Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-16
German Naval Expert Makes
Some Pertinent Remarks On
Missouri Accident.
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG
Keeping Several Charges Of Powder 10
The Turret Room Against the
Regulations.

| low, the Tageblatt's naval special cor
respondent, discussing the accident on
board the United States battleship Mis-
souri,, says.
This Is the third accident within
a few months on board Of the Amerl-
can vessels, and II Is most serious
symptom. II must raise the question OF
what the Americans are TO think Oh
their nayy's readiness for action and
fighting value, as well as ordnance
technique. Such defects cannot be REM
odIed in short time. unless new guns
are hastily ordered abroad, perhaps In
Germany
WERE REGULATIONS VIOLATED?
Washington, April l5,-Searching In
yestigation will be made by the court
OF Inquiry on the Missouri accident re-
gardng the statement that four charg-
es Of ammunition were In the handling
room OF the after turret Of the Mis-
ret at the time the explosion occurred.
This fact has been reported TO the
newspaper dispatches from Pensacola,
and seems to be borne out by the state
ment Of a number OF officers. and that
IL has been thought necessary, In order
to fire as rapidly as our ships have been
firing, to keep several charges In the
turret room, even though II Is not In
accord with the regulations, that no
time may be lost In bringing the chars-
es from the magazine. III such be the
case II can be stated that this condition
OF AFFAIRS will be promptly remedied. II
was pointed out today at the navy de-
partment by an official that the custom
prevailed on board the other ships OF
the navy Of keeping several extra
charges IN the handling room during
the target practise, and II was SAID
that II this was SO no one on the Mis-
souri, should be held responsible.
Notwithstanding the mystery which
still surrounds the cause OF the Mis-
sourl's accident the announcement was
made at the navy department today
that there would be no suspension OF
target practice at Pensacola, but that
the other ships which have not yet
fired will go on the range at the regular
time,
1t was learned tonight that the navy
department IL considering the appoint
ment Of board OF distinguished naval
officers to take up the whole question or
target practise In the navy, pass upon
the efficiency Of the precautions at pres
ent In practise and make report TO the
secretary showing, among other things
whether the present system OF target
practise should be modified. The name
of Admiral Dewey has been unofficially
mentioned as the president OF the
board, but this has not been decided on,
II was said that the appointment OF
such a board necessarily will depend
upon the findings OF the court OF In
quiry,
A telegram received today at the
navy department announces the APP
polntment Of Lieut.. NJ. l.. Bristol as
judge advocate OF the court OF In
quiry, Lieut., Bristol IL one OF the ord
nance experts OF the navy and an Off
Ger Of marked ability
EYEWITNESS GIVES AN ACCOUNT.
Pensacola, Fla, April To- The mas
ter OF an ocean tug gives the best ac-
count yet given Of the explosion In the
Pinch turret OF the battleship Mis-
souri, which occurred Tuesday, killing
81 men. The tug was 100 yards distant
from the Missouri when the explosion
occurred, and the master was watching
the firing when he saw pun Of smoke
shoot through the top Of the turret. For
two or three minutes this continued,
when there was a dull thud. and the
smoke became blacker and thicker, fol-
owed by flames. which burst through
the turret and leaped 80 feet into the
air, Just before the bursting out Of the
flames he saw mangled body shoot
up through the turret and fall on the
starboard side Of the Missouri.
The master OF the tug started his
vessel towards the Missouri, when she
suddenly turned and started toward
shore at full speed. signaling the tug 10
follow The big battleship went at full
speed for nearly three miles toward the
beach, hosting signals to the Texas.
Scorpion and one or two other vessels.
all OF which were following closely. The
tug was almost run down by the Mis-
souri, The latter continued at full
speed, with the smoke pouring out Of
her turret to within a hundred yards
OF the beach, when the battleship was
brought to a standstill. The tug was
close behind the big ship, and Capt.
Cowles could be seen on the bridge Civ
ing instructions to his men, Streams Of
water were playing on the turret, Just
before the ship reached the beach the
tugboat men saw Capt. Cowles turn
from his work OF directing the fighting
Of the fire, and observe the ship. He i'm
mediately gave orders and the big ship
came to a stop 80 close TO the beach
that the men on the tugboat and other
ships thought she was ashore.
The last OF the 20 bodies were shipped
TO their RESPECTIVE homes TONIGHT.
Twelve went ont today at noon, and the
train carrying the bodies was decorated
from end to end In mourning.