Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-04-21

congress. He came only to inform it
OF his action. He did it in u min
utes and congress went back TO work,
solemnly impressed with the situa-
ton which confronts the country.
The scene had been dramatically
/ human. The presidents demeanor
reflected his state of mind, and an
impartial observer readily would say
the demeanor of congress as a whole
reflected its sympathy.
The first actually crucial moment
toward which the relations of the
United States and Germany have been
steadily drifting for nearly a year
had come and been passed and the
president returned to the White
House to await the next one. Amer
lea awaits the answer of Berlin.
The presidents statement to con-
gress followed closely the text of the
note to Germany, which was precipi-
tated by the torpedoing of the chan
mel steamer Sussex. The United
States, the communication declares,
considers the torpedoing of the Sus-
sex not only proved by the evidence,
but actually substantiated by the
German disclaimer of responsibility.
Attached to the American note as
an appendix are the facts in the case
of the Sussex. They show that three
American army and navy officers
found in the hull of the destroyed
ship not only screw bolts which cor
responded in use and Identification
marks with those on German torpe-
does in possession of the French gov
eminent at the naval station at Tou
lon, but that the American officers
which have been identified as parts
of German torpedoes. Four of the
steel parts of the "warhead" of the
torpedo still bear the distinctive red
paint common to German war
heads"
Besides this evidence, the note con-
tends, every circumstance either ad-
mitted by Germany in her disclaimer
or proved by affidavits by persons on
the destroyed liner, proves beyond
{ question that she was torpedoed
without warning.
In short, the United States pre-
sents the evidence as the capstone to
an accumulation of evidence extend
ing over a period of months which is
held to prove irrefutably that Ger
many's assurances to the United
States repeatedly have been wan
tonly violated.
! Official Text of Note.
/ The official text of the note, signed
by Secretary Lansing and addressed
to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin. fol-
lows:
You are instructed to deliver to
the secretary of foreign affairs a
communication reading as follows:
| did not fail to transmit imme-
diately. by telegraph, to my govern
ment your excellency's note Of the
! 10th instant in regard to the disas-
trous explosion on March "a last.
which wrecked the French steamship
Sussex in the English channel. !
have now the honor to deliver, under
instructions from my government.
the following reply to your excel
lency:
Information now in the possession
of the government Of the United
States fully establishes the facts in
the case of the Sussex, and the in
ferences which my government has
drawn from that information 1t re-
CARDS as confirmed by the circum-
stances set forth in your excellency's
note of the 10th instant.
The Case Of the Sussex.
/ On the gath Of March, 1916, at
about $3.50. o'clock in the afternoon.
the unarmed steamer Sussex. with
/ 325 or more passengers on board.
among whom were number OF
American citizens, was torpedoed
while crossing from Folkestone to
Dieppe. The Sussex had never been
armed; was vessel known to be
habitually used only for the convey
ance Of passengers across the Eng
lish channel, and was not following
the route taken by troop ships or
supply ships. About 80 Of her pas
sengers, non-combatants of all ages
!, and sexes, including citizens OF the
u United States, were killed or injured
j A careful. detailed and scrupu-
lousy impartial investigation by
Il naval and military officers of the
United States has conclusively estab-
II lished the fact that the Sussex was
l. vnyornin0 n.