The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-11
GERMAN SORRY
MISTAKE MADE
IN SUSSEX CASE
Erring Submarine Commander Has Been
Appropriately Punished" and Govern
ment Declares Intention to Pay
an Indemnity.

an Indemnity,
Washington, d. c., May ll.--Germany
in a note received by the state depart
ment yesterday by cable from Ambas-
sador Gerard admits that a German sub
marine torpedoed the channel steamer
Sussex in violation of assurances given
the United States, expresses regret for
the incident, announces that the subma-
rine commander has been appropriately
punished and declares readiness TO pay
an adequate indemnity to Americans
| injured on the vessel.
II was indicated at the state depart
ment that the German statement that
the offending commander had been pun
ished would be accepted, as the Sussex
case was regarded as closed except for
arranging for the payment of indemnities
to the several citizens of the United
States who were hurt. There probably
will be no attempt to negotiate for these
indemnties or for final settlement of the
Lusitania and other cases pending. how
ever, until sufficient time has elapsed to
indicate the last American note was re-
ceived in Berlin and whether the new
submarine policy is being lived up to.
Results of an investiga tion, based on
facts supplied by the American govern |
ment, the German communication says, |
has shown that the contention original |
ly set up that the explosion on the Sus.
sex was to be traced to a cause other |
than German submarine attack cannot |
be maintained While asserting that the
submarine commander thought he was
dealing with an enemy warship, Foreign
Minister Won Jagow admits that he
formed his Judgment too hurriedly and
therefore did not act fully in accordance
with the strict instruction which called
on him to exercise particular care.
Officials of the state department noted
particularly the passage of the note
which said lin view of these eircum-
stances the German government frank
ly admits that the assurance given the
American government, in accordance with
which passenger vessels were not to be
attacked without warning, has not BEEN
adhered to in the present case"
This was regarded as indica ting a pur-
pose on Germany's part to decline to
injured in attacks on ships other than
passenger liners prior to the date of the
asst note in which the German govern
nent promised that freight as well as
passenger vessels would not be attacked
without warning or without provision
or the safety of persons aboard Any
esponse to the note received yesterday !
'robably will make distinct reservation y
t American rights ON this point. il
The Note. =
The German note, signed by Foreign
iinister Won Jagow and addressed to \
ambassador Gerard is dated May and
he ambassadors cablegram transmitting
! May Q. 1t says in part:
Supplementing his note OF the 4th in NJ
tant concerning the conduct of the Ger
ian submarine warfare, the undersigned
as the honor to inform His Exeellency
ne American ambassador, Mr. James w N
erard, that the further investigation tt
lade by the German naval authorities ri
in regard to the French steam. NJ
nip Sussex on the basis of the American a
laterial has been concluded in the mean. re
me. In conformity with the result OF Il
his investigation the assumption e1 IL
ressed in the note of the undersigned VI
the tenth ultimo that the damage of bf
le Sussex was 10 be traced back to d.
tuse other than the attack of a Ger Ii,
an submarine, cannot be maintained. hi
"Such an assumption had to be ar le
we'd at with certainty from the mate
al in the possession of the German
,vernment for itself, and without fur
Ter knowledge of the circumstances con- G.
'cted with the torpedoing OF the Sus-
x, the more so as apart from the points
in the note of the 10th ul-
mo the following facts had come TO the ua
tention of the admiralty staff of the ie
IVY through reliable information; ~
arch "a, 1916 approximately at the p 7,
me time as the Sussex, an auxiliary -
arship left the port of Folkstone with -
large transport of British infantry on s.
ard; on the same day transport he he
Gamer was torpedoed in the channel; a.
W minutes preceding the explosion on Ia
e Sussex, she had passed through a fe,
ass of shipwreckage, which created the M
preston that ship had sunk at that
OF shortly before. All these facts JUS
led the conclusion that the only case of
rpedoing which could be considered un. w
r the circumstances had struck the
itish war vessel whereas, the Sussex
d met with an accident in some other
y. OF
However, on the basis Of the Ameri- col
n material, the German government fro
mot withhold its conviction that the gu
p torpedOed by the German submarine en'
in fact identical with the Sussex, for sh'
accordance with this material the SCI
ICE, the time and the effect of the ex-
sion by which the Sussex was dam
I'd, agree in the essential details with
statements Of the German comman Jal
, so that there can no longer be any
astion of the possibility Of two indie I
ldent occurrences. Mi
In view of the general impression OF bar
the facts at hand, the German gov thr
ment considers il beyond doubt that YES
commander of the submarine acted y
the bonafide belief that he was facing -
enemy Warship. On the other hand
cannot be denied that misled BY the can
,earance of the vessel. under the pres 'he
e Of the circumstances. he formed his me-
gment too hurriedly in establishing thi'
character and did not therefore act the
in accordance with the strict instruc- ati,
rs which called upon him to exercise
ticulsr care
Tn view Of these circumstances the
man government frankly admits thar
assurance given to the American 1eI