Evening journal., 1918-07-06
QUIZ ALL on FIRE
At SEHHEEL|LS POINT
Admiral Helm is Aided by
Philadelphia Detail and
Naval Board
ORIGIN OF FIRE
STILL UNKNOWN

CAPE NAY. July e.-With Admiral
James A. Helm getting the facts at nrst
hand aided by a detail OF thirty men
from the Philadelphia headquarters and
naval board Of inquiry Of three on
GERS. headed by Captain Armistead
Rust. The Navy Department yesterday
continued its Investigation into the sus-
picious circumstances surrounding the
burning OF the Sewells Point section
base at Cape May on the Fourth OF
July
Every officer and enlisted man was
quizzed closely, searching questions be-
ing asked concerning his recent move
ments and acquaintances, and officials
= made Il plain that most rigorous in
quiry would be made. For the present
no details were given out and for
NAL report which told nothing was
sent to Washington
Two lines Of inquiry in particular en-
gagged the attention Of the inqusitOrs
First how many men were on guard at
the base when the fire broke out, and, |
second. what caused the delay in the /
response Of the Cape May Fire Depart /
ment, which did not arrive at Sewclls /
Point until half an hour after flames |
were first seen9 Before the first line /
OF sentries had been established while |
the fire was in progress many specia-
Tors had crowded close TO the scene and
were not driven back until the flames
had died down.
Another line Of Investigation which
may result in the absolute prohibition
Of smoking within the lines both al
Sewells Point and the Wissahickon /,
Barracks. which IS also a wooden city,
developed IN the inquiry as TO the prev
elence Of smoking at the section base
That no bah on cigarette smoking. for q
example, evAr existed at Sewells Point
is well known. a
The importRnt question OF who or
what started Me fire which destroyed q
Philadelphia's submarine patrol base {
has not yet been answered. according 20 d
the official reporA although the officers "
said the flames ware beyond control al {
most Immediately After the fire started :
Associated with Captain Rust on the
board Of inquiry ara Lieutenant Belk- 7
nap. Of the United StStes navy reserve q
force, and Ensign Rgor. They began I
taking testimony early In the day and
continued until late in the afternoon.
In the meantime gossips and amateur
detectives were busy at a distance ora I
mile and a half from Sewells Point, at y
Yale avenue. where sentries stll We're
posted. One rumor that persisted most {
OF the day to the amusement Of the 1
naval men was a report that naval Of
flcer. formerly In the German army
had been arrested
The Navy Department issued the fol-
lowing statement, based upon the OIL
cia report:
The main building IS a total loss, but I
The records OF the men, pay accounts 2
md money In it were saved. The tar 7
Set-range houses, Y. NJ. G.. A. building &
ispensary and wharf were saved, but =
he bulkheads and land approaches a
we're badly damaged The mems per p
'onal effects were lost No damage NJ
,as done TO the boats All paymasters' q
torres and machine tools were lost. HI
Offices were established in the yacht
lub, and were ready for business yes
erday evening. The men were taken I
are Of last night In Wissahickon Bar
acks.
The origin OF the fire has not been
etermned. the officers report, and the
ames were byond control almost i'm
lediately after the blaze broke out
One result that may come out Of the
re VIII be an easing up OF the restric
ons against giving out information IN
e Fourth Naval District. especially
hen such Information does not give
4 TO the enemy. Such an occurrence +
the section-base fire might be classed =
a non-mililary happening. naval Of =
ers believe. but with the regulations
w in force officials in this city or at
pc May are not permitted TO say
0rd. the officers declare.
MANY calls were received By The
',vspaper Offices from parents OF OIL
rs and enlisted men asking n anyone
ID been killed or Injured seriously
he newspapers were compelled 20 re-
y that no Official Information had
zen given ont. and that parents must
at until word came from Washing
q.