The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-02-28

49, 'Ah'F wv H-
on May 7 the Lusltanla, drowning ia.
These acts were followed by II pro-
test from this government on May IL,
In which n demand was made for dis
avowal of the action Of the commander
Of the submarine In sinking the Lusl-
tanln and for repHration. This gov
eminent informed Germany that II
would omit no word or net necessary
10 the performance of Its sacred duty
Of maintaining the rights of the United
States and of It's citizens and of safe
guarding their free exercise. On May
-. Germany replied, placing the re-
SpOnsibility for the sinking of the LuSl-
tnnia on Great Britain and the British
s. piping company, asserting that the
I.Isitania was an auxiliary cruiser,
which was false, that 1t was armed,
which vas equally false, and that the
company permitted II to carry NUM-
tons, which It had IA right to do.
on the 9th of June the government
Of the United States replied to Ger
many's Lusitanla note, denying the
statements ne TO the character OF the
I<isitnnla and as TO her armament, as
sorting that IL was sunk without warn
ing, solemnly renewed It's representa-
tons, and asked assurances that Amer
lean ships and the lives of American
| citizens he not put In jeopardy. A
month later Germany answered saying
that she was compelled TO meet the
British blockade, and that II her sub
marine commander had prIcticcd visit
and search the submarine would have
been destroyed. She cynlCally added
that In any event II was to have been
expected that n mighty ship like the
Lusitania would remain above the va.
ter long enough for It's passengers TO
get Off. The sinking OF this ship, she
hypocriticnlly represented, revealed
with horrible clcGrness TO what j"op-
ardy of human lives the amer of con
Quoting war employed by her ndver-
saries led. American ships, she prom
ised, would not be hindered from their
Legitimate business, and lives on neu-
trail vessels would not he jeopardlzed.
This was promise number one.
Gives Orders to Neutrais.
She decreed that neutral vessels must
be properly marked, sufficient notice be
given in advance. and n guaranty be
furnished that they would not carry
c%ontrabnnd. She impudently Informed
US that she would agree to n proposal
TO increase by installments the number
of vessels available for the passenger
service by placing Il reasonable number
Of neutral ships under the American
flag.
or course the secretary Of state
answered that Gcrmany's reply was
unsatisfactory. II did not indicate
how the principles Of international
law and humanity could be applied.
1t proposed II partial suspension Of
them which, In effect, set them aside.
This government noted Germany's as
surance, made once more, as 10 the
freedom Of the seas, that the character
and cargoes of merchant vessels would
be first determined and hat lives of
noncomhatants would not be leopard
tied. The United States demanded
the d~iSavownl of the act OF the com
llltlll'ltI VI lllf cllllllul lllf anu lfldlh-
ton for injuries. 1t revealed the
warning to Germany and advised her
that the repetition Of such an net
against the rights OF the United States
affecting her citizens would be re.
garded as deliberately unfrIcndly.
Less than n month after this definite
representation, Ambassador Page sent
notice from London Of the sinking Of
the Arabic. with n loss Of three Amcri.
can lives. Five days later the German
ambassador expressed the hope that
the United States would await full
Information before acting and asserted
that II American lives were lost II was
not In accordance with the intention
Of the German government. A week
later he gave this assurance: Liner,
will not be sunk by our submarine,
without warning and without safety o.
noncombatants, provided that they d,
not try TO escape or offer resistance
This was promise number two.
Makes Another Promise.
Tie added that this policy was dc
cidcd upon by this government hcfor,
the Arabic vas sunk. This was followed
on September : hy word from the Ger
man government through AmhaSsado
Gerard ihAt the Arabic was sunk be
cause II planned 10 attack the sub
marine, TINT the government could no
admit indemnity ever II the com
mander was mistaken, and that # h.
was, the government would be wlllln,
TO submit the case 10 The Hague. On
the l4th, after receiving the facts, MI
Lansing wrote that the Arabic wa
not warned and did not try to ran IN
submarine. On October . Bcrnstori
replied that the German governmcn
/ rules had been made so stringent tina
no repetition Of the Arabic case wa
possible, admitted the validity Of IN
evidence against the Arabic's attemp
TO ram the submarine, expressed re
greet AT the occurrence, d~lsavowed tn
act and offered indemnity.
i This was promise number three.
e On March ~ the state department
sent Ambassador Gerard word tina
, there was much evidence that tn
8 channel passenger steamer Sussex VIZ
sunk by a torpedo March "a with 81
. nm oaangapo nm hoard II aslad FOR Ar