The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-20


habitualy used only for the conveyance of passen-
gers across the English channel and not follow
ing the route taken by troop ships OF supply ships
About 81 OF her passengers non-combatants OF all
ages and sexes, including citizens of the United
States, were killed or injured.
i A careful, detailed, and scrupuously impartial
investigation by naval and military officials OF the
United States has concusvely established the fact
that the Sussex was torpedoed without warning OF
summons to surrender and that the torpedo by
which she was struck was OF German manufacture
In the view of the government of the United States
these facts from the first made the conclusion that
the torpedo fired by German submarine I'M
avodable. 1t now considers that conclusion sub
stantiated by the statements of your excellency's
note.
/ The imperial government has failed to appreciate
the gravity of the situation which has resulted not
alone from the attack on the Sussex but from the
whole method and character of submarine warfare
as disclosed by the unrestrained practice of COM
manders of German undersea craft during the past
IL months and more in the indiscriminate destruc
ton of merchant vessels of all Sorts natonaties and
destinations
If the sinking of the Sussex had been an isolated
case the government of the United States might find
it possible to hope that the officer who response
bic for that act had wfully violated his orders and
had been criminally negligent in taking none of the
precautions they prescribed, and that the ends OF
adequate punishment, coupled with formal dis
avowal Of the act and payment of suitable ndem-
Unity by the imperial government. But though the
attack upon the Sussex manifestly indefensible
and caused loss Of life tragical as to make it
stand forth as one of the most terrible examples Of
1.-THE inhumanity of submarine warfare as the COM
manders of German vessels conducting it, it I'M
happily does not stand alone.
| On the contrary, the government OF the United
States is forced by recent events to conclude that
is only instance, even though one of the most eX
IRENE and most distressing instances, OF the deber-
ate method and spirit Of indiscriminate destruction
of merchant vessels of all sorts, natonaties and des
tinations which have become more and more unmis-
taxable the activity of German undersea vessels
of war has in recent months been quickened and eX
tended.
Again and again the imperial government has Civ
en- it's solemn assurances to the government of the
United States that at least passenger ships would
not be thus dealt WITH and yet it has repeatedly per
mitted its undersea commanders to disregard these
assurances with entire impunity.
\ Vessels of neutral ownership, even vessels of nel-
trail ownership bound from neutral port to neutral
port have been destroyed along with vessels Of bel
ligerent ownership III constantly increasing num-
bers. Sometimes the merchantmen attacked have
been warned and summoned to surrender before
being fired OH or tOrpedoed sometimes the passen-
gers and crews have been vouchsafer the poor Sc
c1ty OF being allowed to take to the ships boats be-
fore the ship sent to the bottom. But again and
again no warning has been given, escape even to
the ships boats allowed to those on board Great
liners like the Lusitania and Arabic and mere ferry
boats like the Sussex have been attacked without
moment s warning, often kefore they have even be-
come aware that they were in the presence of an
armed ship of the enemy, and the lives of non-com-
batants, passengers and crew, have been destroyed
wholesale and in manner which the government of
the United States cannot but regard as wanton and
without the slightest color of justification.
II The government of the United States has been very
|Ipatient At every stage of this distressing expert
ence of tragedy after tragedy it has sought to be gov
emed by the most thoughtful consideration of the ex
traordinaly circumstances of unprecedented war
and to be guided by sentiments of very genuine
friendship for the people and government of Ger
many. 1t has accepted the successive explanations
and assurances of the imperial government as of