File No. 851.857Su8/29
The Ambassador in France (Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8 a. m.]
1339. My 1325, 26th.1
Lieutenant Smith and Major Logan, sent to Boulogne on Sunday morning to investigate wrecking of Sussex, returned yesterday. Their finding fully corroborates all that has been previously dispatched as regards no evidence boat being armed and destructive effect of explosion in the bow of the boat. They made thorough examination as to probability of cause of explosion and found no evidence of internal explosion, boilers being intact. Captain declared no explosives were carried in cargo of 3 tons; in debris were only found mail, balloon, aeroplane fabric, wire for aeroplanes and parts of motor cycles. From the character of the injury it is impossible to determine positively that this was done by a torpedo; however, from consultation of the tide tables and charts showing the depth of ocean at the location of the explosion, it is their belief: that it would have been very improbable that any stationary mine could have caused explosion, as said mine would be considerably below the keel of the boat, which, on leaving Folkestone, was drawing about 11 feet astern. Tide tables show high tide on March 24 at 1.37 p. m. [a. m.?], at 2.50 p. m. From calculations made from these tables, tide is supposed to have been about 25 feet above low-water level. As to the probability of an explosion from a floating or surface mine, it is their opinion that contact with such a mine was most unlikely to have occurred, as examination of the hull of the Sussex shows a large dent on port side between the turnings of the bilge and the keel about 5 or 6 feet below water line, which would seem to be point of impact of explosion. Examination showed that ship had received heavy blow between the bilge and keel just forward of No. 1 water-tight bulkhead, and seemed to have come from abaft the beam and to have had a converging course with that of the ship. From the point of impact forward, the entire hull was blown away. The force of the explosion carried upward and toward the stern, carried away the bow, and completely wrecked that part of the ship between No. 1 and No. 2 bulkheads. Several pieces of bronze and two bronze bolts numbered and lettered were found by Smith and Logan on the ship and were taken by them last night to Toulon to compare with German torpedoes and mines in the possession of [Page 219] the French Naval authorities, in an endeavor to determine definitely whether they are parts of a mine or torpedo.
I forwarded yesterday by pouch to catch the steamer Saint Paul , sailing from Liverpool to-morrow, a despatch on the subject, enclosing 14 affidavits and brief preliminary report by Lieutenant Smith.
Referring to my telegram 1338, 29th,1 have just received Beer’s affidavit from American Consul at St. Gall. Contents of this deposition appear to me to be of such a nature that I quote therefrom as follows:
I am an American citizen. Together with my wife, I was a passenger on the steamer Sussex when that vessel was torpedoed, absolutely without warning of any kind, in mid-channel between Folkestone and Boulogne, on the afternoon of March 24, 1916. I know of my own knowledge that the Sussex was torpedoed, for I saw the torpedo before it struck and while it was still a hundred yards or more distant from the steamer. It was just before 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I was on deck with an Englishman, Mr. J. Faulkes, of Debenham and Company, London. We were standing at the railing on the left side of the steamer, about 10 feet back from the ladder leading up to the captain’s bridge. Mrs. Beer sat in a steamer chair just behind us. It was a clear, sunny day and, as I turned my eyes seawards, I distinctly saw the torpedo approaching the steamer, a hundred yards or more away., Its course in the water was clearly marked and I could not have been mistaken. I exclaimed: “A torpedo!” and the next instant it struck the steamer some distance in front of where we stood, throwing up a mass of water that drenched us, and literally tearing away the whole forepart of the steamer. The ladder leading to the captain’s bridge was torn away and fell on the deck. The torpedo struck the steamer at an acute angle and not directly head-on.
St. Gall Consul in his letter says:
I would note that I have known Mr. Beer well, personally, for 2 years past and believe any statement he makes entitled to full faith and credence. Mr. Beer is a naturalized citizen of the United States, of English birth, and the holder of Departmental passport number 17958, dated February 17, 1916. He is a member of the firm of Rappolt and Company of New York City and has been domiciled in St. Gall since 1907 as the European manager of said firm.