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Show GERARD RECEIVES - 6EHMY5 REPLY NOTE ON SINKING OF STEAMER ARABIC COMMUNICATED TO AMERICAN AMBASSADOR. Commander of Submarine Believed Arabic Was About to Attack His Vessel and He Therefore Acted Within His Instructions. Berlin. Germany's note to the I'nit-ed I'nit-ed States concerning the -sinking of the White Star line steamer Arabic by a German submarine, was communicated communi-cated to James W. Gerard, the American Amer-ican ambassador. Wednesday evening. The note ascribes the destruction of the liner to ail act. of self-defense on the part of the submarine, expresses the German government'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 in-, in-, structions to submarine commanders I concerning their treatment of liners. They are ordered not to attack a pas senger steamer except in case of an, attempt to escape after it is ordered . to halt or unless its actions indicate . an intention to attack the submarine i The submarine commander, accord 1 ing to his report concerning the. send i ing of the Arabic to the bottom, said . he believed the Arabic was about, tc attack the submarine and therefore . acted within his instructions, t German naval experts declare that i . there is no other course open to sub-t sub-t marines under the present conditions . when, they assert, every merchant man, from liner down to fishing 1 smack, is a presumptive enemy and . perhaps carrying guns and ready to seize any opportunity to attack the vulnerable submarine by gun fire or by ramming. |
