New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-28
FIND CORRODED
LINING CAUSED
F-4 EXPLOSION
investigators Say Defect
Allowed Water to
Enter Battery.
from The Tribune Bureau J


Washington, Oct. 27.-A dramatle
reconstruction, step by step, oil 'he
happenings on the submarine f-4 o"
March % last. when she sank of Homo
lulu with the loss of all on board Is
contained in the report of the Board
of Inquiry. made public at the Navy
Department to-day. The oficers OF thc
hoard. headed by Rear Admiral Ciit-
ford J. Boush, examined every p'a'e
and rivee of the wreck.
The urinary cause of the disaster
was the corroded condition OF lead
lining in the battery tanks, and, in con-
sequence, of rivets in the port wall OF
the forward battery steel tank. water
was thus allowed to enter parts OF the
battery and to produce chlorine gas
which exploded violently, admitting
water in large quantities.
Every possible remedy was resorted
to by the crew, but owing to the de-
fective diving apparatus, the tendency
to lunge forward and downward couio
not he overcome. The crew manipu-
lated the rudders and propellers, and
tried TO blow the water from the
tanks, but the plunging continued. All
Of the crew who could. took refuge IN
the engine room. closing the water
.;,h+ doors There. il is believed, they
lived for some time after the potion
was reached, but the pressure hnaily
caused the engine room bulkheads to
give way.
Daniels to Confer To-day.
Secretary Daniels has not decided
u,bat stems will be taken to hx re-
sponsibility for the disaster. lie VIII
confer with his advisers tomorrow
II is believed that the corroslon IN the
batteries should have been discovered
during regular inspection. Inc oe-
fective diving qualities OF the SUD
marine were due to the installation
Of experimental propellers IN Fenru-
arv. 1915. according 70 the report OF
the board of inquiry.
The description Of the SINKING OF the
F4. as given in the report, Is grapnlc'
II is based on forty-two separate con,
clusions deduced from the pnyslcai
etata of the wreck on examination. =.
"The primary cause OF the disaster,
tho renort saws. "was the corroded con-
dition Of the lead lining, and, IN con-
sequence. of certain rivets IN the port
vail of the forward battery steel tank
Tba secondary causes of the disaster
were: First, the poor diving qualities
~ the vessel, and second, the conse-
ouent failure of the vessel promptly 10
resnond TO measures taken 20 bring her
to the surface.
"ITnknown TO the commanding oihcer,
tho vessel acquired some negative buoy
oncv forward of the centre Of gravity,
through the leaky rivet in the port
wall Of the forward battery steel tank.
"Water accumulated in the forward
battery lead-lined tank and through
corroded slop tanks overfiowed into
tho battery cells-in contact with sui
phuric acid in the cells, generating
chlorine gas.
Vessel Begins to Dive.
"The vessel developed q strong ten
dency to dive. Upon these intimations
of danger there followed up.rudder:
but. due to the poor diving qualities OF
the vessel, aggravated by the additionai
quantity of water taken IN through
the port wall of the forward battery
tank. the vessel did not respond, but IN
fact. continued to descend. Downward
momentum was gained before the pro-
pellers were stopped.
Automatic blow was tripped. and
blow valve on auxiliary tank opened in
the endeavor to check downward mo-
mentum. Man9uvring with propellers
probably took place. The appreciable
length Of time requisite for air to build
up in ballast tanks for the expulsion
OF sufficient quantities Of water re-
,-a.