The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-03-30
WILSON WANTS OFFICIAL INFoR-
NATION AS TO SINKING OF
BRITISH sTEAMERS-AFFl-
DAVITS ARE MADE.
DEATH LIST Is LARGER
THAN FIRST INDICATED
Latest Figures Show as Many as 1902
Persons Missing, Including Five
Americans - Dispatch Claims
Vessel Was Sunk Without
Slightest Warning"

London, March 29.-AIthough there
Is some uncertainty as to the loss of
life in the disaster to the cross chan
mel steamer Sussex last Friday there
no longer is any doubt that the death
list is much larger than the early ad-
vices indicated. The latest figures in
London show as many as 1902 persons
missing, including five Americans.
The Sussex had 436 passengers
been accounted for: Landed at Dow
err 70; landed at 8ouIoene $50; dead
at eouIogne 9; dead at Dover g. This
is the total accounted for.
The casualties occurred in two ways
first, in the explosion when the ship
was struck, and second, by drowning
when two iifeboats capsized and only
a few of their occupants could be res
cued.
Wilson Gathers Facts,
Washington. March 2S.-Oficial in
formation upon which President Will
son will decide whether the sinking
of the steamer Englishman and the
udlldSlnS NY GA ca piOolOu Vi lhS ClldiI-
rel steamer Sussex were the result
of acts in violation of international
law is being gathered from every
available source by representatives of
the United tSates in England and
France. Tangible evidence Of some
kind is momeltarily expected by the
state department.
Dispatches already received indi-
cate that several Americans were in
jured or killed in the Sussex disas-
ter. Four American citizens who
were said in dispatches Saturday not
to be among the rescued still are IN,
accounted for.
"Saw Wake of Torpedo"
Only n dispatch of importance
concerning the explosion which dam
aged the Sussex was received by the
state department during Saturday.
This contained ar affidavit made in
London at the American embassy by
two American survivors, Edward S.
Huxley and Francis e. Drake, Of New
York. Both swore that the explosion
occurred without the slightest warn
Ing" and they credited the command
er of the Sussex asssaying that he saw
the wake of a torpedo before it struck
his vessel.
Strange Vessel Seen.
Another statement in the affidavit
officials seemed to consider significant
had to do with a strange sailing yes
sci which lowered neal the Sussex
after the explosion and which, in re-
spouse to signals for assistance from
the channel steamer, sailed away and
disappeared. Press dispatches quot
ing a Belgian army officer as saying
that the submarine probably had hid
den behind the strange vessel, which
apparently disregarded all the tradi-
lions and laws of the sea in failing to
succor a vessel In distress were read
with interest.
Neither of Ships Armed.
Should either the Sussex or the
Englishman have been torpedoed the
United States would consider the act
to be a most fragrant violation of the
rights of humanity, the principles Of
international law and the broad as
regarding the conduct of sub
marine warfare which have been Civ
en- by the German government. There
Is no evidence or even a suggestion
that either of the ships were armed,
sc TO defense could be offered on that
score.