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Show GERMANY CLAIMS ACTS WERE LEGAL Sinking of Steamers Englishman, English-man, Eagle Point, Manchester, Manches-ter, Engineer and Ber-windale Ber-windale Conforms to Rules of War. Berlin, April 12, by wireless to Say-vllle. Say-vllle. The German reply to tho American Amer-ican note concerning the damaging or sinking of five steamships, contains con-tains the statement that the steamers Englishman, Eagle Point, Manchester Manches-ter Engineer and Berwindvale wore destioyed by German submarines. Evidence is presented to show that these vessels were torpedoed legally in accordance with the rules of war. The note states that a German sub-marmo sub-marmo torpedoed a Bteamship lu tho vicinity of the place at which tho croBS channel steamship Sussex was damaged by an explosion, but that evidence at hand Indicates that the vessel torpedoed by tho submarine was not the Sussex. Jn regard to the Sussex, the note states that only one German submarine subma-rine was in the vicinity and that it torpeduca one steamship. The commander com-mander of tho submarines made a sketch at the time. This sketch has been compared with a photograph of the Sussex and has been found to be quite dissimilar in build, arrangement of suicks, etc. Therefore, it is presumed pre-sumed a mine was responsible for the damaging of the Sussex. In tho way of corroboration, it is stated that German naval forces destroyed twenty-five floating mines on that day. Warning Shots Fired. Regarding the cases of Englishman, Manchester Engineer, Eagle Point and Berwindvale, It is stated they were signalled to halt but disregarded the signals. Thereupon warning shots were fired. Tho statement Is made that the submarine commanders assured themselves them-selves before sinking the ships that their destruction was justified and that the crews were safe In boats. A SwIsb passenger on the Sussex asserted to the Associated Press he Is convinced a mine was responsible and that he so stated after the disaster. dis-aster. Investigating officers, he said, "bully ragged" him into changing his statement which he now repudiates. rvn |