Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-20

The appendix to the note, under the
caption, Statement of facts in Sussex
case, accompanying note to German
government of April 10. 1915" follows:
The French channel steamer Sussex,
employed regularly in passenger serv-
ice between the ports of Folkestone,
England, and Dieppe. France. and it
had been for years (French foreign Of
p M, March "a. 1916, with 1926 or more
passengers and a crew of So men. dec
laration of Capt Mouffett: Rear Adj
miral Grasset's report.) The passen-
gers, among whom were about twenty
five American citizens telegram Lon
don embassy, March IS, and Paris en-
bassy, March 26 and 2s). were of sew
eral nationalities, and many of them
were women and children. and nearly
half of them subjects of neutral states
(Report of Commander Sayles and
Lieut.. Smith; Rear Admiral Grassets
report) The Sussex carried no arma-
ment French foreign ohce); report OF
Commander Sayles and Lieut.. Smith;
affidavits of American passengers), has
never been employed as troopship
for transporting troops from Great
Britain to France British admiralty
statement; French foreign ofice).
Saw Wake of Torpedo.
The steamer proceeded on Its course
a lmost due south after passing Dun
geness. Declaration Of Capt. Mouffett)
The weather was clear and the sea
smooth. (Afidavits of Edna Hale. John
H. Hearley. Gertrude W. Warren) At
ESQ pm, when the Sussex was about
thirteen miles from Dungeness tdec-
iaration of Capt. Mouffett), the captain
of the vessel, who was on the bridge,
saw, about $50 meters from the ship, on
the port side, the wake OF torpedo.
Declaration Of Capt Mouretto II was
ficer and the boatswain, who were WIN
the captain on the bridge.
(Report of Rear Admiral Grasset)
Immediately the captain gave orders
to port the helm and stop the star
board engine declaration OF Capt.
Mouffett), the purpose being to swing
the vessel to starboard. so as to dodge
the torpedo by allowing 1t to pass
ing with the altered course of the
steamer. Before, however, the vessel
could be turned .ar enough to avoid
crossing the course of the torpedo the
latter struck the null DIT All dNSlo d
short distance forward of the bridge.
exploded. destroyed the entire forward
part of the steamer, IS far back as
the first water-tight bulkhead, carried
away the foremost. with the wireless
antennae, and killed or injured about
eighty of the persons on board. CDec-
laration of Capt. Mouffett; report Of
Rear Admiral Grasset; deposition of
Henry S. Beer) At the time no other
vessel was in sight. lAfidSvits OF
So CulherfSOn.
John H. Hearley and others)
American Among Witnesses.
The approach of the torpedo was
witnessed by several other persons on
Bemis. Henry S. Beer and Gertrude w.
Warren) One of these. an American
citizen. named Henry S. Beer. was lean
ing on the port rail about ten feet be-
hind the bridge and gazing seward
when he saw the approaching torpedo
about 100 yards away and exclaimed to
his wife and companion: "A torpedo
Immediately following his exclamation
the missile struck the vessel. tDepo-
sitions of Henry S. Beer and Mrs.
Henry S. Beer.)
In further corroboration of the fact that
the captain saw the torpedo coming to-
ward the vessel is the sworn statement of
port the helm and to stop the starboard
engine was received and obeyed. (Report
of Admiral Grasset.) No. reasonable ex-
PLANTATION can be given for this unusual
order other than that the captain saw
something which caused him to change
his course sharply to starboard.
In addition to this evidence. which
would in itself appear to be conclusive
that the agent Of destruction was tor
pedo. is that of Lieut. Smith. United States
Navy. attached to the American embassy
at Paris. who. accompanied by Mai. Lo-
gan. United States Army. of the embassy.
went to Boulogne. inspected the hull of
the Sussex and personally found beneath
the mass of watersoaked debris Of the
wreck fifteen pieces of metal, which they
retained in their possession. as they did
not believe the pieces formed part of the
vessel.
Explosion an External One.
The inspection Of the hull disclosed that
the vessel was wrecked Ivy an external ex-
plosion. the boilers being intact, and that
a short distance forward of the bridge
was large dent. showing that the vessel
had received a heavy blow. the direction