The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, June 04, 1915, Image 7
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEQRA8KA. FINAL ANSWER IS RESERVED GERMANY SENDS PARTIAL RE 'PLY TO U. S. NOTE ON LUSI TANIA DISASTER. INSISTS VESSEL IS ARMED ..Declares Attacks on American Steam ers Cushlng and Gulfllght Are Be ing Investigated. Note Creates Dicsatlsfactlon In Official Washington. Prompt An swer Likely. Berlin Germany withholds Its final derision on the demands advanced by Ihe United States government In con nection with the sinking of the Lusl tanla, until the receipt of an answer from the United States to tho note, which Ilerr von Jagow, the foreign minister has delivered to Ambassador Gerard in reply to the American note received by the German government on May 15. Attitude of Germany. In its' reply the Gorman govern ment declares that It Is not Its Inten tion to submit neutral ships In the -war zone, which are guilty of no hos tile acts, to attacks by submarines or aeroplanes; that It Is Investigat ing the circumstances in connection with the attacks on American steam ers Cushlng and Gulfllght, and that In all cases, where neutral vessels, through no fault of their own, have Tjeen damaged, Germany will pay In demnification. Plea of Self Defense." The reply urges that In the case of Ihe Lusltanla, which Germany alleges was armed and carried large stores of war munitions, it was "acting in Justified self-defense in seeking with .nil the means of warfare at its dispo sition to protect the lives of Us sol diers by destroying ammunition in tended for the enemy." The German government recalls the proposals submitted by the Unit 'ed States government to Berlin and London, designed to end the sub marine warfare and the shutting out fif food supplies from Germany, which, It declares, failed of their pur pose because of the refusnl of the British government to ngree to them. Full Text of German Note. Berlin (Via London), The follow ing Is the text of the G-erman note In reply to tho American note dealing with tho Lusltanla affair. "Tho undoreigned has the honor to submit to Ambassador Gerard the fol lowing answer to the communication of May 5 regarding the Injury of American Interests through German .submarine warfare. "The Imperial German government 'has subjected the communication of .the American government to a thor ough investigation. It entertains also a keen wish to co-operate in a frank and friendly way in clearing up jl possible misunderstanding which may have arisen in the relations be tween the two governments through the events mentioned by the Amer ican government. Regarding, firstly, the cases of the American steamers Cushlng and Gulfllght, the American embassy lias already been informed that the German government has no .intention of submitting neutral ships in the war zone, which are guilty ot no hostile acts, to attacks by a sub marine or submarines, or aviators On the contrary, tho German forces have repeatedly been Instructed spe--ciflcally to avoid attacks on such ships. Blames It onthe British. "If neutral ships in recont months have suffered through the German submarine warfare, owing to mis takes in identification, it is a ques tion only of quite isolated and excep tional cases, which can be attributed to the British government's abuse o flags, together with the suspicious or culpable1 behavior of tho masters ot tho ships. "Tho German government in all cases In which It has been shown by its Investigations that a neutral ship, not itself at fault, was damaged by German submarines, or aviators, has expressed regret over the unfor tunato accident, and, if Justified by conditions, has offered indemnifica tion. Will Report Later. "The cases of the Cushlng and tho Gulfllght will be treated on tho samo principles. An investigation of both canes Is in progress, the result of which will presently be communi cated to tho embassy. The Investiga tion can, If necessary, be supple mented by an international call on the international commission of in quiry, as provided by article HI of Mexicans Kill Two Texans. Washington, D. C Rangers Joseph Bates and E. A. Ilulen and Customs Inspector Josoph Sitters have been killed by Mexican bandits, In Texas, near Pllarqs. Dutch Protest to Germany. Loudon.-rlt Is stated there that the Dutch government has Instructed its minister In Berlin to lodge a protest against the attack on tho Dutch steam trawler Gravenhage by a German aeroplane off Ameland, a Dutch Island In tho North sea. The Hague agreement ot October 18, 1907. "When sinking the British steam er Falaba, the commander of tho German submarine had tho intention of nllowlhg tho passengers and crow a full opportunity for a safo escape. Only when the master did not obey the order to heavo to, but fled and summoned help by rocket signals, did tho German commander order the crew and passcngora by slgnala and megaphones to leave tho Bhlp within ten minutes. Ho actually al lowed them twenty-thrco minutes' time nnd llred tho torpedo only when suspicious craft were hastening to tho assistance of tho Falaba. Case of the Lusltanla. "Itegardlng loss of life by tho sink ing of tho British passenger steamer LuEltnnla, the German government has already expressed to tho neutral governments concerned Its keen re gret that citizens of their states lost their lives. "On this occasion the Imperial gov ernment cannot, however, escape tho Impression that certain important facts having a direct hearing on the sinking of the Lusltanla may hnvu oscaped tho attention of the Ameri can government. "In the interest of a clear and com plete understanding, which Is the aim of both governments, tho Imperial government considers It first neces sary to convince Itself that tho In formation accessible to both govern ments about the facts of the case Is complete and In accord. "The government of tho United Slates proceeds on tho assumption that tho Lusltanla could bo regarded as an ordinary unarmed merchant' man. The Imperial government al lows Itself In this connection to point out that the Lusltanla was ono of the largest and fastest British merchant ships, built with govern ment funds as an auxiliary cruiser and carried expressly as such In the 'navy list' Issued by tho British ad miralty. Alleges Vessel Was Armed. "It Is further known to the Im perial government, from trustworthy reports from its agents and neutral passengers, that for a considerable time practically all the more valu able British merchantmen have been equipped with cannon and ammuni tion and other weapons and manned with persons who have been specially trained In serving guns. The Lusl tanla, too, according to Information received here,, had cannon aboard, which were mounted nnd concealed below decks. "Tho Imperial government further has the honor to direct the particular attention of tho American govern ment to the fact that the British admiralty, In a confidential Instruc tion issued in February, 1915, rec ommended Its mercantile shipping not only to seek protection under neutral flags, but also, while thus disguised, to attack German subma rines by ramming. As a special in ducement for merchant ships to de stroy submarines, tho British govern ment also offered high pries and has already paid such rewards. Not Undefended Ships. "The imperial government, in view of these facts, Indutlably known to It, Is unable to regard British mer chantmen in the zone of naval opera tions specified by the admiralty staff of tho German navy as 'undefended.' German commanders consequently are no longer able to observe the cus tomary regulations ot the prize law, which they before always followed. '.'Fjnally, the imperial government must point out particularly that tho Lusltanla on its last trip, as on earlier occasions, carried Canadian troops and war material, including no less than 5,400 cases of ammuni tion intended for the destruction of the brave German soldiers who are fulfilling their duty with Belf-sacrlfico and devotion in the fatherland's serv ice. "The German .government believes that it was acting in justified self defense in seeking with all the means of warfare at its disposition to pro tect the lives of Its soldiers by de stroying ammunition Intended for the enemy. British Owners at Fault. 'The British shipping company must have been aware of the danger to which the passengers aboard tho Lusltanla were exposed under these conditions. The company In embark ing them, notwithstanding this, at tempted deliberately to use the lives of American citizens as protection for tho ammunition aboard, and acted against the clear provisions of tho American law which expressly pro hibits the forwarding of passengers on ships carrying ammunition and provides a penalty therefor. Tho com pany, therefore, is wantonly guilty of the death of so many passengers. "There can be no doubt, nccording to the definite report of the sub marine's commander, which Is fur ther1 confirmed by all other informa tion, that the quick sinking of tho Lusltanla is primarily attributed to tho explosion of tho ammunition ship Offers Pope Sanctuary Madrid (Via Purls) It Is said here that King Alfonso has offered the escorlal palace to Pope Benedict as a residence In ense tho pontiff decides to leave Italy. X-Ray Reveals Plot. New York. By means of tho X-ray, a gigantic plot to smuggle contraband goods IMo Germany has been uncov ered here, according to five Indict ments returned In federal court. Five men are charged with conspiring to ship contraband goods to Germany. ment caused by a torpedo. The Lusl tanla's passengorB would otherwise, In all human probability,, have been saved. ''The imperial government consid ers the above mentioned facts Im portant enough to recommend them to the attentive examination of the American government. Waiting for an Answer. "Tho imperial government, while withholding its final decision on tho demands advanced on tho sinking ot tho Lusltanla until receipt of an an swer from the American government, feels Impelled In conclusion to recall here nnd now, that It took cognlzanco with satisfaction of the mediatory proposals submitted by tho United States government to Berlin and Lon don ns a basis for a modus vlvcndi for conducting the maritime warfare between Gormnny and Great Britain. The Imperial government, by Its vendlness to enter upon a discussion of these proposals, then demonstrated Its good Intentions In ample fashion. The realization of these proposals was defeated, as Is well known, by the declinatory attitude of tho British government. "The undorslgned takes occasion, etc. (Signed) JAGOW.". Tells Why Decision Withheld. Berlin (Via London). Gottlieb von Jagow, tho Imperial Gorman foreign secretary, received the correspondent of the Associated Press and outlined the reasons which Impelled the Ger man government to send an ad In terim note to the United States gov ernment Instead of a final and de finite reply to the American represen tations regarding the Lusltanla and other ships that have been torpedoed, and Germnny's submarine policy. "Tho Issues involved," said Ilerr von Jagow, "are of such importance nnd the views In regard to the Lusl tanla show such variance, that tho German government believed It es sential to attempt to establish a com mon basis of fact before entering Into a discussion of the Issues involved. "We hope and trust that the Ameri can government will take the samo view of tho case and let us know In what points their understanding on the facts dlfTers from the German viewpoint ns set forth In the note, and in what points thoy agree, beforo looking for a direct answer to their communication." Washington Disappointed. Washington. Germany's reply to the American note concerning tho sinking of tho Lusltanla with a loss of more than 100 American lives pro duced a feeling of profound disap pointment here. Dissatisfaction at tho j failure of Germany to answer the de mands of the United States was re j fleeted In government circles gen erally. It Is the opinion of those close to the president .that a prompt answer would be sent to Berlin. This is expected to give the Ameri can government's understanding of the facts that the Lusltanla was un armed and carried no concealed guns, that it sailed from the United States n peaceful merchantman and that un der all rules of International law and humanity the vessel should have been viBited and searched and its passen gers transferred to a place of safety, whether it carried ammunition or not. Not Covered by Law. American lnw does not prohibit am munition from being .carried on passenger ships, it will be asserted, but only self-exploding material, and liners in the past have been permit ted to carry arms and ammunition by special ruling of the State depart ment on tho meaning of federal statutes. Germany's failure even to discuss the reparation demanded by tho American note and evasion of tho re quest that guarantees be given that American vessels and lives be not en dangered in the future are the main points, however, which tho United States government, it was generally believed, would refer to In tho second note. Tho expressions of regret nnd of fers of reparation for unintentional nttacks on neutral ships are expoct ed to have little weight In determin ing the nature of the response of the United States. While it is generally thought the United States will answor Germany's request for facts with a restatement of tho circumstances as recited In the American note of May 13, the promptness with which tho reply will he dispatched is counted upon to serve as an Indication that the Amer ican government wishes an early an swer and does not desire to engage in a protracted diplomatic discus sion. Peace Efforts Please Berlin. Berlin. Miss Jane Addams, Amor lean peaco advocate, mado a splendid Impression upon German social work ers and government officials who met her, according to the newspaper Von waerts. Roosevelt Breaks Rib. f Now York. It has becomo known that Colonel Theodore Roosevelt met with an accident at Sagamore Hill when as he was trying to mount a horse ho fell and broke a rib. Little Hope for flore Bodies. Queonstown. Though the search for bodies of victims of tho Lusltanla disaster is being continued tho pros pect of recovering any more of them is bocomlng very slight. Tho steam trawler Cygent on Kb return, reports that she found no bodies. NEWS OF THE WEEK CONDENSATIONS OF GREATER OR LESSER IMPORTANCE. A BOILING DOWN OF EVENTS National, Political, Personal and Other Matters In Brief Form for All Classes of Readers. WAR NEWS. The Italian government has do clared a blockade of all ports on tho Austro-Hungarian coasts. The British battleship Majestic has been sent to tho bottom off Gulf point peninsula by a German torpedo. Nearly all the officers and men wero saved. The British auxiliary steamer 1'rlncess Irene has been blown up at Sheerness, England, by an accl dental explosion on board. More than 1100 lives were lost. Under stress of war, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey have all on trusted their affairs In Oreat Britain to tho American embassy, thus piling an extraordinary burden upon Ambas sador Page and making .It necessary to enlarge the embassy staff. According to official announcement Germany, Austria and Italy havo giv en formal assurance that they will take no step to violate Swiss neutral ity. Large bodies of Swiss troops, however, havo been assigned to uatrol tho frontiers. The British-Russian ' blockade of German ports In the North and Baltic seas Is a failure. Dospito their migh ty fleet, It Is said moro than 100 ves sels, loaded with foodstuffs, havo steamed unmolested Into German har bors and unloaded since the blockade was established. England's navy will tnko all mer chant vessols bound to and from, Nor way, Donmark, Sweden and Holland Into British ports and will not release them unloss they prove that tholr car goes are not reconslgned to Germnny or by Germany to tho United Statos, according to advices from London. The jury in the trial of William Barnes' suit for libol against Theo dore Roosevelt at Syracuse, N. Y., re turned a vordlc.t in favor of the for mer president. Another British battleship, tho Triumph, which saw sorvlco In Chi nese waters and off Smyrna, foil victim In tho operations In tho Dar danelles. A torpedo, whether Ger man or Turkish Is not known, sent her to the bottom. Tho British ad miralty reports that probably the majority of the officers and crew woro saved. GENERAL. Ono of the last acts of tho Michigan legislature was the adoption of resolu tions urging the governor of Georgin to commute tho death sentence of Leo M. Frank. The general assembly of tho Pres byterian church in the United States voted at Its first evening session "at Rochester, N. Y., to hold tho 1916 ussembly at Atlantic City. Governor Dunno of Illinois signed tho bill which crentes a stato teach ers' ponslon fund and provides pen sions of 400 a year to teachers after n service of twenty-flvo years. Under the provisions of the bill both tho teachers and the state contribute to tho pension fund. William Rapp, charged- with gam bling in conducting a baseball pool, was given the maximum flue of 1200 in the municipal court at Chicago. It was charged that Rapp conducted his pools through the Weekly World of Wllkesbarre, Pa., for which he was a circulator In Chicago. Representatives of tho governments of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, with tho mayors of all the chlof cHIoh In eastern and west ern Canada and tho ovocutlvo of tho Dominion Trades and Labor Con gress waited on Premier Robert Bor den of Ottawa and asked lilm to appoint a commission to investigate the unemployment situation and do vise methods of relieving It. All shipments of cotton seed oil, lubrlcntlng oils and grease to Holland from American ports havo been tem porarily suspended by order of Tho Netherlands government. Charles Becker, former Now York city police lieutenant, was refused a third trial on the charge of Instigat ing the murdor of Gambler Herman Rosenthal. Ho Is sentenced to dlo In the Sing Sing electric chair during tho week of July 12. The H. C. Frlck Coke company of Connellsvllle, Pa., fired 8G0 . ldlo ovens, mnklng 1,100 ovens llred with in tho last week. There are now 12, 895 ovens In operation- in the Con nellsvllle region, all ot them on six days a week. Bids for twenty-six now submar ines for tho United Stntcs govern ment, Including two of tho Intest nnd largest seagoing type, will bo re ceived next weok, Secretary of the Navy Daniels has announced. Stale department officials nro limiting strenuous efforts to nssist American Importers and exporters In adjusting their differences arising from the British order In council against commerce with Germany. An order further modifying re strictions ot tho foot and mouth dis ease quarantine In Illinois, town, Maryland, Now Jersey, Now York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin was signed by Secretary Houston. An ordinance prohibiting snloonn from selling spirituous liquors was In traduced In tho Chicago city council by Alderman Charles P. Merrlnm, who, as chairman of a spoclal com mittee, has Just finished an Investiga tion Into tho causes of crime. As evidence of the tremendous wheat crop oxpected In northern Kan sas, aid southern Nebraska this year, the Hock Island railroad recently took through Omaha to Wichita a special train of fifty cars loaded with engines and threshing machines, The proposal to put forth extraor dinary efforts to obtain 1,000,000 con verts before 1920 wns enthusiastically adopted by the Northwestern Baptist convention at Los Angeles. The pro granr also calls for raising the contrl buttons to the mission funds tc IG.OOO.OOO. Lutherans of the United States In 1917 will celebrate tho 400th anniver sary of the Reformation. Initial steps for tho natlon-wldo celebration officially were takon at the forty seventh biennial convention of tho general synod at Akron, O. American foodstuffs exports amounted to almost 400,000,000 more during the ten months ending with April this year than during that per iod in the provnous year. Analysis of that class of exports, announced by tho department of commerce, sIiowb tholr value to havo been $G57, 140,250. Another destroyer was added to the American navy when tho Jacob ones wns launched Jat the yard of tho Now York Shipbuilding company at Camden, N. J. Tho new destroyer Is :U5 feet long. Its armament will consist of four four-Inch guns and four twin torpedo tubes. It must make twenty-nln-o and one-half knots an hour. Examiner Dow will hoar tho com plaint of Sioux City, Council Bluffs, St. Joe, Atchison nnd Kansns City, against tho new Nebraska distribut ing rates at Omaha, Jone 28 Thosa cities complain the rates discrimin ate agalns them. The Nebraska rail way board answers that. If this Is so, It Is because the roads have fallod to reduce In proportion. A memorial hanking James Mc Naughton, cnernl manngor of ths Calumet nnd Hecla Mining company, for his firmness In refusing the do mands of tho union In tho copper strike n year ago, was presented McNaughton at Calumet, signed by the company. The memorial con tained the signature of every om ploye nnd expressed appreciation for the $500,000 bonus promised them June 12 by the company. SPORTINO A twenty-round bout In Denver July 5, between Froddle Welsh, world's lightweight champion, and Charley White of Chicago has been arranged for. Twenty-four thousand five hundrod dollars, the largest amount of money ovor given a winner of any sporting event ot Us kind in America, will go to tho winner of tho first lnternatlon al 500-mllo motor derby to bo hold on Chicago's now speedway Juno 19. WASMINOTON. Reform of national finance and establishment of a ' budget system were discussed by President Wilson and u committee of tho United States Chamber of Commerce. The presi dent told the committee that he ex pected to go Into the subject thor oughly with a special commltteo of the bouse. Conferences between representa tives of tho financial and business in terests of tho United Stutes and delo gates from South and Central Amer ica attending tho Pan-Amerlcun financial conference wero continued In uti effort to bring about a clear un derstanding of the desires and needs of tho southern republics, Secretary Daniels reports that tho battleship Virginia rammed u wooden bulkhead In Charleston navy yard. To put aii end to the loss and dam ago ot rides und other government proporty issued to the statu mllltla, "Secretary Gurrlson has dlrectod that hereafter all amounts for such losses bo deducted from the pay of respon sible ofiicors and enlisted men. This action became necessary because ot tho Increasing loss of federal proper ty and tho, falluro or militiamen pro perly to care for the equipment TIES OVER PUNT STATE WILL OPERATE HANOI. CRAFT COMPANY AT PEN. CONTRACT LABOR ABOLISHED Factory Will Greatly Assist Problem of Providing Work for Idle In mates of Institution. Lincoln. Prison contract labor in tho Nebraska penitentiary was llnnlly abolished when tho state board of control took charge of tho Handicraft furniture plant, paying the company $21,01:1.75 The plant will provide work for sixty men, rolloving to a great ex-' tent the problem of providing labor for scores of mon who havo boon idle in the Institution since tho con tract with tho Lee Broom and Dus ter company wns cancolcd. Tho furniture plant la tho first In dustry to be established by the board of control under authority granted by tiio last legislature, tho bill carrying an appropriation ot $120,000 for tho purpose of providing work for tho in mates of the prison. The board of control expects to in stall some other Industry within a short time and in that way with whatever road work may be provid ed by various counties to employ tho ponltentlnry Inmates with healthful work, without, having resort to tho prison contract system. Praises Management of School. Sccrotary Shalmn of tho board ot charities and corrections has submit ted a report to Governor Morehead on the condition ot tho Jails and poor farm of thoN counties of Clay and Fll moro and of tho glrla' Industrial school nt Geneva. Secretary Slinhan has words of high' praise for tho manage ment of the Industrial Bchool and Bays that the now building Just bolng com pleted Is a credit to tho state. In tho Clay county Jail ho found hut ono pris oner nnd In the Fllmoro county Jail there had not been a prisoner since November. Tho Clay county poor house had flvo Inmates; the Fllmoro county poorhouBO ton. Church FarTn Taxable. Where a church owns a farm and the crops raised therefrom aro sold and proceeds usoil to support Uie church and parsonAgo tho land bo used la not exempt from taxation, tho attorney generul's otllco held In nn opinion 'furnished County Attor noy D. C. Fouts of Hastings Assis tant Attorney General Roo found cases whoro the supremo court had refused to exempt Blmllar properties on tho ground it wns used for relig ious purposes. Overplus of Money. Instead of worrying how to rnlsn monoy to run tho schools, the tax payers of a district adjacent to Ne hawka In Cass county havo $1,600 on hand and no plncn to put It. Tha monoy was ralsod through error and paid without protest, so State Super intendent of Public Instruction Tho mas has ruled It may not be refunded, but should bo conserved at interest and no levies rande until It is expend "tod in tho regular course of school operation. Big Firms May Exhibit. Many smaller manufacturers and donlers In machinery are asking for space at tho coming Nebraska Stato Fair, September 6th to 11th. Tho larger firms who combined to atay out last year are seriously considering tho advisability of returning with tholr customary largo exhibits this year. New Water Power Project. C. II. Gerber, president of the Krlcson Lake company, has filed an application with Uie state board of irrigation for water from Cedar rlrJ er for tho purposo of supplying tho town ot Ericson and cottages near tho lako with electric light. Chiropractic Lew In Effect on July 8. The new law regulating chlroprac tics in Nebraska, which goes Into ef fect July 8. requires each applicant for a license to submit to an examina tion, or admit having practiced for two years in the stato without a 11 cense. Dr. Luclen Stark Appointed. Dr. Ltiolon Stark of llartlngton has beoti appointed by Governor Morehead as a member of the board of secre taries of the state board of health to succeed Dr. F. D, Dodson of WUbor, whose term expires In July. State Fair Horse Races. Eutry to the State Fair early races, boglnnlng September (7th, closed June 1st. They consist of a half mile trot and a half mile puco for two-year-olds, euch race for a purse of $400.00, A thrcu-yenr-plc? trot and throe-year-old pace (eligible to 2:25) each for $500; 2:30 and 2.20 trots and 2:25 and 2,14 paces each for $1,000, Among conditions ara one-half mile entrance money return ed to starters finishing outside Uie money and Inside the flag, Stall rent is free to starters. 1