New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-11
Declares U-Boat Com
mander Has Been
Punished.
MAKES OFFER
OF INDEMNITY
Wilson to Accept Terms
Way Now Cleared for
LuSitania Case.


Washington. May 10.-Germany,
in q note received at the State De
nartment to-day. admits that the
Channel steamer Sussex was at
tackled by a U-boat. She admits that
the attack was in violation of the
nledees TO the United States, eX-
nresses regret. announces that the
submarine commander has been zap
propriately punished" and offers q
nav indemnities to Americans IN
iured on the vessel.
The German note says that recen:
photographs Of the Sussex show
that she has been modified by the
addition of a mast and coat Of
dark paint, so as to conform more
nearly to the sketch made on the
submarine at the time of the attack.
Further, the evidence submitted BY
the United States, particularly the
testimony of American officers who
examined the shell fragments found
in the hull and pronounced them
parts of a German torpedo, led Ger
many to conclude her U-boat had
sunk the Sussex.
Admits U-Boat Error.
The note is friendly in tone. Further
than TO point out that another vessel
a British transport, was actually tor
pedoed at about the same time and
place as the Sussex, and that the sub
marine commander who torpedoed the
Sussex acted on the "bona fde belief
that he was facing an enemy warshlp,
no attempt was made to justify the
crime.
"On the other hand" the note says,
"jt cannot be denied that, misled by the
eppearance Of the vessel, under the
pressure of the circumstances, he
formed his judgment too hurriedly and
did not therefore act fully in accord
ance with the strict instructions which
called upon him to exercise particular
care.
an view Of these circumstances" the
document continues, "the German gov
ornment frankly admits that the assur-
ance given 10 the American govern
ment has not been adhered TO in the
present case. IL therefore expresses
10 the American government its sin
cere regret regarding the deplorable
incident and declares its readiness to
pay an adequate indemnity to the in
jured American citizens. II also dis
approved Of the conduct Of the com
mander, who has been appropriately
punished"
Demonstrates U-Boat Weakness.
Administration officials say this con-
fession closes the Sussex case, but that
it emphasized more than ever the i'm
possibility Of legal submarine opera
tions without warning and visit and
search. The commander Of the sub
marine, in torpedoing the Sussex by
mistake for a war vessel, has proved,
1t Is held, that no adequate judgment
even in the most extreme cases can
be formed by q glance through
periscope.
The State Department is interested
TO know what punishment was admin
istered 70 the submarine commander.
II Is possible that Mr.. Gerard will be
asked 10 ascertain il, but it is un-
hkely that any evidence of the punish
ment viii be asked.
Ofhcials Of the State Department
noted particularly the passage of the
note which said: "In view Of these
circumstances the German government
frankly admits that the assurance
gwen the American government, in ac-
eordance with which passenger vessels
we're not TO be attacked without warn.
lng, has not been adhered TO in the
present case"
This was regarded as indicating a
purpose on Germany's part to decline
10 pay indemnities for Americans killed
OF injured IN attacks on ships other
MAN passenger liners prior TO the date
" 'he last note, IN which the German
gq,ernment promised that freight as
vel as passenger vessels would not be
attseked without warning or without
provision for the safety Of persons
ABOARD. Any response TO the note re-
eeNed to-day probably will make a dis
unet reservation Of American rights
on this point.
Three more submarine attacks were
.eported by Consul General Skinner to
he State Department to-day. These
increase the nervousness that began
WIN the destruction of the Cymric
Vmeials say it is apparent that Ger
imsny's submarine campaign has not re-
.sAed, as was expected, and that if il is
tOnunued on the present scale il will
e practically impossible to avoid
ne three attacks mentioned were
'eported by Lloyds as follows:
British bark Gslgste sunk May