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Show EXCUSE OF THE GERMANS INVALID Loudon. March 10. 3: 50 p. m Replying Re-plying to a question in the house of commons today as to whether there was any validity in Germany's excuse that the submarine which tried to torpedo the British hospital ship As-turlas As-turlas was unablo to discern the distinctive dis-tinctive marks on that vessel because Of darkness, Dr. Thomas J. MaeNa-mara, MaeNa-mara, parliamentary secretary to the admiralty said: The muster of the Asturias reports re-ports that it wps at 5:15 p. m. on a I clear day and light, leaving no possibility possi-bility of the Identity of the ship being be-ing mistaken." Violation of Hague Rule. The French ministry of marine announced an-nounced on February 2 that a German submarine on the day before had made an unsuccessful attempt to torpedo tor-pedo the British hospital ship As-turiiib, As-turiiib, "thu violating the formal clause uf The Hague convention of 1907 regarding the attacking of hospital hos-pital vessels." The attack on the Asturias was made near tho Frcnon seaport of Havre. The Asturias. according ac-cording to a statement made by Mr MacNamara iu a speech in the house of commons on February 23, waB painted while with a green baud and red crosses which were illuminated as provided for in the regulations adopted adopt-ed by The Hague, The German embassy at Washington Washing-ton on March fi issued a statement explaining ex-plaining the attack on the Asturias The statement was signed by Ambassador Ambas-sador Bemstorff, and said: "Government officials admit the British hoKpital ship Asturias vas attacked at-tacked on February 1, 5:15 p. m. Coming Com-ing up In twilight carried lights as prescribed for ordinary steamer? ship was taken for transport conveying troops. Distinctive marks showing character of ship not being illuminated illumina-ted were only recognized after shot had been fired. Fortunately torpedo failed to explode. The moment ship was recognized as hospital ship every' ev-ery' attempt at further attack was immediately given up," |