The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-06

BERLIN. May (by wirelcssl Fol
lowing Is the text OF the note Of the
herman government In reply 10 the
American note respecting submarine
warfare, delivered on Thursday by
Gottlieb Won Jagow. the foreign secre-
tary. to Ambassador Gerard:
Text OF Answer.
The undersigned on behalf OF the
imperial German government has the
honor to present TO his eXcellenCy he
ambassador OF the United States. Mr..
James w. Gerard. the following reply
To the note OF April 20. regarding the
conduct of the German submarine war
fare.
The German government handed
over TO the proper naval authorities
for early investigation the evidence
concerning the sussex as communi-
Gated 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 mentioned In
the note OF April 10. as having been
torPedoed by a German submarine Is
actually Identical with the Sussex.
The German government begs TO
reserve further communication on the
matter until certain points are asCer-
tanned. which are of decisive import
anCe for establishing the facts of the
mander was wrong In assuming the
vessel TO be a man OF war. the German
government will not fail TO draw the
consequence resulting therefrom.
In 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 in
discriminate destruction OF vessels OF
all sorts. nationalities and destinations
by German submarine commanders.
Regulates Sussex Charge.
The German government must EN-
phaticany repudiate the assertion. The
German government. however, thinks
II OF little avail TO enter into details
in the present stage OF afaflrs, more
particularly as the government OF the
United States omitted 20 substantiate
the assertion by reference 10 concrete
facts.
The German submarine forces have
had. in fact. orders TO conduct the sub
marine warfare in accordance with the
general principles of visit and search
and the destruction of merchant yes
sells recognized by International law.
the sole exception being conduct or
warfare against enemy trade carried
on enemy freight ships encountered
in the war zone surrounding Great
Britain. With regard TO these. no AS
government of the United States. No
such assurances are contained in ;h9
declaration of February :. 1916.
The German government cannot Id
NIT 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 al
together. Allowances must be- made
in the conduct Of naval warfare against
an enemy resorting % all kinds @!
ruses whether permissible or llliict..
But apart from the possibilit. of
errors. naval warfare just like the war
fare on land implies unavoidable dan
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even IN
cases where The naval action is COZ
fined 20 ordinary forms OF cruiser war
fare. neutral persons and goods repeat
edly come 70 grief
The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly pointed out the
dangers from mines that have Jed %
the loss OF numerous ships.
5lames United States
The German government has made
several proposals 10 the government
OF tho United States In order 20 le-
ducc 10 minimum for American tray
clers and goods the inherent dangers
Of naval warfare Unfortunately the
government OF the United States de-
Cided not to accept the proposals. lad
IL accepted the government of the
United states would have been instru.
mental IN preventing the greater part
OF the accidents that American citi-
gems have met with in the meantime.
The German government stIll stands
by it- offer 90 come 10 an agreement
alonc these lines
A. tho German government repeat
eddy declared DO cannot dispense with
the use ~ the submarine weapon 900
the conduct OF warfare against enemy
trade The German government. how.
ever. has now decided 10 make a ,r.
thor concession. adapting methods cf
submarine war 20 the interests OF nsu.
trails
In reaching this decision the Ger