The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-13

VI tle Steamer, ne sank the steamer
"At the time of the sinking north
northwest wind of the strength of two
) not "a storm wind and light swell, no
"a heavy sea- as stated in the given de
scription, prevailed. The boats therefore
had every prospect of being picked uT
very quickly because the place of the
sinking lay on much used steamer path
IF the crew of the steamer used only
two small boats for saving themselves
the responsibility falls upon themselves
since there were still upon the steamer
as the submarine could establish, at
least four big collapsible boats.
The Sussex Case.
"Fifth--The French steamer Sussex
ascertainment of the fact whether the
channel steamer Sussex was damaged by
a German submarine was rendered ex-
tremely difficult because no exact details
of time, place and attendant circum-
stances of the sinking were known and
also because it was impossible to obtain
a picture of the ship before April G. Con-
sequently the investigation had to be ex-
tended to all actions undertaken on the
| day in question-March 24-in the chan
mel in the general region between Folk
stone and Dieppe.
'In that region on March "a, a long
black craft without flag, having gray
funnel, small gray forward works and
two high masts, was encountered about
the middle of the English channel by a
German submarine. The German com
mander reached the definite conclusion
that it was war vessel, and, indeed, a
mine layer of the recently built English
Arabic class. He was led to that con-
viction by the following facts: First, by
the plain, unbroken deck of the ship;
second, the form of the stern, sloping
downward and backward like war yes
sell; third, she was painted like a war
vessel; fourth, the high speed developed,
about Is knots; fifth, the circumstance
that the vessel did not keep course
northward of the light buoys between
Dungeness and Beachy Head, which, ac-
cording to the frequent and unvarying
observations of German submarines, is
about the course of commercial vessls,
but kept in the middle of the channel,
ON a course about in the direction of LIE
Havre.
Consequently, he attacked the vessel
at 1865 in the afternoon middle Euro
pean time, one and one-hslf sea miles
southeast of Bull Rock Bullock n bank,
the submarine being submerged. The
torpedo struck and caused such violent
explosion in the forward part of the ship
that the entire forward part was torn
away to the bridge.
THE particularly violent explosion |
warrants the certain conclusion that
great amounts of munitions were aboard. |
"The German commander made a |
sketch of the vessel attacked by him, |
two drawings of which are enclosed. The |
picture of the steamer Sussex, two copies
of which are enclosed, is reproduced pho |
from the English paper,
the Daily Graphic, of the 9th ultimo
"A comparison of the sketch and the
picture shows that the craft attacked is
not identical with the Sussex; the differ
ence in the position of the stack and I
shape of the stern is particularly strik
ng.
No other attack whatever by German
at the time in question for
5he Sussex upon the route between Folke
stone and Dieppe occurred. The German
must therefore assume that
,he injury to the Sussex is attributable
5erman submarine.
-For an explanation of the case the
act may perhaps be serviceable that no +:
ess than 26 English mines were exploded
" shots by German naval forces in the
hannel on the lst and I'd of April alone. I.
The entire sea in that vicinity is, in !.
act, endangered by floating mines and :
" torpedoes that have not sunk. of the
English coast it is further endangered in
n increasing degree through German
mines, which have been laid against en-
my naval forces.
"Should the American government have
t its disposal further material for
onclusion upon the case of the Sussex,
he German government would ask that
be communicated in order to subject
his material also to an investigation
'Tn the event that differences of opin- J
IN should develop hereby between the
wo governments, the German govern
lent now declares itself ready to have
le facts of the case established through
liked commissions of investigation in
,cordance with the third title Of The rt
agle agreement for the peaceful settle >
ent of international conflicts s-Nov lS al
l07. H
"The undersigned, while requesting hi
lat you communicate the above to the tc
,vernment of the United States. takes co
casion to renew to the ambassador the II
surance of his distinguished esteem. bc
tSigned) "Jagow" la