The sun., 1916-01-16
NAVAL OFFICIALS HINT AT
A DELIBERATE EXPLOSION
Theory of Hydrogen Gas Cause of E2 Disaster Dis
credited-Acting Secretary Roosevelt Issues State
ment-Report After Inquiry Is Awaited.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1b.--Acting Sec
ment issued here tonight following the
receipt OF details concerning the explo-
sion on the submarine E-2 expressed
doubt that the explosion was due to gas.
While he would not indicate what other
agency could have been responsible. other
officials OF tho Department said that II
the accident was not due to an explo-
sion OF hydrogen gas the only alterna-
tive conclusion, In the light OF facts,
would be that some kind Of explosive had
been deliberately set Off near the bat
teries.
All OFFICIALS, however. we're careful
TO emphasize the fact that no definite
opinions could be reached until after a
thorough technical examination had
been made Mr.. Roosevelt's statement
follows:
at is too early to state definitely the
cause OF the explosion. although OF
course the fact that 1t occurred under
the battery deck. which means In the
compartment In which the batteries were
stored. would seem to Indicate an ex-
plosion OF hydrogen gas. some expert
ments made by the bureau OF steam en-
cheering with the Edison batteries led
the Department to take unusual steps to
ascertain whether or not hydrogen gas In
any considerable quantities was given
Off by the Edison batteries while being
discharged, or when the boat was under
water A. T.. Davidson. an expert an
alyist OF air. made elaborate tests DUR
ing a special six hours submerged run
OF this boat He reported that the ny
drogen gas given off while the batteries
we're being discharged was INFINITELY
small.
how a gas explosion could nave oeth
the cause and we must await further In
vest cation"
Naval expeI.ts who we're seen tonight
secuted the idea that the explosion
could have been due TO any ammunitlG'
ON board. II was explained tnat the
only ammunition on board at the time
was that contained in the torpedo heads
which are carried In different COM
rartment from that in which the accl-
dent occurred.
While IL was said that hydrogen gas
+, sufficient quantities to cause an eN-
,lnsion 81 the kind which occurred could
bav, h.sn generated had the batteries
h..n in the process OF being charged.
officials were loath 20 believe that th"
| ao,,id b.n,.an when the batteries were
being discharged. First reports received
here indicated that the batteries "ete
being charged. but this was subsequently
corrected by n Hat statement that thes
were being discharged
Tho first news OF the tragedy "a'
raceiyed at tho Navy Department over
tho long distance telephone IRON Heai
ADMIRAL Usher. Early reports from tht
| Admiral said there were -FOUR othe,
| boa,s In the dry dock with the e. q,
| the time OF the explosion, but none OF
these was injured Tonight the toi'
| lowing details, including names ana al
! dresses Of the killed and injured. were
| issued from the Department:
AN explosion occurred on the h-- u
dry dock this afternoon az III
/ apparently under the battery deck. whict
| tore up the battery floor under the FOR
ward hatch. The Edison storage batter.
was being discharged through Theo
! stat at the t!re at a slow rate
Another theory put forth In r2va
! circles tonight was that one OF the all
n-essure tanks on the vessel may hav'
| explodei These tanks. II was stated
! carry a pressure at times OF $500 pound'
/ 20 the cubic inch.
The submarine F-t. which was sunl
! In Honolulu harbor last May. had ~
e.plosion previously which was s!mIlal
| to that on the E-2. officials say. In tina
/ the battery hoor under the forwarC
/ hatch Was torn up. In this case. how
/ ever. 10 serious damage was done ant