The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-13
Positive Evidence Now in
Hands of Officials.
WILL DEMAND PROMPT ACTION
Kaiser's Note Strengthens Case
of United States.
No Other Ship Sunk in Channel
as Note Points Out.

Washington, April 13.-The Ger
man note on the Sussex and other sub
marine cases has been received at the
state department and was being de-
coded today. 1t probably will be laid
before President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing before night.
The affidavits from Paris and Lon
don expected today on the liner St
Paul will be considered in connection
with the German note and the "in-
formation regarding attacks on mer-
chant vessels since the Lusitania dis
aster, is expected to be completed in
time to go to Berlin within the next
week. While the entire plans of the
administration are not being disclosed,
it is understood that nothing less than
some positive evidence of Germany s
good faith to fulfill the assurances
she has given the United States, such
as, possibly, substantial punishment of
the submarine commander who de-
stroyed the Sussex, can prevent the
situation between the two countries
from coming to the pass which diplo-
mats have struggled for the last year
to avoid.
Not an Ultimatum. But
The use of the word ultimatum in
connection with the document to be
forwarded to Berlin is discouraged by
officials, still it was said the effect of
the communication would be to call
for prompt action. In view of the
conclusive nature of the information
on the Sussex already before the state
department, officials cannot see how
Germany can continue to deny re-
sponsibility for the dynamiting of the
ship.
The suggestion of arbitration in the
(Tarn1an note met with tho OF a O.
ment that the American government
would not arbitrate a question i'm
volving~ American ives. The same
staten ent was made during the Lusi-
tania negotiations. Careful examina-
ton of the German note led officials
to conclude that the case of the United
States had been materially strength
ened. The similarity between the cir
cumStances surrounding the attack on
a steamer in the English channel ad-
mitted in the German note and those
surrounding the Sussex case caused
| officials to feel there no longer is auy
doubt that the vessel was the Sussex.
| senators and representatives who
called at the White House went away
with the impression that action was
imminent but that another communi-
cation would be sent to Berlin before
more drastic steps were taken.
Consider Proof Positive.
| London, April 13.-Positive proof
! that the Sussex was torpedoed was
seen by British officials today in the
/ German admission that an unidenti-
fled steamer was attacked by a sub
marine in the same place and at prac-
| tcally the same time the channel
liner was attacked.
1t is officially stated that no other
vessel was torpedoed in the channel
at the time mentioned in the German
note.
| The Sussex was attacked at $3.50
p. m. on March "a. The German note
states that the vessel attacked by the
submarine was torpedoed at 1855
p. m.
| According to the French official re-
port, the Sussex was south of Dun
geness buoys and about in mid-chan-
mel when the explosion occurred. The
German note says the vessel attacked
was south of Dungeness buoys and
about in midchannel when she was
/ torpedoed.
The Sussex was steaming at about
16 knots per hour.