.
-h persons and goods repeatedly !,
ome 10 grief
The German government has re !
eatedly and explicitly pointed out
1e dangers from mines that have led .
, the loss Of neutral ships, h
Soiisltsd Aid o. America.
The German government has made q
roDosals 10 the government OF the v
United States In order to reduce 20 a |
minimum for American travellers and IN
Gods the inherent dangers OF naval &
'arfare, Unfortunately. the govern, v
lent OF the United States decided 4
OF to accept the proposals Had Il u
eeepted the government OF the Unit. n
q States would have been instru. n
Rental In preventing the greater part r
I the accidents that the American Il