Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1915 — NOTE OF REGRET SENT BY GERMANY [ARTICLE]

NOTE OF REGRET SENT BY GERMANY

Wasp Sank the Arabic in Defense— Believed Steamer Was About to Attack Submarine. Germany’s note to the United States concerning the sinking of the liner Arabic by a German submarine was communicated to Ambassador Gerard Tuesday evening. The note ascribes the destruction of the liner to an act of self defense on the part of the submarine; expresses the German government’s deep regret that American lives were lost thereby and offers to refer questions of reparation and compensation to The Hague for adjustment. The note reveals in detail the instructions to submarine commanders concerning their treatment <.f liners. They are ordered not to attack a passenger steamer except in a case of an attempt to escape after it has been ordered to halt or unless its action indicates an intention o attack the submarine. The submarine commander, according to his report c ncerning the sending of the Arabic to the bottom, said he believed the Arabic was about to attack the submarine and therefore he acted within instructions. The German naval experts declare that there is no other course open to submarines under present conditions, when, they assert, every merchantman, from liner down to fishing smack, is a presumptive enemy and perhaps ready to sieze any opportunity to attack the vulnerable submarine by gunfire or by ramming.