New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26
Enemy Submarines
Work, Says Official
Statement.
5 AMERICANS DIE
ON ENGLISHMAN
Washington Orders In
qniry-Sees New Issue
with Germany.

Paris. March 25.-The Ministry
Of Marine. in an official statement
issued tonight, declares that the
Sussex. which was sunk in the Eng
lsh Channel yesterday, was torpe-
doed, and estimates the number Of
.ictims at about fifty. The Ameri-
can Embassy has scarcely any doubt
that American lives were lost in the
disaster.
The Ministry's communication
reads:
"The British steamer Sussex,
which carried about $50 passengers,
was torpedoed in the Channel on the
-4th by an enemy submarine.
"The captain observed a torpedo
about one hundred metres from the
side. and Immediately maneuvred TO
avoid it. but the vessel was struck
.n the forward part, which was Ge-
stroyed.
The vessel, however, remained
afoat The fall of the mast de-
stroyed part Of the antenne of The
wireless. Moreover, when an aerial
wire was improvised, the operator,
by an error. reported an incorrect
position. which misled the torpedo
boats and patrol boats, and as re-
suit retarded the arrival of help.
Patrol Boat Finds Vessel.
THE patrol boat Marie Therese
nevertheless managed to find the
distressed vessel, and brought back
to Boulogne a majority Of the pas
sengers. Others were taken 70 Eng
land by British torpedo boat destroy
ers, which had arrived at the scene
of the disaster at about the same
time as the Marie Therese.
"The Sussex was towed TO Bou
logne by q steamer from that port,
and IS now there in security.
Unbappily, the explosion and the
beginning Of "a panic among the pas
scrgers resulted in some victims.
The exact number at this hour is
not known. but it is estimated to be
about fifty"
The American Ambassador, William
f l.r.4N I .a.fflnauf kgT-
nard T. smith by automobile 20
Bou.cEre this afternoon 20 investigate
The cause Of the disaster and assist any
Americans who may need help.
Tie lepos.t.ons Of some Of the Amer
icaG survivors who have arrived al
Paris arc te.lP taken by the embassy.
They uI tc forWardcd't 20 the state
Department 40 Washington.
Aool. .i,y persons, according 20 the
cslmates here. out Of $50 passengers
and tte crew Of J6 were lost The
weight Of testimony is that the Sussex
va torpeCocd by submarine without
warning.
Sergeant Pierre Depare, Of the Bel
g.su army. who arrived 10 Paris to
night, Says DC saw the periscope OF a
submarine. iie said be remained on
Che susscI's deck after the explosion,
f aNW fh.a.NA .'tAA.nf a tfi"tt NttN- -
woman. struggling iu the water Ser
gean' Dcp4re thinks they we're
drowned
The Americana. the sergeant de-
c.aIce. were oG the deck when the tor
pe1D Etr.cZ the SUSSEX and we're hurled
i1i0 Che water. The man was trying 70
.a9e ttc woman. who vas presumably
nH wife Both drfted away from the
a1sffI and we're not rescued.
-Four American survivors, have ar
r.sed here. They are q. II. CrOcker,
taar.es T. Croker. Edward Marshall
ard Wilder o. Fc1Acld. &. II. Crockef
emo Nr. Pen eld are .n a hospital with
fractured SKULLS. Charles Crockcr ana
W. Aarh4. arc uuinjurcd.
krpDfs received here say that Mrs'
Hl'on. Daniel Sargent and 7. W. Cui-
bfr,slr we're seen aboard French
tfa1.cr. it s feared. according 20 the
.amf reports. that Miss hiltOn was
drowned wtc1 liYcboat capsized.
a. to tho cagse II the disaster, nr.
AarshaNi ncVspaper cOrrcspOndent'
'alc. 'l have no doubt the steamer
Has torpedocd'
Passenger Four Hours in Water.
h1Dt1rr ~ the survivors Was Aier-
s1eer Ciayel, ~ Basie, Switzerland,
mo was returning from London on q
tsnnefs trip. lie wss picked up after
Hrg four hours Iu the water, and
rhen seen % q hotel in Paris Was re-
"FerinY from nervous sbOck.
Ne 1ad no warning " what vas
sTatng VS." gaid Mr. ClaveL "The
tspoTt n n torpedo crashing into The
i,rwsrd workr. where Il landed. told
D. tDueyer. that We had been sub
harmed
"Eforfs we're Immediately made 10
LsGtLH1sd On psEs 4. column