New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-27

issue for the benefit Of the European
belligerents the statement OF us posi-
ton regarding submarines and armed
ships until after the facts regarding
the Englishman and the Sussex are
known.
Awaiting Tubantia Facts.
The State Department also is await
ing with some anxiety information con-
corning the sinking Of the Dutch liner
Tubantin. As far as is known here,
divers still are investigating the wreck
In an effort TO determine the cause or
the disaster.
AfIidavits regarding an alleged tor
pedo attack upon the French liner
Patria still were being considered by
Secretary Lansing to-day. Il is con-
sidered unlikely that action will be
taken in this case until after additional
details regarding the Sussex and the
Englishman are received
Chairman Stone Of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee has an ap-
pointment TO confer with President
Wilson tomorrow. II is believed that
the general submarine question will be
one Of the topics Of scussion.
The affidavit received from Ambas-
sador Page, which gives a vivid ac-
count Of the Sussex disaster, was signed
by Edward S. Huxley and Francis +.
Drake, both Of New York, and reads as
follows:
AT 5:O9 o'clock. when we were bout
an hour and half from Folkestone. we
we're seated on the deck talking. little
less than halfway back on the star
board side. Without the slightest warn
81
plosion. Wreckage and tons Of water
were thrown into the air higher than
the masts. and the water came down on
the boat as far back as the stern.
Havoc of Explosion.
owe went forward and saw the entire
forward part OF the ship, including part
Of the bridge and the forward mast,
gone. Some men and women jumped
overheard at once and We threw over
RATS and seats to them. We then went
to help the women into the lifeboats
and afterward 10 help tho wounded out
Of the debris. We saw at least fifteen
severely wounded and helped five our
selves. Among these were DR.. Penfeld
and Miss Baldwin
Altogether six boats were launched.
One Of them capsized with its passen-
gers. We supposed twenty-five or
thirty people were lost in this boat.
We lowered one boat ourselves. or
the remaining five boats, three were
filed with passengers and standing of
100 yards. OF the other two, ore was
nearly full Of water and contained
only five men. We did not see the
sixth boat. We know OF only three
Americans who got into the lifeboats,
D.l DaNA
win.
after ten minutes OF watching we
decided that, as the ship was appar-
emily not sinking, we would stay with
her. After the small boats had been
standing by for on hour they were
hailed and the people brought back on
board. About dusk a sailing vessel,
three miles away, which had been
standing by for some time, was 5 g
nailed by rockets and waving of blGn-
kets. At least thirty exploding ockots
with col1red flares were sent up, but
the ship continued on her course and
disappeared in the distance.
THE wireless remained Intact,
though the operator said il was very
difficult TO receive because the forward
mast was gone and the antenne were
loose. The boilers remained intact. as
we could see the steam from them, and
the electric lights burned until We left
the ship.
Rescued by French and English.
at 1880 q French steamer came up
and took off the women and children
and half the men and Miss Baldwin,
who was unconscious Then four or
five boats came up, and we, with the
remaining passengers, we're taken on
British ship. With US there were
seven wounded, five men and two
women. One man died on the way 20
England. Five dead were left on the
hulk, but apparently there was no
American among them.
I'VE arrived in England at 1880 a. m.
and the wounded we're transferred 10 a
nearby hospital ship.
"The first officer at least. commits
stoned officer OF the rescuing British
ship told us that the captain OF the
Sussex reported 20 the captain Of the
British ship that he saw clearly the
wake Of torpedo. lie ported his helm
hard, and In few seconds longer
would have escaped II.
mo lifebelts were given 70 the pas.
sengers and we found them without
difficulty after the explosion had taken
place In our opinion. the explosion
took place about fifty feet from the
bow and apparently on the starboard
side.
1--WE solemnly swear that the above
statement is true, 10 the best OF our
knowledge and belief"