The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-05-04
Germans Devise 70
Ways to Sink Ship

S1NoiiIidiI, I'd, May O.-DlVe1S OF
, the United States navy who examin-
| ed the German steamer LiebenfelS
which was sunk in Charleston h8rbor
on Feb. with the obvious intention
| OF blocking the channel to the navy
yard at that point, discovered that
there were twenty-eight ways by
which water could be admitted into
the vessel in such way as to escape
the observation OF any one but an
expert diver.
And according to an article in the
current issue of the Scientific Amer
lean, the German crew of the vessel
used twenty-seven of the twenty
eight possible means. The navy de-
partment would not permit the enum-
Grafton of them all, but by way of il
Illustrating German mastery of the
finer and more subtle technic of des-
truction the Scientific American men
tons few of the means employed
to sink the ship. The article says:
"a modern ship is equipped with a
double bottom in which space fresh
water for the boilers is commonly
kept as we'll as salt water to ballast
the ship when she carries no cargo.
There is piping system leading
from the double bottom to the boil
ers and pumps to force the water to
them. There is also means of intro
| ducing water into the double bottom
from the sea SO that in case of emer-
gency salt water might be used in the
boilers. In addition to this there is
a system of piping running to the
condensers and also the various parts
of the ship to supply water.
Vessel Open to Sea
This has direct connection with the
sea through main sea valve, and in
addition to the system to the main
condensers there is a system connect
ing with the auxiliary condenser.
"The divers found that the valves
in these systems of piping had been
tempered with in such way as large
ly to escape observation. For instance
the valve would look complete and in
perfect condition, but while the valve
cover was lifted it would be found
that the valve disk had been removed
and then the cover replaced to con-
ceal the mischief Thus the entire
piping system of the vessel was open
to the sea.
"The manholes that open into the
double bottom of the vessel were not
directly opened hut hod bceI Stacked
off slightly so that there would be
a considerable leakage through them
"In order to hamper the work of
the divers as much as possible, OBJ
structions were placed in his way and
for example, an iron ladder was jam
med up against the main sea valve
in such way as to prevent any one
from reaching it. Ddivers had to raise
the planking in the floor of the en-
CINE room and pass under this
through complicated mass of piping
to reach the main sea valve
Everything was done in a very
thorough manner except that the
crew neglected to destroy or throw
away all the valve disks. Many of
them were found scattered about the
vessel and were fitted back in place.
In other cases wooden disks were
made to take the place of the valve
disks destroyed In order to seal the
openings perfectly portland cement
was used. The glands about the pro-
peller shafts had also been removed
to admit water, and there were leaks
in the boilers which would admit
water from the sea by way of the
piping SYSTEM"