The sun., 1917-06-03
REPORTS LINER
ST. LOUIS HITS
DIDN'T. EXPLODE
American Naval Attache at
London Says 13 Shells
Burst Prematurely.
MONGOLIA CASE OPENS
Admiral Earle, Ordnance Chief,
Denies Capt. MacDougall's
Statement

WASHINGTON, June s.-An official re-
port from Capt. w. d. MacDougall.
American naval attache at London, as
sertins that OF forty-hve shots fred by
the liner st. Louis on a recent voyage
to England thirteen shells burst prema-
turely and that none Of those which hit
the target exploded. came to light to-day
investigation OF the sunnery accident
which killed two Red Cross nurses on
the Mongolia several weeks ago.
Capt. MacDoueall said It was wrong
to expect merchant ships to defend them
selves against submarines under such
circumstances"
The statement about the shells failing
to explode after they hit the target was
promptly and emphatically denied by
Admiral Earle. chief of the ordnance
bureau. on the witness stand. The Ad-
miral declared that when the St. Louis
returned to New York IL was proved that
every one OF the shells which hit the
target exploded. "A perfect record" he
commented.
Senator Frelinghuysen Of New Jersey.
author OF the resolution which ordered
while ago you told the committee that
the ammunition you put aboard the mer-
chant ships was perfect" he said. Nov
II is shown that thirteen of the shells
exploded prematurely."
II meant. of course, that they were
as nearly perfect as we are able to
secure them,' answered Admiral Earle.
Poindexter's Comment.
"They are all right except that they
killed two Red Cross nurses-something
like the successful surgical operation
which killed the patient" commented
Senator Poindexter. Patient died OF
weak heart" added Senator Penrose.
Senator Poindexter asked Secretary
Daniels whether there was any truth In
the report that two American Destroyer
had been sunk in English waters because
of defective ammunition. "Absolutely
nothing to It" answered the Secretary.
my good brother editors lose about one
destroyer every day for US"
SO far as eau be ascertained no news
paper has printed any rumor that an
American fighting vessel has been sunk
In battle since war with Germany was
declared.
Senator Penrose wanted to know II II
would have been possible for any one to
have tampered with the shells on the
Mongolia in such a way as to cause the
accident Admiral Earle said that the
shells were kept under guard constantly
and that he doubted whether any one
would risk the danger of exploding then
by tamperlng with them. The Admiral's
testimony brought out that since the
| Mongolia accident a wooden disk which
will be pulverized or burned by the dis
charge Of the shell has been substituted
for the brass cap.
The committee sasped at the outse
Of the hearing when Secretary Daniel,
drew from his pocket a bloodstained ant
battered piece Of brass cap. That
| gentlemen" he said. was taken from
| the heart OF one of the dead nurses"
Senator Poindexter threw a scare Int
the committee when he struck mattel
| to light n cigar In close proximity to ex
| hibits of high explosives.
swanson shouts n Warning.
I Look out. YOU will blow US up,
shouted Senator Swanson. acting chair
| man OF the committee.
"Well, we want to find out whethe
this powder will explode. don't we?
/ calmly replied Senator Poindexter.
| Secretary Daniels read report fron
Lieut. Philip Seymour. commander OF tn
| gun crew on tne mOHGollu. Liest. oey
mour said "the accident was not due L
carelessness or neglect Of any one ol
board the Mongolia" Secretary Dan
| iels added that the report was confirme'
by the findings OF the board OF lnquir.
ordered by Admiral Usher immediate!
after the accident.
why did such accidents never happel
before?" asked Senator Page Of Yer
| mont
| Admiral Earle explained that durin
firing practice In the navy the men wer
| ordered below or were protected by tn
ships armor.
'It looks to me as II the nurses shoul
have been ordered below or protecte
in some other manner" said Senate
| Penrose.
| At the conclusion Of to-day's sessio
OF the inquiry. although several NOR
witnesses are to be called, II was plainl
evident that the committee had made u
It's mind to hold the navy blameless 70
the accident on the Mongolia. Presi
dent Franklin of the International Mer
camille Marine Company and officers Q
the Mongolia the st. Louis and othe
American merchant vessels probabl