GERMANY IGNORES AMERICA'S DEMANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15932, 1 June 1915, Page 7

GERMANY IGNORES AMERICA'S DEMANDS.

LUSITANIA DESCRIBED AS AUXILIARY CRUISER.

GERMANS UNABLE TO OBSERVE RULES OF NAVAL WARFARE Amsterdam. May 30. Germany's Note to America says thf>.t the I.us'itania was a iarge auxiliary cruiser. Trustworthy reports from German officials and neutral passengers showed that she had guns concealed under the deck, and carried trained gunners. The British Admiralty last February advised merchantmen to ram submarines, therefore, the former were not undefended. German commanders could no longer observe rules concerning naval prizes. The Note also contends that the Lusitania carried Canadian troops and war material, and that Germany was justified in destroying the enemy's munitions in order to protect her own soldier.-. The Note proceeds that the Lusitania acted against the American law forbidding passengers to travel by ships carrying explosives, the explosion of which was the principal cause of the sinking of the'vessel. Under other circumstances the passengers would probably have been saved. Germany, therefore, reserved a final declaration until America carefully studied the foregoing facts. Germany promises to investigate 'the Gulf Light and Gushing cases, and might supplement the inquiry by f.n international commission in accordance with the Hague Convention. In the Falaba case twenty-three minutes elapsed before the trrpedo was nrec. after the Falaba tried to elude capture and suspicious vessels were seen approaching.

GERMANY PLAYING TO GAIN TIME. POSTPONEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S DEMANDS PROPOSED. Washington, May 00. Germany suggests the. postponement of consideration of President Wilson's demands until the Governments have agreed as to whether the Lusitania was a cruiser or a merchantman. The American Ambassador in London reports that the evidence points to the fact that the Nebraskan was torpedoed.