Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-28

is planned to bring the stern up
first, for if any of the men are
alive it is believed they are in the
two rear compartments. the engine
room and the motor room.
1t was said by officers at the sub
marine base tonight that if the SOL
is flooded with water, lift of 4SO
tons would be necessary to bring her
to tn surface. If two of the COM
partments are air tight, a lift of
ESQ tons would be necessary.
Steamship Back on Run
Boston, Sept u. - (AP) The
steamship City of Rome. which col
lided with the submarine S-51 off
Block Island, Friday night, sailed
late today for Savannah on its reg
ular trip. Captain John H. Diehl.
who was in the wheelhouse of the
steamship when 1t rammed and sank
the submarine, was in command of
the vessel when it sailed. Sometime
in the early hours of Monday the
City of Rome is to pass the scene of
the collision, where a rescue fleet is
laboring to raise the S-51 and de-
termine If any of the "a men who
went down with her remain alive.
Plates Damaged
The steamship left with virtually
full passenger list, only a few of
those booked for the voyage having
cancelled their reservations since the
disaster An examination of her hull
early today showed three plates on
the starboard bow denied and three
on the port side bulged out. Several
frames and floor plates were slightly
distored. Two seams and one or
two minor leaks were stopped up,
and the vessel was pronounced sea-
worthy and allowed to proceed.
Official inquiry into the conduct of
Captain Diehl and his officers at the
time of the collision was begun to-
!. day by the local Office of the u. S.
Steam boat Inspectors. Captain Her.
bert T. Parker, inspector of hulls,
and John Stewart, boiler inspector,
took the statements of the captain,
first and second officers, quartermas-
ter, one seaman and a member of
the engineroom staff. These will be
forwarded to the supervising inspect
or of the fifth district, who will de-
eide whether charges are to be pre-
ferred against any of those con-
cerned.
To Question Survivors
Stewart also will interview Alfred
Geier and Michael S. Lira, two of
the three survivors of the submar-
inc crew, who are at the Chelsea
| naval hospital. Today hospital au-
thorities refused to permit the ques-
tioning until the two men had en-
| joyed complete rest for several
days.
Captain Yancy N. Williams of the
Charlestown navy yard called on
Captain Diehl on board the City of
! Rome today. 1t was said that the
conference was for the purpose of
clearing up some minor points in
connection with the collision. The
naval investigation will be conducted
by Rear Admiral H. Christy, COM
mander of the submarine control
force at New London, Conn.
Statement General Manager
E. r. Richardson of New York,
vice president and general manager
of the Ocean Steamship Line, own
ers of the City of Rome, made pub
lie tonight the following statement:
The entire personnel of the
Ocean Steamship Company of Sa-
vannah from the highest official to
the humb1est employee is deeply dis
tressed and grieved at the great loss
of life resulting from the collision
of our ship with the United States
Navy submarine S-51.
I'VE, however, feel and believe
that the master of the City of Rome
did everything that able seamanship
could suggest to prevent the acct
dent and to tender aid thereafter.
We have always considered and do
now consider Captain Diehl' of the
City of Rome one of the ablest COM
manders of our fleet. He has had a
captaincy in our service continuous
ly for at least 20 years and during
that time has not been in an acct
dent where there was a loss of life
until the present collision"