The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-11-18
DEUTSCHLAND
ACCIDENT WAS
UNAVOIDABLE
Survivors Say That Eddy in
Race Was Responsible
for Collision.
U. S. INSPECTOR
MAKE INVESTIGATION
Report That Hostile Motor
Boat Rarnrned Submer-
sible, Branded False.

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

New London, Conn.,, Nov. 1.-THE
collision which caused the German
, merchant submarine Deutschland to
abandon her return voyage almost at
its outset today, when her conveying
tug T. A. Scott, Jr., was sunk with a
crew Of five men, was the subject of
federal investigation this afternoon.
United States inspector of steam
vessels, Captain w. E. Whitney, heard
testimony from Captain Paul Koenig,
Of the Deutschland, and his engineer,
Hans Kleese, and the chief officer,
F. w. Krephol, on how the submarine
ran down the tug off Race Rock, just
outside this port.
While the investigation is secret, it
became known through statements
outside that the collision was an acct
dent. Survivors who would discuss
the accident, agreed that it was due
to a combination of swift currents
which carried the tug off its course
and across the bows Of the submarine
in the darkness.
The crew Of the tug had no chance
for their lives. They went down inn
prisoned in the pilot house, engine
rooEn ard galley S-----.s---
Captain Frederick Hinch, Of the
Eastern Forwarding Company, who
was the only tug survivor, jumped
from the deck Of the tug and was
later taken aboard the tug Cassie.
The Deutschland's return viii be
delayed only few days by the dam
age she sustained.
Eddy Caused Accident.
An eddy caused the accident, ac-
cording 70 Captain Harry Baker, of
the tug Cassie, the other convoy. The
Cassie was travelling about half q
mile astern Of the Deutschland, while
the Scott and the submarine were
moving abreast. The sea was calm
Captain Baker said, and conditions
were normal
The Scott carried the usual lights
but the Deutschland had only hel
headlight and two side lights. The
tide was running almost full anC
when about seven miles west of Rae,
Rock, they struck and "eddy" which
twisted them out Of control. Shortl.
afterwards they came together.
The night was clear, he said, ant
there were no boats other than tn
two tugs and the Deutschland in tn
vicinity. He gave no credence to re
ports that hostile motorboat wa
approaching the submarine. Captain
Baker said that when the collisio
occurred he at once headed for tn
spot. He saw Captain Hinch in tn
water and took him on board the Cas-
sic. Earlier reports had it ths
Hinsch had been rescued by tn
Deutschland.
y Slight Damage to Deutschland.
Henry G. Hilken, vice president {
the Eastern Forwarding Compan,
said that so far as he knew, the onl
damage the Deutschland suffered wa
a twisted stem. 1t was learned late
however, that the under-sea boat hi
in her bow at least one hole about
inches square.
Captain w. a. Zones, shore supel
intendent of the Scott company, sa
he expected that the Deutschlar
would be ready to leave within tv
or three days.
Capt. Koenig, Of Deutschland, Al
peared pale and shaken as he stepp,
ashore from his vesself on its retur
refused to talk about the collisi,
and Immediately sent work to Vic
President Paul G. Hilken, of I
Eastern Forwarding Company, VI
arrived at the company's offic
shortly, afterwards and went in
consultation with him.
In the absence Of authoritative
formation considerable speculation
to the cause Of the accident were CT
rent. Among shipping men the op
ion was expressed that the steeri
gear of the submersible may hs
been at fault, causing her to I
squarely into the conveying tug. ]
fact that the tug sank almost j
mediately after being struck '