The Washington times., 1924-11-18
HEAVY SEA
H[QDSlJP
SINKING
Lambert Appeals From 1itz
Decision While Craft
Awaits Destruction

N-5 >
While the great gray hulk of
the United States steamship
Washington was being lowed
slowly to her anchorage off the
Virginia coast today. there to
await the practice gunneyy that
will send her to the bottom of the
Atlantic, Wilton J. Lambert,
Washington attorney, made an
other effort to save the big bat
tleship.
Appeals Hitz' Decision.
Thanked with aides and law
books, Lambert went into the Court
or Appeals of the District of Co.
iumbia this morning and asked for
temporary injunction against Sec
rotary of the Navy Wilbur that will
prevent him from carrying out the
plan to sink the Washington.
1t was virtually the same Flea
that Lambert made last week be.
fore Justice Hitz in District Su.
preme Court. Justice Hitz denied
the plea and dismissed THE case
Lambert's move today was in the
nature OF an appeal from Hitz' de.
cision. E4itz said the court was
without power to intervene. The
lawyer contends that the courts
have such power.
1t is the Governments contention
that the scrapping Of the Wash.
ington, on which $35, 900, 900 have
already been spent, is decreed by
the arms conference treaties and
that the Government has no choice
but to destroy what would have
been one of the greatest sea
fighters in the world.
Lambert, in his court action
today, denied that there was any
thing in the situation that demand
cd the Washington be sunk this
week. His petition pointed out
that none of the treaties were to
De deemed effective until their rati-
rication by all the parties to the
conference. While the particular
treaty dealing with capital ship
tonnage Of the great powers has
been ratified, other treaties evolved
out Of the conference stiIl are un-
ratified, and 1t is upon this confer
ton that the attorney today sought
to proven 1.-THE hasty execution"
of the big ship.
Under ordinary circumstances, the
Washington is to be shot at by
navy gunners as long as she re-
mains afloat.
Those who are seeking to pre-
vent her destruction, however saw
a ray of hope today in which dis
patches from Norfolk which told OF
clammy weather off shore which
may delay the firing. The gunnery
tests must be carried out in calm
weather to afford the data ant
instruction which navy experts
demand. Should the weather con,
tinue bad, and further, delay the
shooting, Lambert believes the
courts may yet be prevailed upon
60 grant a temporary stay.
Calls Decision Absurd.
In his appeal today, Lambert
pointed out that Congress convenes
in two weeks and that 1t would be
polite to await its assembly before
proceeding with the ships destruct
tion especially in view of the
public opposition to the event.
Justice Hits decision that the
District courts were without power
TO intervene, he characterized MS
absurd. He pointed out that II the
courts have no power to restrain
Secretary Wilbur. then the Navy
head 'fs law unto himself anil
there is no place where relief may
be obtained in situations such as
this except the Congress, And
Congress, he pointed out, does not
meet two weeks hence. In any
event. he declared. time should be
permitted to allow Congress to
nxnraes ita will In the matter