18, 1915, were published prior to the receipt by
the German Imperial Government of President Wilson's note of May 13.
British official rejoinders and a statement by the Collector of the Port
of New York are included under this head.--Editor.]
GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.
_BERLIN, May 8, (via wireless to London Sunday, May 9.)--The following
official communication was issued tonight:_
The Cunard liner Lusitania was yesterday torpedoed by a German submarine
and sank.
The Lusitania was naturally armed with guns, as were recently most of
the English mercantile steamers. Moreover, as is well known here, she
had large quantities of war material in her cargo.
Her owners, therefore, knew to what danger the passengers were exposed.
They alone bear all the responsibility for what has happened.
Germany, on her part, left nothing undone to repeatedly and strongly
warn them. The Imperial Ambassador in Washington even went so far as to
make a public warning, so as to draw attention to this danger. The
English press sneered at the warning and relied on the protection of the
British fleet to safeguard Atlantic traffic.
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