The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-08
Says Submarine Commander
Thought Ship Was Trans
port When He Fired Shot
WILL MAKE AMENDS
If HE WAS IN ERROR
But American Government
May Hold That Regrets and
PREPARATION Do Not Restore
Life to Murdered Bodies

Washington. Dec. The State
Department made public today with
out comment Germany reply to the
United States inquiry in the case Of
the Ara bia, British passenger ship
sunk by a German submarine with
out warning. The reply was almost
Identical with that in the Marina case.
Germany held in each INSTANCE that
the submarine commander believed
the vessel to be "A transport ship for
troops. which would have made ii an
auxiliary warshIp.
The German government states that
IL the United States possesses official
data showing the vessels to be in
noCent merchantmen, Germany then
would promptly draw the appropr.-
ate consequences. Thesc conse-
quences. as the note reveals mean
disavowal. payment of indemnity. and
punishment of the submarine COM
manders responsible for The TWO at
tacks. This meaning was derived
from the passage in thr note which
states that should the Official data DIS
close that the Arabia WAS an ordin-
airy passenger steamer the action OF
the commander would not have been
in accordance with the instructions
given him, since these instructions
are now as before in agreement with
the assurances OF the German note Of
May, 1915"
All Information relative to the
Arabia and Marina cases has been
laid before President Wilson, who
will decide what action the state De
partment will eventually take. Presi-
dent Wilson is giving both very pro-
found consideration.
II was intimated al the White
House tonight that the cases might
become serious, Attention was call
ed to the note sent to Germany on
May 13. 1915. in which THIS govern
ment declared that expressions of
regret and offers of repatriation" could
not Justify or excuse practice the
natural and necessary effect OF which
is to subject neutral nations and
neutral persons to new and i'm
measurable risks"
The State Department will furnish
to Germany All information it
possesses indicating that the Marina
and Arabia We're not transports. II
was officially stated today that the
policy of this government has under
gone no change since the transmission
OF the Sussex note. in which the
United States threatened tn sever dip
tomato relations with the German
Empire unless 1t effect and declare
IT'S abandonment" Of its then methods
of conducting submarine warfare.
Some parallels in the Sussex and
Arabia cases were pointed out at the
State Department. The Ara bia note
states that the Arabia was painted
black. an unusual color for the p &
o. liners. that the vessel was not fol-
LOWING the Ia I.
route and that the t-boat commander
took her for transport.
Germany's Sussex note stated that
the Sussex had a ''warship-like coat
of paint that il did not follow the
customary course for merchant ship
ping" and that the German COM
mander gained the definite conviction
that ne had before him a war vesse!"
In the American reply to that note,
however, conditions We're spoken of
which do not exis; today. and the
facts which then moved this govern
ment to threaten to sever diplomatic
relations are said not to exist now
In the first place, this government
made point OF the fact that the
Sussex was unarmed and never had
been armed. The Arabia and the Ma
rina were both armed. The Sussex
was a channel steamer. or ferry boat.
and the Marina was a horse ship,
while the Arabia Is said to have been
transporting Chinese and other coll
ored persons whom the allies are said
to have been employing for national
purposes.
More Information On Marina Wanted.
The State Department is understood
to have all the information it desires
in the Arabia case. which has been
furnished by the embassy in London,
some of II being supplied by the Brit
ish authorities. 1t still Is waiting. 1t
is believed. for additional information
concerning the Marina. When this
shall have been received 1t will be
forwarded by the department to Ger
many.
Upon this information President
Wilson will decide whether the State
Department shall request of Germany
formal disavowals, payment of suit
able indemnites and punishment of
the respective submarine commanders.