New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-20
Ro~7;n Disclaimer PROBES SUSSEX Attack, Says Note

are Of a slightly different size. CSam'
reports.) Furthermore, the American
/ officers were able By comparison ano
! close examination 20 positively identity
and locate all the remaining pieces OF
metal as parts OF a German torpedo, as
follows: -.
Fragment 3. part of inner seat OF
water relief valve of engine valve.
Fragments 4 and 5, punto bands Of
engine room casing.
Fragments 6 and 10. inclusive, and
10, parts of engine cylinders.
Fragments II, l3, Il. 10. parts OF
steel warhead still bearing the distinc'
tive red paint common 10 German tor
pedo warheads. Report OF Lieuten-
ant Smith, cabled April 81
In view of these authenticated facts
there can be no reasonable doubt that
the Sussex was torpedoed and tnat the
torpedo was Of German manufacture
As no vessel was seen by any person
on the Sussex the conclusion is irresist.
ible that the torpedo was Launched
without warning from a submarine
which was submerged at the time OF
the attack and remained beneath the
surface after the explosion.
The conclusion thus reached from the
evidence the affidayits being those OF
American citizens) collected by the De-
partment of State Is substantiated by
tho statement in the imperial govern
ment's note Of April 10. 1916. Accord
ing to those statements:
1a) A German submarine torpedoed a
steamer ~ miles southeast Of Bull
Rock Band.
DEPARTMENTS Comment.-The point Of
attack is exactly in the course which
was taken By the Sussex after pass
ing Dungeness and about half a mile
from the place where the captain OF the
Sussex states he was torpedoed.
(b) The attack tok place az 3:5J
o'clock y. m. central European time.
DEPARTMENTS Comment.-3:55 p. NJ,
Central European time. would CORE
spond 10 2:55 p. m, Western European
time. The time of the striking OF the
torpedo. according 20 the captain OF the
Sussex. and the stopping Of the clocks
on board the vessel, was 200 p. m,
Western time.
(c) The torepdo, when 1T struck,
caused an explosion which tore away
the whole foreship up TO the bridge.
Departments Comment The fore
part Of the Sussex was wrecked as far
back as the first watertight bulkhead.
according to the official reports.
(d) The German submarine was
submerged when the torpedo was
launched and there ~ no statement
that IL came 70 the surface after the
attack.
Department. Comment-The con
clusion was reached that the subma-
rine was submerged from the fact that
10 one on the Sussex saw submarine,
though tho weather was fine.
No Warning Given.
lel 80 warning was given. and no
attempt was made 20 give one, since
il is not mentioned.
Departments Comment The evi-
dence collected shows afiirmatively 10
warning was given.
~ A sketch By the submarine
commander of the steamer which ne
,orpcdoed does not agree with a pho
tograph OF the Sussex IN The London
Graphic
DEPARTMENTS Comment This sketch
was apparently made from memory OF
an observation Of the vessel through
periscope A the only difference
noted by the commander. who relied
on his memory, were the position OF
the smokestack and the shape OF the
stern, it is to be presumed the vessels
were similar in other respects.
~ No other German submarine
on that day attacked steamers IN that
locality.
Departments Comment-As no ves-
sci is reported to have been torpedoed
without warning by submerged sub
marine other than the Sussex. 1t ~
beyond question that that vessel was
torpedoed By the submarine whose
commanders report is relied upon IN
.bo motto Of Anrii 10