New Britain herald., 1916-04-20

So dS to dodge the tOrpedO Dy aIlOWlnS It to pass along the port bow on line conVerglng with the altered course of the steamer. Before, however, the vessel could be turned far enough to avoid crossing the course of the tor pedo, the latter struck the hull at an angle short distance forward of the bridge, exploded, destroyed the entire forward part of the steamer as far back as the first water-tight bulk head, carried away the foremast with the wireless antennae, and killed or injured about eighty of the persons on board. Declaration of Captain Mouffet; report of Rear Admiral Gras set; report of Henry s. BeerD At the time no other vessel was in sight (Affidavits of Samuel F. Bemis T. w. Culbertson, John H. Hearley and others.)
 Approach of Torpedo.
 The approach of the torpedo was witnessed by several other persons on the vessel. (Af1idavits of Sam uel F. Bemis, Henry s. Beer Ger trude w. Warren.) One of these, an American citizen named Henry $. Beer, was leaning on the port rail- about ten feet behind the bridge and gazing seaward when he say the ap- preaching torpedo about 100 yards away and exclaimed to his wife and companion: "A torpedo!" Imme- diately following his exclamation the missile struck the vessel. Deposi- tions of Henry s. Beer and Mrs. Henry S. Beer.)
 In further roboration of the fao ot ho ha "a foi 10 coming toward the vessel is the sworn statement of the engineers on duty that the order to port the helm and to stop the starboard engine was received and obeyed. (Report of Admiral Grasset.) No reasonable explanation can be given for this un- usual order other than that the Cap tain saw something which caused him to change his course sharply to starboard.
 In addition to this evidence, which would in itself appear to be con- elusive that the agent of destruction was torpedo, is that of Lieutenant Smith, U. s. N., attached to the American Embassy at Paris, who. accompanied by Major Logan, U. S.. A., of the Embassy, went to Boulogne, inspected the hull of the ouSSeA duu personally IOunu De- meath the mass of water-soaked de- bris of the wreck fifteen pieces of metal which they retained in their possession, as they did not believe the pieces formed part of the vessel. The inspection of the hull disclosed that the vessel was wrecked by an external explosion, the boilers being intact and that short distance for 1 ward of the bridge was large l dent, showing that the vessel had l received heavy blow, the direction of impact being from abaft the beam along a line at an acute angle with l the keel of the vessel. (Report of ] Lieutenant Smith, cabed April 9.) ] This evidence coincides with and 1 corroborates the statement that the l vessel was swinging to starboard and | away from the torpedo when struck.
 The pieces of metal which the 1 American officers had collected were compared by Lieutenant Smith, Lieu tenant Commander Sayles and Ma jor Logan with mines and plans of 1 mines in possession of the French l naval authorities at Boulogne Roche l fort, and Toulon, and British naval l authorities at Portsmouth. These l officers are positive in their opinion l that these pieces of metal were not | parts of a mine. (Report of Lieu tenant Smith, cabled April 2 and 5.) ]
 Among these fifteen pieces of metal were two screw bolts showing the effects of an explosion which were stamped with "K' and "56' on ! faces of the head of one, and "K' and "58" on faces of the head of | the other. On examining German torpedoes in the possession of the French naval authorities at Toulon, and of the English naval authorities !, found that identical screws were em- ployed to fasten the "war" head | (Kopf) to the air chamber. Gieu- ! tenant Smiths reports, cab1ed April 2, 5, and 13.)
 Torpedo Identified.
 The screws used in French and Eng fish torpedoes have no markings and are Of a slightly different size. (Same reports) Furthermore, the American officers were able by comparison and ] close examination to positively identi- fy and locate all the remaining pieces of metal as parts of German torpedo as follows:
 Fragment 3, part of inner seat of water relief valve of engine valve.
 Fragments and 5, punto bands of | engine room casing.
 Fragments and 10, inclusive, and 12, parts of engine cylinders.
 Fragments Ii, 13, IA, 15, parts of 1 steel warhead still bearing the dis tinctive red paint common to German l torpedo warheads. (Report of Lieu tenant Smith, cabled April 5.)
 Tn view of these authenticated facts there can be no reasonable doubt but ! that the Sussex was torpedoed and l that the torpedo was of German man.