The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-09
Germany Makes Promise
To Observe War Rules
OuoEned PLEDGE to Conduct Submarine campaign on
Basis of Cruiser Operations Admits mistakes by
U-Boaf Commanders.

Berlin, Nay 5 (by Wireless via Say
yille).-Following is the text OF the
note of the German government in
reply to the American note respecting
submarine warfare delivered On
Thursday by Gotlieb yon Jagow, the
foreign 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 subma-
rine warfare:
"The German government handed
over to the proper naval authorities
for early investigation the evidence
concerning the Sussex as communl-
Gated by the government of the Unit
ed States. Judging by the results that
the investigation has hitherto yleldea
the German government is alive TO
the possibility that the ship men
toned in the note of April 10 as hay
ing been torpedoed by a German SUD-
marine is actually identical with the
Sussex.
"The German government begs to
reserve further communication on
the matter until certain points are
ascertained, which are of decisive im-
portance for establishing the facts OF
the case. Should it turn out that the
commander was wrong in assuming
the vessel to be man of war the
German government will not fail to
draw the consequence resulting
therefrom.
Denies General Violation.
oIn connection with the case of the
Sussex. the government of the United
States made a series Of statements,
the gist of:which is the assertion that
the incident is to be considered but
one instance of a deliberate method
of indiscriminate destruction of yes
sells of all sorts, nationalities and
destinations nv German submarine
commanders.
.sThe German government must
emphatically repudiate the assertion.
The German government, however
thinks it 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
stantiate the assertion by reference to
concrete facts.
"Tbe German government will only
state that it has imposed far reacnlns
restraints upon the use of the sub
marine weapon, solely in considera-
ton of neutrals' interests. in spite OF
the fact that these restrictions are
necessarily of advantage to Ger
many's enemies. No such consldera-
ton has ever bee shown neutrals by
Great Britain and her allies.
To Avoid Breaks.
"The German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
the submarine warfare in accord
ance with the general principles OF
visit and search and the destruction
of merchant vessels recognized ny
international law, the sole exception
being the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade carried On enemy freight
ships encountered in the war zone
surrounding Great Britain. With re-
gard to these ny assurances have ever
been given to the government of the
United States. M such assurances
are CO0CdluGu III liz uCSloA oIAoA VI
February s. 1916.
'fThe German government can not
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can in no kind of warfare be avoided
altogether. Allowances must be made
in the conduct of naval warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds of ruses, whether permissible
or Illicit.
'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 zone. Even
in cases where the naval action is
confined to ordinary forms OF, cruiser
warfare neutral persons and goods
repeatedly come to grief.