Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-17
ADMITS
SUSSEX ATTACK
Commander of U-Boat Is Pun
ished.
FULL INDEMNITY IS OFFERED
New German Note TO United States
Says That Master of Submarine
Believed Vessel Was Enc
my's Warship.

Washington, May 12.-Germany no
titled the United States on Wednesday
she would accept full responsibility for
the torpedoing of the Sussex and that
the submarine commander already had
been punished for falling to exercise
proper judgment The commander.
says the German note, thought he
was attacking an auxiliary warship.
The text of the note in part follows:
"Supplanting his note of the 4th
instant, concerning the conduct of the
German submarine warfare, the I'M
dersigned has the honor to inform his
excellency, the American ambassador,
Mr. James w. Gerard, that the fur
Their investigation made by the Ger
man naval authorities concerned, in
regard to the French steamship Sus-
sex, on the basis of the American
material, has been concluded in the
meantime.
In conforming with the result of
this investigation, the assumption ex-
pressed in the note of the undersigned
OF the 10th ultimo, that the dam
age of the Sussex was to be traced
back to a cause other than the at
tack of German submarine cannot
be maintained.A
March "a, 1916. approximately at
the time the Sussex. an authority war
ship, left the port of Folkestone with
large transport of British infantry
on board: on the same day a trans
port steamer was torpedoed in the
channel; few minutes preceding the
explosion on the Sussex she had
passed through a mass of ship wreck
age. which created the impression
that ship had been sunk at that spot
shortly before.
IAN these facts justified the con-
clusion that the only torpedo which
could be considered under the cir
cumstances had struck the British war
vessel. whereas the Sussex had met
with an accident in some other way.
However, on the basis of the Amer
lean material, the German govern
ment cannot withhold it's conviction
that the ship torpedoed by the Ger
man submarine is in fact identical
with the Sussex. for in accordance
with this material the time, the place
and the effect of the explosion by
which the Sussex was damaged agree
in the essential details with the state
ments of the German commander. so
that there can no longer be any ques-
ton OF the possibility Of two indie
pendent occurrences.
In view of the general impression
of all the facts at hand, the German
government considers it beyond doubt
that the commander of the submarine
acted in the bona fide belief that he
was facing an enemy warship. On
the other hand, it cannot be denied
that misled by the appearance of the
vessel. under the pressure of the cir
cumstances he formed his Judgment
too hurriedly in establishing her char
acter and did not therefore act fully
in accordance with the strict instruc-
ton which called upon him to exer-
else particular care.
In view of these circumstances the
German government frankly admits
that the assurance given to the Amer
lean government, in accordance with
which passenger vessels were not to
be attacked without warning has, not
been adhered to in the present case.
AS was intimated by the undersigned
in the note of the fouth instant, the
German government does not hesitate
TO draw from this resultant conse-
quences.
1T therefore expresses to the Amer
lean government its sincere regret re-
garding the deplorable incident and
declares it's readiness to pay an ade-
quate indemnity to the injured Amer
lean citizens.
1T also disapproved of the conduct
of the commander, who has been ap-
propriately punished.
Won JAGOW."