The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-02-15

on May the Lusitania, drowning ia
These acts were followed by a pro
test from this government on May 13
! in which q demand was made for dis
avowal of the action of the commander
of the submarine in sinking the Lusi
tania and for reparatiOn. This gov
eminent informed Germany that II
would omit no word or act necessary
to 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 Lusi-
tania on Great Britain and the British
| shipping company, asserting that the
Lusitania was an auxiliary cruiser,
which was false, that it was armed,
which was equally false, and that the
tons, which it had right to do.
On the 9th of June the government
Of the United States replied to Ger
many's Lusitania note, denying the
statements as to the character Of the
Lusitania and as to her armament, as
sorting that it was sunk without warn
ing, solemnly renewed its representa-
lions, and asked assurances that Amer
lean ships and the lives of American
citizens be not put in jeopardy. A
month later Germany answered saying
that she was compelled to meet the
British blockade, and that if her sub
marine commander had practiced visit
and search the submarine would have
been destroyed. She cynically added
that in any event it was to have been
expected that a mighty ship like the
Lusitania would remain above the wa
ter long enough for its passengers to
get Off The sinking of this ship, she
represented, revealed
with horrible clearness to what jeop-
ardy of human lives the manner Of con-
Quoting war employed by her adver-
saries led. American ships, she prom
lsed, would not be hindered from their
legitimate business, and lives on neu-
trail vessels would not be jeopardized.
Gives Orders to NeutraIs.
She decreed that neutral vessels must |
be properly marked, sufficient notice be |
given in advance, and a guaranty be |
furnished that they would not carry |
She impudently informed |
is that she would agree to a proposal |
o increase by installments the number
# vessels available for the passenger
ervice by placing reasonable number
# neutral ships under the American
lag.
OF course the secretary of state
answered that Germany's reply was
1t did not indicate
low the principles of international
aw and humanity could be applied.
t proposed a partial suspension of
hem which, in effect, SET. them aside.
his government noted Germany's as
urance, made once more, as to the
reedom of the seas, that the character
nd cargoes of merchant vessels would
e first determined and that lives of (
oncombatants would not be leopard {
,ed. The United States demanded {
ne disavowal of the act of the COM '
lander of the submarine and repara- t
on for injuries. 1t revealed the !
arning to Germany and advised her |
nat the repetition of such an act
gainst the rights of the United States
fecting her citizens would be re- 6
arded as deliberately unfriendly. S
Less than a month after this definite G
Ambassador Page sent
1tice from London of the sinking of
lie Arabic, with loss of three Ameri-
IN lives. Five days later the German Y
AMBASSADOR expressed the hope that O
e United States would await full A
formation before acting and asserted v
at If American lives were lost it was n
It in accordance with the intention "
the German government. A week V
ter he gave this assurance: "Liners "
III not be sunk by our submarines O
thout warning and without safety of e
ncombatants, provided that they do O.
t try to escape or offer resistance"
lis was promise number two. h.
Makes Another Promise. a
He added that this policy was de- G
led upon by this government before a.
2 Arabic was sunk. This was followed OF
September by word from the Ger Sc
IN government through Ambassador
rard that the Arabic was sunk be- lie
use it planned to attack the sub ia
rine, that the government could not al
nit indemnity even if the COM w
nder was mistaken, and that if he NJ
S, the government would be willing pc
submit the case to The Hague. On es
. 18th, after receiving the facts, Mr.. tr
nsing wrote that the Arabic was W,
warned and did not try to ram the so
On October 5 Bernstor2 nc
lied that the German government &C
es had been made so stringent that av
repetition of the Arabic case was pl;
sible, admitted the validity of the in
dence against the Arabic's attempt to
ram the submarine, expressed re- an
at The occurrence, disavowed the pc
and offered indemnity. wi
his was promise number three. VIC
IN March 81 the state department br'
Ambassador Gerard word that COZ
re was much evidence that the ma
mel passenger steamer Sussex was pa
II hr foroa1a harof d with QoQ S1f