GERMANY REPLIES TO AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 5

GERMANY REPLIES TO AMERICA

ATTACKS ON -NEUTEAL SHIPPING

LDSITANIA ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN ARMED

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

~ , > T , , . • .1.-1 T Amsterdam, May 30. Germany's Note to America savs that the Lusitama was a big auxiliary cruiser. Trustworthy reports from German officials and neutral passengers had showed that she had guns conccalerl und;:r her deck, and carried trailed "u'nliers. The British Admiralty, last February, had advised merchantmen to "ram submarines, therefore the former were not undefended German commanders could no longer observe tho rules concealing naval prizes. The Note'also contends that, the Lusitania carried Canadian troops and war material. Germany wa3 justified in destroying the enemy's munitions in order to protect her own soldiers.' The Lusitania acted against the American law forbidding passengers to travel in ships carrying explosives, the explosion of which was the principal cause of tho sinking of the vessel. Under other circumstances the passengers would probably have been saved. ° Germany,'therefore, reserves her final declaration-until A:nerica has carefully studied the foregoing facts._ ' Germany promises to investigate the Gulf Light and Cushing cases which may bo supplemented by an International Commission in accordance witll the Hague Convention, In the .case of the Falaba, twenty-three minutes elapsed before the torpedo was fired, and this was after the Falaba had tried to elude capture and suspicious vessels were seen approaching. THE ATTACK ON THE NEBRASKAN. ashlngton, May 30. The American Ambassador in London (Mr. Page) reports that* there is evidence pointing to the torpedoing of the- steamer Nebraskan. EXCITING ESCAPE FROM SUBMARINES BLUE FUNNEL LINER CONSIDERABLY BATTERED. London, May 29 The Blue Funnel liner Peng Suey (6458 tons), bound from Batavia with a valuable cargo, made a splendid escape from submarines in the Channel. The Peng Suey early on Saturday sighted a submarine two miles off. The submarine fired across her bows, but the steamer speeded up. The submarine chased lier, firing shells, several of which burst over the bridge. One struck aft, and considerably damaged the pcop. One member of tbeercw, a Chinese, was asleep below, and was wounded. The steamer out-distancod her pursuer and reached Plymouth much battered. THE SINKING OF THE ETHIOPE. London, May 30. It is stated that sixteen of the crow of the Elder "Dempster liner Ethiope (sunk by a submarine) are still missing. Tlio captain believes they liavo been picked up. The Ethiope was proceeding down Channel when she was surprised by a shot across her bows. Then a submarine three hundred feet long appeared. The Ethiope attempted to escape. Two shells were fired, and she was given five minutes to get her boats out. She was then torpedoed and sank within five minutes (Rec. May 31, 9.30 p.m.) London, Mav 31. Tim Ethiope'a boatful wn saved. SUBMARINE ATTACK OFF THE SHETLANDS. London, Mav 30 A submarine burnt tho Russian schooner Mar? at Fair .Island (Shetland Islands, North of Scotland), and then toned the crew of seven for ten anil a half hours. 'Hie crew ev.tntually reached Aberdeen. STEAMER TOnPEDOr:',!) OFF USE A XT. Londnn, Mm- so. Th« steamer Tullodimoor, 3520 loiw, wa» lorjwfacd off Cuba til. Tba crsw landed at Barry-