The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-04-13
GERMANY IN NOTE
><:X|TS ATTACKING
THk<:*>;sRcHANTMEN
Ships Carried Am. j. Citizens;
Believed Operating gainst
Rules.
MESSAGE TO STATE
DEPARTMENT MADE PUBLIC
Task of Administration in Sussex
Situation is Simplifed
is Belief.
MESSAGE TO STATE
DEPARTMENT MADE PUBLIC

Washington, April 13.-Admission
by Germany that her submarines re-
Gently attacked three merchant ships
carrying American citizens and that
one Of them torpedoed a vessel in
the vicinity where the channel steam
er Sussex was damaged by an ex-
plOsiOn, has simplified the task of the
state department in preparing for
the next step Of the United States in
the issue over submarine warfare
Following the receipt of cabled
press dispatches of the latest Ger
man notes, it became known that
the United States would continue to
compile information indicating that
German commanders are operating
in violation Of the rule of interna-
tional law, and that very soon a COM
municatiOn designed to be the final
word Of the American government on
the subject would go forward to
Berlin.
The following is the text of the
German note on the Sussex, dated
April 10:
THE undersigned has the honor to
inform your excellency, Ambassador
Gerard, in response to the communi-
cation of the 10th and 30th ultimo,
and the 3rd instant, regarding the
steamers Sussex, Manchester Engi
neer, Englishman, Berwindale and
Eagle Point, that the mentioned cases
in accordance with our note of the
Goth and 31st ultimo, and the 4th and
5th inst, have been subjected to care
full investigation by the admiral staff
Of the navy, which have led to the
following RESULTS:
Berwindale Affair.
First-The English steamer Ber-
Windale. A steamer which was pos
sibly the Berwindale was encountered
on the evening of March 16 on the
Irish coast by a German submarine.
The steamer, as soon as she noticed
the submarine, which was running
unsubmerged, turned and steamed
away. She was ordered to halt by
warning shot She paid no attention
but extinguished all lights and at
tempted to escape.
Second The British steamer Eng
lishman. This steamer, on March "a,
was called upon to halt by German
submarine through two warning
shots about 20 sea miles west Of Is
lay (Hebrides.)
"After the German cOmmandant
had convinced himself that the crew
had taken to the boats and roWed
from the ship, he sank the steamer.
Attack Doubtful.
"Third-The British steamer Man.
chester. 1t is impossible to establish
through the investigation up to the
present, whether the attack on this
steamer which, according to the CIV
en- description, occurred on March
27 in the latitude of Waterford, is
attributed to German submarine.
"Fourth-The British steamer
Eagle Point. This steamer in the
forenoon of March 2S was called up
on to halt by German submarine
through signal and shot, about 100
knots, 130 sea miles from the south
west coast of Ireland, but proceeded.
After the cOmmandant convinced
himself that the boat, which had
hoisted sails, had gotten clear of the
steamer, he sank the steamer.
Sussex Affair.
"Fifth-The French steamer Sus-
sex. Ascertainment of the fact
whether the channel steamer Sussex
was damaged by German submar-
inc was rendered extremely difficult
because no exact details of time,
place and appendant circumstances
Of the sinking were known.
"In the general region between
Folkestone and Dieppe, on March "a
last, a craft without flag, having a
gray funnel, small grey forward
works and two high masts, was en-
countered about the middle Of the
English channel by a German sub
marine The commander reached the
definite conclusion that it was wal
vessel, and indeed a mine layer of the
recently built Arabs class.
consequently he attacked the YES
sci at 1855 in the afternoon, middle
European time. The torpedo struck
and caused such a violent explosion
in the forward part of the ship that
the entire forward part was torn
away to the bridge.
"The Geman commander made a
aIr,+ol, of tho vocco1 OF TO o1xo6 h1, h i'm