Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-14
NOTE INTERPRETED IN WASH.
INeToN AS ADMISSION OF TOR
PEpolNo OF SUSSEX.
CONVENTIONS CLASH N"
WITH OTHER EVIDENCE
Determined Action May Follow Unless
Germany Makes Full Adnission-Ex-
plantations Considered Unsatisfactory
at Washington and Break With 5er-
lin Government Again Threatens. 4

States is disposed to consider that Ger
many. in the latest submarine note.
virtually has admitted one Of her sub
marine commanders is guilty of tor
pedoing the channel steamer Sussex.
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing examined the official text OF
the communication from Berlin and are
understood to have reached this con-
clusion, altho no announcement was
made.
Unless Germany should without
equivocation, admit attacking the YES
sci, which had aboard more than
score of American citizens, inhict
adequate punishment upon the COM
mander of the submarine. and in other
ways show evidences Of good faith. ac-
ton Of a drastic nature undoubtedly
will follow.
Details of the policy to be pursued
are expected to be formulated at the
meeting of the cabinet today.
Circumstances Same.
The assumption OF Germany's ad-
mission of guilt Is founded upon tn"
marked similarity Of the circum =
stances surrounding the explosion
" hich damaged the Sussex and the
attack upon a steamer in the channel
described in the German note.
The date, time and locations are
practically the same. The damage done
by the torpedo fired By the submarine
and the explosion which wrecked the
Sussex are identical. The course being
followed by the Sussex and the Vessei
mentioned in the note are similar.
The only difference in the two YER
sions that OF Germany based upon the
report of a submarine commander. ana
that of the United States, founded
upon reports Of the British and french
governments, aff!davits OF survivors,
and investigations by American naval
diplomatic and consular officials. Is
found in the description OF the sussex
and in the description OF the vessel at
tackled by the submarine. based upon
sketch made by the submarine COM
mander while peeking thru his peri
scope.
Could Reconcile Variations.
1t is considered that the slight va
riations In two sides OF the case very
we'll could be reconciled.
Following the receipt recently u
press dispatches announcing that the
German government fatty denied re-
sponsibiity for the explosion which
damaged the Sussex it was believed
the case the United States was prepaf-
ing against German submarine warfare
would be based on the accumulation
Of illegal attacks rather than largely
upon the disaster TO the channel
steamer.
It now being revealed upon just what
contentious and arguments Germany
ba ses her denial Of responsibility the
administration considers that the case
Of the Sussex Is stronger than eyer.
Secretary Lansing has nearly com .
pleted the collection Of evidence In re-
! gard to the conduct Of submarine war
fare since the Lusitanla went down.
statement OF facts, ii was said. prob
! ably will be ready to be brought to the
attention OF the German government
! within the next few days.
Explanations Unsatisfactory.
| Much Of the evidence in the posses =
sion of the state department regarding
recent cases has to do with the attacks
on the four ships other than the Sus-
sex, mentioned in the German note
These were the Manchester Engineer
Englishman. Eagle Point and Berwind-
vale.
I The explanations made by Germany
of these cases are considered unsatis-
factory, the German contentious no
agreeing with the evidence which ha.
been gathered by the state department
The German proposal for a mixet
commission to determine the facts II
case Of difference OF opinion between
Germany and the United States Is re
garded here with interest. The admin
! istration does not consider, however
that there Is any real controversy ovel
the facts.
4! 1t was admitted at the state depart
I ment that there was precedent foi
such method of procedure before go
ing 10 the extreme of severing diplo
ma tic relations.
/ "a Russo Japanese Case Cited.
The Dogger bank case during th'
4, Russc-Jara var. where q very Sc
rious situation existed between Russf.
and England. as the result of the sink.
ing by Russian warships Of numbe
of British fishing smacks, was success
fully adjusted thru an internationa
mixed commission.
/ 1t was intimated that there was ;
bare possibility that the United States
before taking a final step, might agre'
to such a proceeding, but 1t Is ciea
that in any event any inquiry by |
4 commission would in no sense b
equivalent to arbitration ever the dos