The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-14
BERLIN'S GUILT
SEEN IN REPLY.
OFFICIALS SAY
Washington Holds "Un.
known Steamer" TOrpe-
dOed Was Sussex.
WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE
AGAINST 4 "SKETCH"
President Forced to Send a
Note to Settle Ques.
ton Of Fact.
LOOpHOLE LIES IN
PLEDGE ABOUT LINERS
Wilson Hampclpd by the
Phrase Used in Previous
Agreement.
LOOPHOLE LIES IN
PLEDGE ABOUT LINERS

WAsHIScroN. April l3.--Germany's
reply TO President Wilson's latest rep
resentations or the submarine issue has
deferred bu, not eliminated the critical
International situation drought about by
attacks ot German submarines on ships
carrying americans
/, has had the effect Of making an in
;ctmcdiary step necessary before the
presden; takes final action. but this in
iegmediary step--the sending OF another
note to Germany-will not AFFECT the
PRESIDENTS determination to force "A final
anu definite accounting with the Berlin
Government. This IL the situation as
L - authofitatveIy explained tonight.
!; =. has been the Intention OF the
German Government to court delay and
precrastination by its reply. ii has ad-
T.ldbly succeeded, according to officials
here Germany. 1t Is explained. rests
aeg case not on questions Of principle,
ont on questions of fact.
This necessarily involves diplomatic
discussion, for there can be no further
progress IN the case until Quesiio Of
iac, are cleared up. The American note
Will It Is said. summarily dispose Of the
facts cited by Berlin in proof of its con-
isn'ion that German submarine did
Loi sink the Sussex.
President Wilson and Secretary Lam
sing regard Germany's defence in the
sussex case as virtually amounting 10
an admission of guilt. The American
note backed by the evidence which has
been obtained from England and France
s..i take the position that the unknown
steamer which the German submarine
described as having torpedoed was the
SUSSEX
Contrast Of the Evidence.
The overwhelming evidence supporting
Vis theory will be contrasted with the
srgle point--the sketch drawn by the
-Gomdrl1e commander-upon which Ger
many rests its disavowal Furthermore.
evidence which Germany supplies con-
.trning the unknown steamer" which
the German submarine commander tor.
pedoed viii be used to show that the
vessel was IN reality the Sussex,
Germanys attention will be called to
ire fact that the Sussex was torpedoed
81 almost precisely the time that the
s1bmarine commander reported firing at
'ne unknown steamer According to
onicial reports from France. the Sussex
was south of the Dungeness buOys and
scou IN mid-channel when the explosion
occurred
The submarine commander says that
the snip ne fred on was south of the
plhscreSs buoys and about in mid-chan-
'tL The Sussex was steaming about
sixteen knots and the subma rine COM
hahdeg says the vessel he torpedoed
vas steaming ~ about eighteen knots.
Both the Sussex and the unknown
NetIner' we're hit near the bow and in
si'0 case the entire forward part was
'orr away to the bridge. No other
'edmer mas been tOrpedoed in this un-
uSasl manner since the war began.
Both the President and Secretary
Lansing are convinced that Germany
NU' not seriously contend that the sub
marine commander torpedoed vessel
tmlar IA the Sussex at the exact loca-
ION qf the Sussex at the same time and
~ 'he same manncr ar the Sussex was
damaged without admitting that the ship
~ question must have been tine Sussex.
Notwithstanding the slight discrepa ncies
~ 'he rough sketch made by the sub
marine comma nder and the photograph
" Inc cross-channel packet
"n" Weak Point Cleared ~.
ne feiman note, II IL explained.
1.ars w the one weakness which ex-
M'ed IN the cumulative evidence which
we hltc1 States has gathered tending
W. snow that the ship was tOrpedoed.
ing Weakness was the fact that no one
-S.'n ne round to swear that SUBJ
marine had been seen. In a majority
W cases German submarines have come
% ,he surface before firing torpedoes
melr victims. but the German note
ssys Tie submarine WAS submerged when
'e nfed at the steamer.
al