Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-20
APPENDIX SHOWS SUSSEX WAS
TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING

The appendix to the note, under the
caption Statement of Facts in Sussex
Case Accompanying Note to German
Government of April IS. 1916" fol-
lows:
The French Channel steamer Sus-
sex, employed regularly in passenger
service between the ports of Folkstone,
England, and Dieppe, France, as it
had been for years (French foreign
ofhce), left Folkstone for Dieppe at
1.25 p. m, March "a, 1916, with 325
or more passengers and a crew of SO
men. Declaration of Captain Mouf-
fett, Rear Admiral Grasset's report
The passengers, among whom were
about 25 American citizens Telegram
London embassy, March 20, and Paris
embassy, March 26 and 2S), were of
several nationalities and many of them
were women and children, and nearly
half of them subjects of neutral States.
(Report of Commander Sayles and
Lieutenant Smith; Rear Admiral Gras-
sets report.) The Sussex carried no
armament (French foreign office; re-
port of Commander Sayles and Lieu
tenant Smith: affidavits of American
passengers), has never been employed
as troop ship, and was following a
route not used for transporting troops
from Great Britain to France. (Brit-
ish admiralty statement; French for
eign office.)
Steamed South on Smooth Sea
The steamer proceeded on its course
almost due south after passing Dun
geness. Declaration of Captain Mouf-
fettO The weather was clear and the
sea smooth. (Afidavits of Edna Hale,
John II. Hearley, Gertrude w. War
ren.) At 2.50 p. m., when the Sussex
was about 13 miles from Dungeness
declaration of Captain Mouffett), the
captain of the vessel, who was on the
bridge, saw about $50 meters from the
ship, on the port side. the wake of a
torpedo. Declaration of Captain
Mouffett.) 1t was also seen very
clearly by the first officer and the boat
swain, who were with the captain on
the bridge. (Report of Rear Admiral
Grasset.)
Immediately the captain gave orders
to port the helm and stop the star
board engine declaration of Captain
Mouffett), the purpose being to swing
the vessel to starboard so as to dodge
the torpedo by allowing it to pass
along the port bow on line converg-
ing with the altered course of the
steamer. Before. however. the vessel
could be turned far enough to avoid
crossing the course of the torpedo the
latter struck the hull at an angle a
short distance forward of the bridge
exploded, destroyed the ontire forward
part of the steamer as far back as the
first watertight bullShead. carried away
the foremast with the wireless anten-
nae and killed or injured about so of
the persons on board declaration of
Captain Mouffett; report of Rear Ad-
miral Grasset; deposition of Henry S.
Beer). AT the time no other vessel
was in sight. (Afiidavits of Samuel f.
Bemis. T. w. Culbertson, John II.
Hearley and others.)
The approach of the torpedo was
witnessed by several other persons on
the vessel. (AfIldavits of Samuel #.
Bemis, Henry S. Beer, Gertrude w
Warren.) One of these an American
citizen named Henry s. Beer. was lean
ing on the port rail, about 10 feet be-
hind the bridge, and gazing seaward
when he saw the approaching torpedo
about 100 yards away, and exclaimed
to his wife and companion, "A tor
pedo!" Immediately following his ex-
clamation the missile struck the ves-