Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-19
CHARGE CITY ROME
WHOLLY TO BLAME
IN RAMMINC OF S-51

S'o"' OoC. IC.-(AH) - Con-
tentions that the steamer City of
Rome was a blind ship" when it
rammed and sank the submarine s.
81 with the loss of SO lives, that it
was wholly responsible for the dis
aster and that the submarine was in
no way to blame, was made by
Lieutenant Commander Charles A.
Lockwood, judge advocate, in sum-
ming up today before the naval
court of inquiry which has been in
vestigating the collision. Disclaimer
of any blame was made by counsel
for tie Ocean Steamship Company
which operates the City of Rome.
Counsel for the company voiced the
belief that the matter of placing
blame and assessing damages rests
with a federal admiralty court. 1t
was made known that the company
has already filed it's case with such
a court in New York.
The court reconvened today upon
order of Secretary of the Navy Will
bur, who desired an immediate find
ing without the additional evidence
to be obtained through the raising
of the submarine.
Operations for raising the SUBJ
marine, where it lies off the Rhode
Island coast, have been postponed
until next spring. The secretary of
the navy took cognizance of the
death of Captain Orion P. Jackson,
president of the court, and ordered
the remaining two members, Captain
Walter H. Hunt and Captain David
A. Weaver, to conclude the session
The report. when prepared, will be
forwarded to the navy department
for review and PRONUNCIATION.
The judge advocate contended
that the submarine was competently
manned, that its lights were in order
and that it observed the rules of the
road. He set forth that the City OF
Rome was blind ship" through
failure to maintain a proper watch
and that she failed to observe any
of the rules of the road pertaining
to crossing or overtaking vessels.
He asked the court to find the col
lision due to gross negligence and
incompetence on the part of the of.
ficers and crew of the City of Rome
and that no blame attached to any
person in the naval service"
Earl Farwell, counsel for the
ct oh m
fortunate that no one was saved
doing on the night OF the collision
what her course and what was the
condition of her lights. He contend,
ed that the navy had no jurisdiction
over the steamer, her owners OF
crew. He maintained that a proper
lookout was maintained, that there
existed no possibility of collision un.
til the steamer came close to this
submarines white light, and that fol
some reason the submarine sudden.
ly crossed the steamships bow.
Were / a member of this court
would not take the responsibility Of
passing on the question of fault ex'
cept as it applied to the naval per.
sonnet" he concluded.
Commander Lockwood asserted
that the testimony of Captain Johr
H. Diehl of the City of Rome was
untrue and given only to cover ur
the laxity of Third Officer Dryer
Although Captain Diehl told of be-
ing in the pilot house, the Judge ad
vocate contended that he was moi
on the bridge until after the first
whistle, that time that might have
been used to prevent loss of life was
frittered away and that finding
themselves in danger of being ram.
med, the handlers of the City OF
Rome chose to ram the other craft
Commander Lockwood assailed
Captain Diehrs rescue efforts and his
failure to mark the disaster spot
termed his bearings careless" and
dwelt upon the failure to send out a
prompt SOS call.
1t was shown. in testimony, that
the submarine and its equipment was
worth $2,290,952. and that damage
to the City of Rome amounted to
SIS, 1896.
Farwell held that delay in sending
out the sos was caused by the cap
tain's desire to save few minutes
of valuable time.