The Lusitania

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1915, Page 5

The Lusitania

OKHMAXY'S LKI'I.Y TO AMFiIICA. WAOIXi; WAI: KOI! KXISTI'.XCK. tieeeived July 11, -'i-20 p.m. Jierlin, .July 1(1. 'I he reply to the second America.'! Note has been issued. It notes that th ■ United States desires the principles of humanity to lie observed durieg the present war. This appeal bads a complete echo in Oermany, which has always adhered to the principle th.it v,..r must be waged by an armed organised force, and that the enemy's civil population shall bo spared as much as po, sible. The American (hi.uniueiil. knowhow (iermany's enemies from the beg": i ning aimed, with unceasing ruthlessnoss. for not-only the destruction of the (! tmaii armies, but the life of the Ocrinan nation by renouncing all rules'of international law and completclv paralvsing peaceful commerce between (icrmanv and neutral countries, while our eiieiuie., openly declared war without mercy until our complete destruction should lie (•It'eeA'il. 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 suouiariue warfare, and the case of the Lusitania shows with appalling clearness the extent that our enemies' methods of warfare endanger human life. The advice to British merchantmen ;.i arm and to ram submarines abolishes ail

distinctions between merchant ami war Vessels, If (111' COlUilla tiller ()f submarine had allowed the cl'eW ;s i;.] passengers to take to the limits before tiring the submarine would eertainlv have been sunk. It, was expected tli:it tlie l.usitania would remain alloat Ion,:; enough to allow tile passengers to ta:-'" to the boats, lmt the presence of a. groat quantity of explosives deceived expectations. Moreover, if the laisitania had been spared thousands of cases of ammunition would have reached the enemy, and thus thousands of (Jcninn mothers and children would have been deprived of their supporters. in order to secure a sutlicicncy of trans-Atlantic steamers Germany proposed that a fair number of neutral steamers should be temporarily roistered 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 cnciuv passenger steamers to sail under the American ling. (iennauy hopes thai. President Wilson's efforts to sccuYc the freedom of the sea will load to 'in understanding, "UNCTUOUS HUMBUG." l.Otldon, duly to. The Evening Standard severely- comments on the Germans' unctuohs hu>.ibug. .Received duly 11, p.m. Amsterdam, duly Ift. The German reply to America's Note was handed to .Mr. Gerard yesterdav. EVAIHXG TRI-: ISSUE. AMERICAN' PI!ESS AXXOYET). Washington, July 11. The German Koto has evaded til" Lusitania issue, and has refused any guarantees regarding submarine warfare. The American press is chagrined, and urges that that the proper course fur President "\\*l l.sun now is to assert American rights as 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 r< guarantee, will continue to sink steamers irrespective of their nationality. WILE NOT TORI'EIX) AMERICAN BOATS. GERMANY'S TRUST IX AMERICA. Received July 11. 15.30 p.m. Berlin, July 1(1. The replv to the American Note has been published. In order to avoid endangering American passenger steamer* German submarines will be. instructed to allow vessels to pass unmolested if they bear special distinguishing marks ami notice is given of tlu-iv departure. The German Government confidently hopes that America will guarantee that vessels will not carry contraband.