Evening star., 1915-04-10
Secretary Daniels Quotes Re-
ports Showing Inflated Ves-
sci Was Not Defective.
ADVICES UP TO MARCH |
BASES OF STATEMENT
Preparations for Raising the Craft
in Anticipation of Arrival of
Expert Divers.

Secretary Daniels declared today that
the last reports to the Navy Depart
ment showed the ill-fated submarine
F-4 to be in good condition.
Il have asked Admiral Moore. COM
mandant of the naval station at Homo
lulu. for report on the accident" said
Secretary Daniels. 'Of course. this car
not be made until the vessel has been
raised to the surface. our reports up
to March / show that the Fl was T.,
good condition. 1t is probable that any
report concerning her condition after
that date is in the ship itself
Submarine Delicate Machine.
1T must be remembered that suh-
marine is the most delicate machine ia
the world. Naval experts still are eN-
perimenting to find something perfect
Soon after the submarine was lost
Mr.. Daniels. after consulting the bureau
chief, issued a statement, saying:
Nothing within the knowledge OF
the Navy Department warrants any
doubt as to the condition of the en-
gines or batteries of the F-i."
Preparations for the raising of the
submarine F-4 are being pushed en-
ergetically by the naval authorities at
Honolulu, so that everything VIII hs
in readiness upon the arrival of the
L. S. S. Maryland tomorrow with eN-
pert divers. Rear Admiral Moore has
notified the department that pontoons
are being fitted with hosting apparatus
for lifting the sunken vessel. and th'
force engaged is working overtime IA
order to expedite things as much as
possible.
Statement by Secretary.
,noo tha orJarc ciyan
Secretary Daniels gave out the follow
ing statement:
The great depth in which the "A
lies, about 270 feet, places her outside
of the reach of ordinary diving opera
tions without the special appliances
with which this party is equipped.
Practically the only way OF reaching
her with hoisting chains and sings Is
by means of sweeping wire hawsers or
chains under her, such method being
necessarily hit or miss. When these
deep divers reach Honolulu il will be
possible for them, with their eNper-
fence and special appliances, 10 go
down to the wreck. Hosting sings and
chains can then be attached. In such
case of course, there is much greater
proba bility of raising the sunken Ves-
sci.
No wrecking company has offered TO
do salvage work with divers at depth
the appliances or experience to negotiate
greater depth, but the navy deep divers
have been down deep as IA feet IN
Long Island sound. and are confident thar
they can work at a depth of 500 feet or
more. Even with experience. however.
there is considerable risk in diving opera
tions at such great depth, a I'D for this
reason DR.. French, who has oeen associ-
ated with the divers in their experimental
deep-diving work, and who is experienced
in the physiology of diving. is with the
party.
Will Investigate Cause.
u am determined to do all that is
humanly possible to ascertain the
cause of the disaster, In order to avoid
repetition of this. Unless the accident
was of such a nature as to disable the
men in the boat almost instantly. 1t is
practically certain that some of the per
sonnel would have left records showing
what happened In the case of a Jap
apese subma rine sunk few years ago
the comma nding officer left a full report
of the disaster, with suggestions as to
avoiding such accidents in the future.
This was found when the boat was raised.
with the crew all dead.