Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-08
GERMANY SAYS SHIP
ARABIA WAS USED As
CARRIER OF TROOPS
Answers Inquiries of United
States by Saying Torpedoed
Steamer Was Caught Serv-
ing as British Transport

WASHINGTON, Dec. d.-OerihehhS' III
a note made public by the state depart
ment today, contends that the British
steamer Arabia, sunk in the Medlter-
ranean on November 6, was in reality
"a transport ship for troops in the
service of the British government
which is to be considered as an auXll-
iary warship, according to international
law, and can therefore be treated ike
a warship.' ,.
The German governments attitude,
however. like that in the Marina case,
is EXPRESSED to be one of readiness TO
make amends if 1t be shown that the
submarine commander violated Ger
many's pledges TO the United States
The note, addressed by the Berlin
foreign office to Charge Crew. IN reply
to his inquiries, follows.
FOREIGN OFFICE,
BERLIN, Dec. A. 1916.
THE undersigned has the honor to in
form Mr.. Grew, charge analres OF the
United States of America, in reply to
the note of the 21st ultimo, that the
investigation conducted by the German
government concerning the sinking OF
the British steamer Arabia has led to
the following results
ION the morning of November
German submarine encountered large
steamer coming from the Corigo straits,
one hundred nautical miles west of the
island of Corigo. The steamer was
painted black and had black superstruc-
lures, and not. as is otherwise the case,
with p. and o. line superstructures,
light color
WAS OFF HER COURSE.
THE steamer, which was Identical
with the Arabia, was not travelling on
the route regularly used by the passen-
ger steamers between Port Said and
Malta, as is made plain on the enclosed
map, but was taking a zig-zag course
toward the west 12O nautical miles
north of that route. This course, on
which the submarine passed three sim
liar steamers at the same spot on the
same morning, leads from the Aegean
to Malta, so that the Arabia was moving
on the transport route Corigo-NIalta
used solely for war purposes according
to heSeXperiences until now.
The commander of the submarine
further ascertained that there were
large patches of Chinese and other col
ored persons in their national costumes
on board the steamer.
He considered them to be workmen
soldiers such as are used in great num-
Der behind the front by the enemies Of
Germany. In spite of the clear weather
and careful observation he did not per-
ceive any women and children.
I'm these circumstances, the COM
mander of the submarine was convinced
that in the case of this steamer he
was concerned with a transport ship for
troops in the service of the British gov
eminent which is to be considered as
an auxiliary warship according to in
ternstional law and can therefore be
treated like a warship. lie accordingly
considered himself justified in attack
ing the steamer without delay and sank
il.
LANSING is SILENT.
should the American government
give the official data showing that the
Arabia was at the time of the torpe-
doing an ordinary passenger steamer
the action of the commander would not
have been in accordance with the in
structions given him, since these in
structions are now as before i'm agree
ment with the assurances of the Ger
man note of May, 1916. This would
then be a case of a regrettable mistake
from which the German government
would promptly draw the appropriate
consequences"
What action the state department will
take is problematical Secretary Lans-
ing refused to comment. Should it be
shown that the Arabia was, as Germany
contends, a transport, this government
probably would admit the sinking was
justified.
If, however, il is shown that the SUBJ
marine commander was mistaken in
holding her to be a transport, most
serious situation will confront the state
department. At the time the Sussex
was sunk Germany was told that this
| country could not tolerate "regrettable
! mistakes"
1t may be said that the United States
does not regard the circumstance which
the German note recites as showing
justification for sinking the Arabia
without warning or as relieving the
submarine commander from establish
! ing the status of the liner. The pres
ence of Chinese on board is considered
of little Importance.
1t may be stated authoritatively that
no immediate action will be taken. as
another step is regarded as too serious
to be taken without complete facts. 1t
hinges entirely on whether the pledges
given in the Sussex case were broken.
| The note is not regarded in official quar-
/ ters as making out a strong case for