The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-05-28
VEIL OF MYSTERY
! -THROWNABOUTF-4
CAUSES COMMENT.
Navy Department Order Barring
. Newspapers Men Casts Sus-
III picion Upon Its Motive
PUBLIC BEGINS ASKING
PERTINENT QUESTIONS
70 ~ ----------------. sI& ~. N~f.A
Report Says Several Things Re-
garding Wasp Are To Be
-. Covered Up T.



5 tiyes of the press from the final opera
tions in the salving of the submarine
~, which has been issued explicitly
ny Rear Admiral Moore, has naturally
excited some curiosity among Honolu-
lans, whose interest in the salvage work
and whose sympathy towards the rela,
tiycs Of the victims Of the submarine
disaster have been amply and substan
italy demonstrated -, s.a ....',t
According TO we'll. defined rumort
along the waterfront, which have been
IN circulation ever since the newspapers
were notified that they would be al
lowed 10 opportunity to witness the
energenee OF the Submarine or given
any chance to report upon the condi
tion of the craft whom she is finally
IN the floating drydock, the local nava
authorities have decided to keep the
pressmep away because it is well known
what viii be found and it is not desir
able that the representatives of the
Press, who are likewise the representa-
tiyes of the pubic, should be in a posi-
tion to ask awkward questions, i
Comething Seems Wrong I,
"a If current report is to be believed,
there are a number of things concern.
ing the known condition of the ia
which would reflect upon someone very
seriously if announced publicly.
For instance, there has been muel
comment and discussion and argument
as to whether the twenty-o men who
went TO their death in the sea-wasp
I died almost instantly or if they suf.
tered lingering death.
Submarines of the F group are de
igned to carry gear for the sounding
Of submarine bell in underwater pracs
tise or in case of catastrophe. This
bell is the only means of telegraphic
communication which submarines have
when submerged. Tho designs Of tie
i group provide for regular air gear
and an auxiliary hand gear TO eontro.
This bell 'N'' ''r7''
When the FL took its dive on March
% it carried its air gear, the limit
of which was fortyfve pounds and
which would be useless at a depth
greater than 100 feet.
Not sound was heard from the Ft4
from the timo she was seen to make
her last dive by officers and men Of
the steamer HOlsatia on the morning Of
March %. If she lad been in a depth
less than 100 feet and men on her were
alive, they could have telegraphed.
II is apparent TINT she went quickly
to greater depth. 1t remains to be
publicly proved, and it has not beer
officially admitted, Lut reports are that
tho F-i did not carry auxiliary ha9G
gear on March 25 whom she made hGI
fatal diy" and by means of which thc
entombed men could have communi.
Gated with mates on other undersea
ships If they were alive.
10 Marker Buoy Shows
There has also been much discussion
and argument why no marker buoy ever
cane up from the Fl when it met will
accident, The + group are designed
SO as to be able to send up a buoy to
tue surface i'll the event of catastrophe.
No such buoy ever came up from the
"a. Report has it that the "a marker
buoy is now on the tender Alert and
was not carried by the sea-wasp when
she went out for practise on the day
of her fatal plunge. 1t is generally
conceded, however, that the F-4 is so
ably torn and battered that it will be
hard to determine if she carried a
marker buoy when she put out. Divers
who have gone down have repeatedly
reported that the submarine is lying
almost upside down and that her super
structure is practically cleared away.
The salvage valve has also come in
for attention, This is another safety
cOntriVance for submarines of the +
group. Ii is an obscure little contriy.
ance Oh the port side of the subma,
rincS, well forward of the coming
tower, and Is the only means of getting
air into the ship when sealed from the
Inside except by breaking in a port
hole.
The salvage valve cannot be operated
from the inside 1t is simply an air
VNt from the exterior for emergency
uses. To prevent possible tampering
aud resultant leakage the wheel
which controls the valve is locked with
Yale lock.
Pfint Fills Keyhole
Keys to this lock are kept on the
mother ship Alert. Report on the
waterfront has it that though this
safety appliance was furnished by the
designers and builders, it had been
neglected, 1t is understood that navy
officials have admitted that coats Of
paint have been applied so literally
Ind frequently that it would be impos,
ihlc now to insert key into the lock
" nm air hosA is to be attacked. the
diver on the job will be compelled to
saw off the valve with hack saw be
fore he can make an attachment.
There is M Disgusting the fact that
there is pilikia and bitter feeling be-
tween officers ashore and officers ahoat
II regard to recent developments in
~" FL salvage work. Admiral Moore
* supreme in command of the shore
station. Commander Kittelle is su.
"""m" in command of all craft aflOat
It is no secret that there have been
clashes between the two commanders
uN.to authority.
The BrnOklYn nnNY Nnrl hirers hnrn