Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-13
ADMISSION >IMpIIrIES TASK
OF STtII. DETtRTNI:S Mt

\Sl!iNGTON Arm /. Admission
nN Germany that hci submarines "a
Gently attacked ih:"" merchant *hipS
carrying American citizens. and ;nat
one Of tAerl torpcdo-d a vessel In TIA.
vicinity Of thc point whcr. tho enamel
steamer SUSSEX WAS tpruagad by an
explosion. has Simrl:tcd tho task az
tn" stat" Department ~ preparing ror
lfhe next step 'n tn" Issue over sub
l!nariur warfare
.\ftcr receipt ju caticd press dis
patches Of tho latest German note il,
became known tina, the United states
would continue - compile information
indicating that German submarines
are operating IN violation of th. rules
OF international law. ana tina; Very
soon Il communication. designed 70 bc
the nnal word ~ the American govern
ucut on hGc subject. would 20 forward
~ Berlin
Thc state department virtually has
completed compilation o: facts rcin,-
ing - all ATTACKS on merchant ships
since the Lusiiauia was attacked.
Further cNid"0c" ia the case or the
SUSSEX. Forwarded lay the american en-
'bdssios at l.OUjOn l. /" arrive on the
liner 81 paUI an Friday. !, is under
stood that instructions 10 Amba ssadnr
Gerard. accompanied by the inforrna-
it,on gathered by the department. VIII
20 forward soon thereafter.
The unofficial tent OF the n",c from
Germany was communicated 10 presi-
dent Wilson aud Secretary Lansing to-
night. The official text was expected
hourly II will he considered at the
regular Cabinet meeting on Friday.
Officials made it clear Tonight that
whatever might he the form Of the in
Htru"t ions to Ambassador Gerard. tho
purpose OF the document TO be handed
the German government would be to
give notice that the United States con-
SidcrS il has a great array OF evidence
, tending to prove that in spite of 20"
iteratcd assurances and pledges given
by Germany peaceful merchant ships
! CARRYING American citizens. or which
might have some aboard. continue TO he
! the victims OF Illegal attacks.
Officials said statements in the Ger
man note would be very carefully en-
! amincd and compared with cvidenc.
| already before the state Department.;
in preparing tho ease Of the United
states, In view OF the admission that
u German submarine was in the vicn>
lily when the SUSSEX was attacked. and
| the array of evidence pointing To the
conclusion that she was torpedocd. lit
tie doubt is felt here as to RESPONSE
bility for that disaster. despite the
cXplanatio that sketch made by the
submarine commander Of Il ship tor
pcdOed did not correspond with the
description OF the Sussex.
There is no disposition on the part
Of President Wilson and Secretary
I Lansing To enter into n debate Of the
submarine issue with Germany. It is
declared that the principles coutcuded
for by the United States in series rf
| notes have been made very clear, and
that Germany has been sufficiently
warned that further attacks IN viola
ton of International law would be con-
sidercd deliberately unfricndly acts.
1t appeared 10 officials from tic un-
official version Of the note that the Ger
man government mad denied torpodoina,
the Sussex solely on the ground that
the commanders sketch differed from
photograph of the channel steamer,
which appeared in q newspaper The
description of the attack OH the ship
| admitted to have. been torpedoed, and
the story Of the explosion which dam
aged the Sussex appeared to he nerrly
| identical. The note says the explosion
of the torpedo sent against the uni
Identified vessel Caused the entire for
ward part Of the ship to he torn away
to the bridge" The entire forward
part of the Sussex was torn away.
In spite Of the fact that the Sussex
Is the chief case now being considered.
officials made H. plain that the next
step OF the circles here as proving that
the Germans torpedocd the Sussex, as
II asserted no Other vessel was tor
pedoed in that vicinity at hat timo.