Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1915 — German Note Dodges Demands; Regrets Attack on U. S. Ships [ARTICLE]

German Note Dodges Demands; Regrets Attack on U. S. Ships

.Berlin, May 29, via London. —The German reply to the American note sent after the sinking of the Lusitania expresses regrets for the “unintentional attacks” on the American steamships Gulflight and Cushing, and offers to give compensation in any cases in which Germany is found to be in the wrong. Pending further negotiations with the United States as to the status of the Lusitania ♦ and the character of its cargx), the note says Germany will not attempt to answejr that part of the American note relating■ to demands concerning the Lusitania and cessation of submarine warfare against merchant shipping. Germany first wishes to know what steps the American government Jias taken to induce Great Britain to open negotiations for the ending of submarine warfare on lines previously suggested by Berlin through the U. S. The German reply was signed by Herr Von Jagow, the foreign minister, at 11 o’clock last night and delivered to Ambassador Gerard this forenoon for transmission to Washington. \ In detail the note expresses German’s regret for injuries suffered by Americans as a result of submarine and aeroplane attacks. Germany suggests that casks in dispute be referred to The Hague for a decision. The loss of like in the sinking of the British steamer Falaba, in which an American citizen was drowned, is said to have been due to the attempt of the vessel to escape. The note defers a direct answer to the questions raised by President Wilson, pending a further exchange of views. Germany desires to establish whether the Lusitania was a defenseless merchant ship or was ‘being used for the transportation of war munitions and soldiers, on which unsuspecting passengers were permitted to take passage to safeguard the war materials.

The American representations regarding the torpedoing of the Fa'laba, in Which ap American citizen lost his life, are answered with the statement that it was intended to offer ample time for the passengers and crew to leave the ship. The action of the captain in attempting to escape, however, necessitated more summary action. Even then the commander of the submarine granted ten minutes for those on board to leave the vessel, and subsequently extended the twenty-three minutes before sinking the Ship. Germany, in expressing regrets for “the unintentional attacks” on American steamer Cushing and the Gulflight, the former attacked by German airmen in the North Sea and the latter torpedoed off Scilly Islands, dis*avows any intention to attack harmless neutral craft. She offers to pay compensation wherever she is found to be in the wrong, and to refer doubtful cases to The Hague for a decision. The passages in the American note concerning a possible disavowal by

Germany of intent to sink the Lusitania and the discontinuance of her present practices of submarine warfare are not mentioned specifically in the reply. The note says that, pending the reply of the American government to the Germany assumptions Of fact regarding the real character of the Lusitania and her cargo, no attempt will be made to answer the demands contained in the Americah communication. These assumptions of fact are as follows: s x Hie Lusitania was built as an auxiliary cruiser, subsidized and carried on the navy lists as such. She carried, according to German information, two guns mounted and concealed below decks.

British steamers sailing from New York, according to information received from passengers and other sources, repeatedly carried soldiers, artillery, war supplies and contraband to England, the Lusitania on this trip carrying specifically 5,400 cases of .ammunition in addition to other war supplies and Canadian troops enroute to the front. Reference is made to the allegation that carrying explosives on passenger steamers is'contrary to American law. It is intimated that the German government would ‘be glad to receive information as to how it happened that%mmuniition was permitted to be shipped on the Lusitania, a vessel crowded with passengers. Strong phrases are used 'regarding what is considered as apparently the deliberate policy of British shipping companies to protect war shipment by embarking American passengers on the same ships..

Germany contends it is impossible to settle the question whether proper opportunity was given to place the passengers and crew in safety until it is determined whether the regulations adopted after the sinking of the Titanic, regarding a proper supply of boats and water-tight bulkheads, which are now a part of the American law, were observed in the case of the Lusitania. '

Finally, the American mediatory proposals designed to end submarine warfare and the throttling of food supplies and other conditional contraband for Germany are recalled. The government expresses the desire to know what steps, if any, have been taken to induce Great Britain to embark on negotiations to this end, after Germany indicated her willingness to discuss a settlement on this general basis.

The delivery of the note to Ambassador Gerard was not attended with any special ceremony. A functionary of the foreign office carried it across the square to the American embassy, where it was placed in the hands of the American ambassador. The embassy staff immediately began, coding the message and transmitting it to Washington. Meantime Mr. Gerard called at the foreign office.