File No. 851.857Su8/48
The Ambassador in France (Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 14, 8.15 a. m.]
1360. Your 14681 12th.
(1) Sussex, according to captain’s sworn statement reached Boulogne March 25, 2 p. m. Logan and Smith arrived Boulogne evening 26th, visited Sussex following afternoon and 28th and 29th.
(2) It is understood that vessel was accessible to the crew and authorized persons, and it was therefore possible for fragments of metal to have been strewn about.
[Page 230](3) As to likelihood of imposition in this respect, Logan and Smith report in their signed statement as follows:
Perhaps the most convincing evidence of the fact that these pieces had not been placed on this ship for the purpose of deceiving us was the fact that on March 28 we were present during the cleaning out of the débris on the lower decks near the point of the explosion. This cleaning was being carried out for the purpose of clearing the ship as well as for the search for possible dead still remaining on board. During the course of this cleaning out a portion of the leg of a man with a shoe on was discovered in the débris. The debris on the saloon deck was some four or five feet deep and was very closely packed, due to the action of the water when the ship was afloat at high tide. It bore convincing indications of not having been touched since the explosion. We at this time found three fragments, Nos. 11, 13, and 14, which were uncovered from below this débris in our presence and which every indication showed could not have been placed there after the explosion had occurred and the debris had accumulated and fallen on top.
Other fragments they state they found in places on board wedged into positions where it was entirely unlikely that they could have been placed intentionally.
(4) As to damage to screws and manner thereof, I again quote as follows from their statement:
The two screw bolts bear every evidence of having been in an extremely heavy explosion and in immediate contact with explosive material which caused a distinct fusing of portions of the bolts. Sheared diagonally in the threaded body of the bolts, they appear to have been in contact with a melting force which left a glazed finish. In addition to this the bolts have been slightly bent, which appears to have come from a twisting force. The twist is opposite to the shear of the bolts. This twist is very characteristic of the effects that would naturally be expected from a bolt partially imbedded diagonally in a solid body such as is the case in the war head of a torpedo. It would be practically impossible to artificially fake all of these injuries to a screw bolt of this character.
From my judgment of these officers and after carefully reviewing with them their work in making this examination and finding fragments of metal, I can not believe there is the slightest chance that any imposition was practiced. Examination of fragments plainly shows that only a force like that of some powerful explosion could have produced such results, and their comparison with known parts of a torpedo reveal a striking similarity.
I am forwarding to Department in Saturday’s pouch all of these fragments, together with screw bolts from German, French, and English torpedoes for comparison. Fifteen of the sixteen fragments so forwarded were found by either Logan or Smith; remaining piece was given to them by Captain Ballincourt, captain of Sussex.