Show GERARD REPLY NOTE ON SINKING OF STEAMER ARABIC communicated TO AMERICAN ambassador commander of submarine believed I 1 arabic W was a a about to attack his HI I 1 vessel and he therefore acted I 1 within HI his instruction bt ions i berlin germanys germanas Germ anys noto note to the united states concerning the sinking of the white star line steamer arabic by a german submarine was communicated to james W gerard tile the american ambassador wednesday evening the note ascribes tile destruction of the liner to an act ot of self defense on the iho part of the submarine expresses tile the german governments deep regret that american lives were lost thereby and offers to refer tho the questions of 0 reparation and compensation to the hague blague for adjustment tile tho note reveals in detail tile the in to submarine commanders concerning their treatment of liners they are ordered not to attack a pas steamer except in case of 0 an attempt to escape after it Is ordered to halt or unless its actions indica indicate tg en an intention to attack the wib submarine marine tho the submarine a rine commander accord ing to his report concerning the solid send ing of the arabic to the bottom said ho he believed the arabic was about to attack tile he submarine and therefore acted within his instructions german naval experts declare that there theio Is no other course open to submarines under tile the present conditions when they assert every merchantman from liner down to fis laing smack is a presumptive enemy and perhaps carrying guns and ready to seize echo any opportunity to attack the vulnerable submarine by gun fire or by ramming |