THE LUSITANIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 61, 12 July 1915, Page 3

THE LUSITANIA.

GERMANY’S REPLY TO AMERICA

United I’u ess Association

Berlin, July 10,

The reply to the second American ■\'utc lias been issued, it notes that r.iio United Stale-- desires the piiumciples of humanity to be, observed during the present war. This appeal ljiicls a complete echo in Germany, which has alwayas adhered to the principle that war mut be waged by an armed organised force, and that the enemy’s civil population shall be spared as much as possible. The American Government know how Germany’s enemies from :the beginning aimed, with unceasing ruthlessness, for not only the destruction of the German armies, but the life of the German nation by renouncing all rules of international law and completely paralysing peaceful commerce between Germany and neutral countries, while our enemies openly declared war without mercy until our complete destruction should be effected. We are waging this war in defence of our national existence, and for the sake of a permanent guaranteed peace. We were obliged to adopt submarine warfare, and the case of the Lusitania shows with appalling clearness the extent that our enemies’ methods of warefare endanger human life. The advice to .British merchantmen to aim and to ram submarines abolishes all distinctions between merchant and war vessels. If the commander of the submarine had allowed the crew and passengers to take to the boats before firing the submarine would certainly have been sunk. It was ex pected that the Lusitania would re main afloat long enough to allow the passengers to take to the boats, but the presence of a great quantity of explosives deceived expectations. Moreover, if the Lusitania had been spared thousands of eases of ammunition would have reached the enemy, and thus thousands of German mothers and children would have been deprived of their supporters.

lu order to secure a sufficiency of trans-Atlantic steamers Germany proposed that a fair number of neutral steamers should be temporarily registered under the American flag to sail as a passenger service, if there is an insufficiency of neutral steamers Germany is willing to allow four of the enemy passenger steamers to sail under the American flag. Germany hopes that President Wilson’s efforts to secure the freedom of the sea will lead to an understanding.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. United Press Association. London, July 10. The Evening Standard severally comments on t,Ue Germans’ unctuous, humbug.

Washington, July 11

The American press is chagrined, and urges that that the proper course for President Wilson now is to assort American rights a* established by international law.

The State Department admits that Germany’s expression of hope that the United States will guarantee no contraband aboard ships carrying passengers implies that Germany, lacking such a guarantee, will continue to sink steamers irrespective of their nationality.

Berlin, July 10

The reply to the American Note has been published. In order to avoid endangering American passenger steamers German submarines will be instructed to allow vessels to pass unmolested, if they bear special distinguishing marks and notice is given of their departure. The German Government confidently hopes that American will guarantee that vessels will not carry contraband.