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May 30. 2015 12:01AM Mail Tribune 100, May 30, 1915 May 30, 1915 GERMAN REPLY TO YANKEE NOTE EVADES ISSUES BERLIN, via London — The German reply to the American note, sent after the sinking of the Lusitania, 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. The note expresses regret for injuries sustained by Americans as a result of submarine and aeroplane attacks, and offers compensation in cases in which Germany is found to be in the wrong. As indicated previously in these dispatches, 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 British steamer Falaba, in which an 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 the commander of the submarine granted 10 minutes for those on board to leave the vessel and subsequently extended the time to twenty-three minutes before sinking the ship. Mean No Harm Germany expresses regrets for "the unintentional attacks" on the American steamer Cushing and the Gulflight. The Cushing was attacked by German airmen in the North Sea and the Gulflight was torpedoed near Sicily Island. Germany disavows 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 states that pending the reply of the American government to the Germans, assumptions of fact regarding the character of the Lusitania and her cargo, no attempt will be made to answer the demands contained in the American note. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150530/news/150539990 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->