File No. 763.72111/2913
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the
Secretary of State
No. 1487]
Berlin,
September 9, 1915.
[Received October 2.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegram No. 1917, of July 5[7], 1915, 5 p. m.,1 I have the honor to transmit to the Department
herewith a translation of a note verbale received
from the Imperial Foreign Office, dated August 31, 1915, relative to the
production and exportation of shells with poisonous effects.
With reference to the statement of the French Ambassador at Washington,
contained in the Department’s above-mentioned telegram, which I
considered it advisable to communicate to the Imperial Foreign Office,
it will be seen that the Foreign Office submits a list of certain cases,
which the German military authorities regard as proving that the German
military forces have been fired on with American ammunition by the
French artillery.
The Foreign Office asks that this information be brought to the attention
of the Government of the United States.
I have [etc.]
[Page 808]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The German Foreign Office
to the
American Embassy
III a 15951/125964]
Note Verbale
The Foreign Office understands from the note
verbale of the Embassy of the United States of America,
dated August 13, 1915, F. O. No. 4258, that the commendation of
machines for the production of shells with poisonous effects of the
Cleveland Automatic Machine Company, will not appear any more in the
objectionable form, as published in the American journal, the American Machinist.
The German Government expresses the hope that the United States
Government will do everything possible to prevent the export of such
war material, which is against the provisions of international
law
With reference to the statement of the French Ambassador at
Washington, mentioned at the foot of the note
verbale, to the effect that since the beginning of the
present war France had not bought any shells in the United States of
America, the Foreign Office begs to submit herewith a list of a few
cases which the competent German military authorities have prepared
and which prove that the German military forces have been fired on
with American ammunition by the French artillery.
The Foreign Office would appreciate the courtesy of the Embassy of
the United States of America if the above were brought to the
attention of its Government as soon as possible.
[Subenclosure]
List of a Few Cases in Which German Military
Forces Have Been Fired on With American Ammunition by The French
Artillery
| 1. |
December 1914 |
Fusilier Regiment No. 38 |
| 2. |
April 1915 |
Grenadier Regiment No. 10 |
| 3. |
Spring 1915 |
Troops of the 5th Reserve Corps |
| 4. |
July 25, 1915 |
Troops of the 11th Infantry Division |
| 5. |
Middle December 1914 to end of May 1915 |
Troops of the 6th Army Corps |
| 6. |
December 1914 and March 1915 |
Troops of the 18th Infantry Division |
| 7. |
April 1915 |
Troops of the 9th Reserve Corps |
| 8. |
Since November 1914 |
Troops of the 8th Reserve Corps |
| 9. |
Since December 1914 |
Troops of the 16th Army Corps |
