Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-13
GERMANY SAYS
HER SUBMARINES
SUNK 3 VESSELS
Steamers Berwindvale, English
man and Manchester Engi-
neer Torpedoed.
SUBMITS PHOTOGRAPHS
OF STRICKEN VESSEL
Sussex Matter Still in Doubt, as
the Commanders Report Is
Not Given.

Washington, April 12.--Admission
by Germany that her submarines re-
Gently attacked three merchant ships
carrying American citizens and that
one Of them torpedoed a vessel in the
vicinity of the point where the Chan
mel steamer, Sussex, was damaged by
an explosion has simplified the task
Of the state department for prepar-
ing for the next step of the United
States over the issue of submarine
warfare. Following the receipt of
press dispatches OF the latest German
note, it was stated the United States
would continue to compile informa-
tion indicating that German subma-
rines are operating in violation Of
the rules of international law and
that very soon a communication de-
signed to be the final word Of the
American government on the subject
would go forward to Berlin The
state department virtually has com.
pleted the collection of facts relating
to all attacks on merchant ships
since the Lusitania.
Text of Note.
The following is the text of the
German note OH the Sussex, dated
April 10:
"The undersigned has the honor to
inform Your EXcelency, Ambassador
Gerard, in response to communica-
tions of the 29th and goth ultimo, and
the Ord inst, regarding the steamers,
Sussex, Manchester, Engineer, Eng
lishman, EeiWindvale, and Eagle
Point, that the mtntioned cases, in
accordance with sW1 notes of the
9Th instant, has been subjected to
careful investigation by the admiral's S
staff of the navy, which has led to
the following results:
Tried to Run Away.
"First-The English steamer, Ber-
Windvale, a steamer which was possi-
bly, the Berwindvale was encountered
on the evening Of March IS, on the
Irish coast by German submarine.
The steamer, as soon as she noted
the submarine, which was running
unsubmerged, turned and steamed
away. She was ordered to halt by a
warning shot. She paid no atten-
ton, but eXtinguished all lights and
attempted to escape.
"Second--The British steamer, Eng
lishman. This steamer was called
upon to halt by a German submarine
through two warning shots, about 20
sea miles west of Islay (Hebrdes)
after the German commander had
convinced himself that the crew had
taken to the boats, and rowed from
the ship, he sank the steamer.
In Doubt About This One.
"Third-The British steamer, Man
chester Engineer 1t is impossible to
establish through the investigation
up to the present, whether the at
tacks on this steamer, which, accord
ing to the given description, occurred
on March "a, in the latitude of Wa
terford, is attributable to German
submarine.
Torpedoed Eagle Point.
"Fourth-The British steamer, Ea-
gle Point. This steamer, in the fore
noon of March %, was called upon
to halt by a German submarine
through signal and shots, about 100
not 130-sea miles from the south
west coast of Ireland, but proceeded.
After the commandant convinced him
self that the boats, which had hoist
ed sails, had gotten clear of the
steamer, he sank the steamer.
Possibly Sussex.
"Fifth-The French steamer, Sus-
sex. Ascertainment of the fact
whether the Channel Steamer, Sus-
sex, was damaged by German sub
marine was rendered extremely diff
cult because no definite details of
time, place and attendant circum-
stances of the sinking were known
Believed It Mine Layer.
"'In the general region between
Folkestone and Dieppe, on March "a,
long black craft, without flag, hav-
ing a gray funnel, small gray fore
works, and two high masts, was en-
countered about the middle of the
English Channel by German subma-
rine. The commander reached the
conclusion that it was a war vessel,
and, indeed, a mine layer of the re-
cent Arabic class.
Consequently, he attacked the YES
sci at 1866 in the afternoon, Middle
Eurpean time. 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.
Differences Noted.
"The German commander made a
sketch of the vessel attacked by him.
two drawings of which are enclosed.
"A comparison of the sketch and
the picture of the steamer, Sussex.
shows that the craft attacked is not
identical with he Sussex, the differ
ence in the position of the stack and
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