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Show GERMANY'S NOTE PRESENTED TO ENVOY GERARD BERLIN, via London, Sept. 9, 2 a. m. Germany's note to the l'nited States concerning the pinking of the White Star line steamer .Arabic by a German Ger-man submarine was communicated to James W. Gerard, the American embassador, embassa-dor, yesterday evening. The note ascribes as-cribes the destruction of the liner to an act of self-defense on the part of the submarine, expresses the German government's govern-ment's deep regret that American lives were lost thereby and offers to refer the questions of reparation and compensation to The Hague for adjustment. The note reveals In detail the instructions instruc-tions to submarine commanders concerning concern-ing their treatment of liners. They are ordered not to attack a passenger steamer steam-er except In case of rtti attempt to escape after it is ordered to halt or unless its actions Indicate an intention to attack the submarine. The submarine commander, according to his report concerning the sending of the Arabic to the tot torn, said he believed the Arabic waft about to attack the submarine sub-marine and therefore lie acted within his Instructions. German naval exports declare that there is no other course open to submarines under the present conditions, when, they assert, everv merchantman, from liner down to fishing smack, Is a presumptive enemy and perhaps earning guns and ready to seize any opportunity to attack the vulnerable submarine by gun Are or by ramming. |