Evening journal., 1915-09-01
j. 5. SUBMARINES
ARE CONDEMNED
Report Declares All of F
Class Faulty In Many
Respects
SEA WATER SEEPED
IN F-4'S BATTERIES

WASHINGTON, Sept THE pre-
liminary investigation into the cause
of the sinking of the submarine F-4,
of the United States Navy, on March
25 last at the entrance of Honolulu
harbor. which vessel has Just been re-
covered by officers of the navy, has
resulted in a report to the Navy De-
partment which is nothing short Of
sensational
This report contains the startling
information that all four of the sub
marines of the e class have inherent
faults, are difficult to keep in repair.
that serious trouble was experienced
with their propelling engines, electric
motors and storage batteries, in short,
that they were in a dangerous condi-
ton for use on long dives such as
the one in the course of which the F-4
met with an accident which wiped out
the lives of its officers and crew.
Probably the worst feature of the
F-4 was the fact that the sea water
had at times seeped into its storage
batteries, causing the formation of
chloride gas, which is quickly de-
structive to human life. A compara-
lively small quantity of sea water
can cause the Liberation of sufficient
chlorine gas TO asphyxiate the crew
of such a submarine as the F-4 while
/ in submerged condition.
The covering over the storage bat
teries in F-4 were supposed to be
practically gas tight and water tight
The investigation has developed the
fact that this condition does not OBJ
tain in the F-4 and other vessels OF
that class. and that the so-called bat
terry decks of the submarines permit
water to seep into the batteries.
"GrOunds" Caused Flames.
The hoard of inquiry found that tho
| storage batteries of the F-4 were al
ways in a state of being more or less
electrically grounded" and tha
these grounds have been of sufh
cient intensity to cause flame and the
fusing Of electrical connections, anl
that these faults obtained in all foui
OF the boats of the F class, of which
there are three remaining, the FL
F-2 and F-3.
The F-4s storage batteries evolves
excessive quantities of hydrogen gas
The fumes of hydrogen and acid wer
noticeable inside the F-4 on long dive
and on March last, nineteen day
before the F-4 was lost. there was
hydrogen explosion in that subma
rine which damaged the battery dec
and broke several separators Of tn
cells.
The report shows that the officer
of the IA and other submarines o
the f class we're aware of these de
fects and that it was dangerous t
use the vessels in this condition, hu
we're diligent and alert in perform
ing their duties and showed no reluc
tance to use these submarines. Tn
action of the F-4 was irregular il
diving. the depth TO which it Nigh
descend was uncertain and the sub
marine was found by the preliminar
investigation to depend more upo
the skill of the commanding office
than. upon the mechanical appliance
of the boat
The board which made the prelimi
nary investigation consisted of Com
mander Sumner F. Kittell, Lieuteu
/
and Charles r. Westcitt. Jr. TIL
, board examined former officers an
enlisted men who had served on th
F-4 and officers who served on a
the other F-clgss submarines
; Outburst Of Criticism Expected.
II is expected that the disclosure
contained in the report on the f.
will cause an outburst Of criticisl
in Congress and out Commando
Yates Sterling testified as TO tn
dangerous condition of the boats lai
year before the House Committee Q
naval affairs. It is believed that fai
ure of the proper officials to remed
the defects before permitting th
] | dangerous maneuvers from whic
! the wreck of the F-4 with the loss
! more than a score of lives, will lea
{, 10 a demand in Congress for the pun
ishment of the negligent person
persons.