Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
NAVY HEADS HERE
CONFER ON BLAST
~ - -
Officials Believe Lightning
Caused DIsasterSite
Chosen With Care.
- the Associated Press.

Naval Arsenal was discussed today
s &C Is conferences OF all high naval ON
cials In Washington with Acting Sec
/ rotary Robinson.
accept the theory that lightning bolt
& striking Building No. was RESPONSE
BILE for the disaster. The structure
was q one-story building Of brick, with
q tar and gravel roof II was pro-
tected by "a double copper ground
wire as b lightning arrester; but such
protection against lightning on build
tnes containing explosives has never
been regarded by the Navy g. Of musn
value. Ofiicials said that within the
past three years the Insurance Asso.
cation. after extensive study, decided
II was Of little use to install rods on
munitions magazines.
The Navy had a similar experience
a4 the Indian Head powder factory
some years ago when an explosion
/ was attributed to q lightning bolt.
Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss, former
chief of ordnance and then coInmanu-
ing at Indian Head, so reported 70
the department. In the case OF Lake
Denmark. Rear Admiral G. G. Bloch.
the present ordnance chief, believes
the bolt set fire to the powder stored
in Building No. 8 and that the tnten-
sity Of the are was suficient TO Oct
onate the explosives. wrecking the
roofs OF nearby storehouses: FTag-
ments from the burning Duilding, car
ried by the wind or thrown by the
force or succeeding blasts, propapIy
fell into the nnroofed buildings. set
ting them afire in turn.
Site Carefully Chosen.
The Lake Denmark Arsenal was
established many years ago ana the
site was selected with greatest care.
1t was chosen because OF It's isoia.
ton from the civil population. anu
also because of Its surface forma-
ton. a number Of hills rising from
400 TO 500 feet within the reserva-
ton. The numerous storage build
inrs were erected during the Word
war. but were placed about the nils
and at various elevation levels As
an additional protection.
In every case where there were
two closely adjoining storehouses'
one was designed to contain high ex-
piosiyes and the other for storage
of non-explosive material
The Lake Denmark Arsenal Is the
major storage center 1or aIinui :.
contained not only the large NUM-
her Of anti submarine depth bombs
which were removed from American
deatroyers after the war. but 8
iarge supply OF loaded 14-inch shells.
These belong to the Army, but were
stored by the Navy until the Army
had facilities for their care. Origi-
naiIy manufactured for the Navy
built railway guns used in France.
they were Transferred with the guns
to the War Department after me
war. -
Black Powder Believed Intact.
The arsenal also contained a large
amount OF ordnance equipment. In
Guiding many guns taken OF Ameri-
czan merchantmen after the war. It
was also the storage place OF special
machine tools and jigs and fixtures
necessary for the equipment OF gun
manufacturing plants. These were
used during the war to equip ordnance
plants, and were taken back BY the
Navy after the war and stored, AZ
there was no market to absorb them.
Al considerable quantity OF black
magazines and IL believed here TO be
stil intact. It also Is believed that
most of the stored guns and other
equipment was in buildings which es-
capped destruction.
Loss of the ammunition supplies at
Lake Denmark is not expected to
handicap the naval training program,
although there was some practice am
munition stored there.
Admiral Bloch. the ordnance chief,
was one Of those who attended the
Navy Department conference today.
having been recalled from leave be-
cause of. the disaster. He will go to
Lake Denmark later.
Red Cross Aids Relief.
The Navy did not attempt today TO
estimate the total damage done,
although 1t was receiving nonnentary
reports on various phases Of the dis
aster. Red Cross headquarters was
cooperating with Navy officials in re-
lief work. One telephone report from
T.. r. Buchanan, in charge Of Red
Cross activities at Dover. said the
mated at from 1000 to 1900. He gave
the number Of persons known to be
under treatment for INJURIES as SO.
The flrst message Of sympathy from
abroad to reach the Navy Department
came from Admiral Zenker, chief OF
tho German navy department. This.
message conveyed the deepest SYM
pakhy Of the German navy over the
terrible disaster at Lake Denmark"
secretary O6VlS Oh the WAL LIZ
partment. who returned to his desk
today after q trip Of inspection in
4 the affected area, estimated that the
damage to nearby Army properties
would not exceed 1900 900. His esti-
mate was concurred in by MAJ. Gen.
Clarence c. Williams chief Of Army
ordnance, who has been authorized
to appoint q board Of officers to de-
termine damages and recommend e.
sential repairs.
Removal Demand Seem.
It IL expected here that the ex.s
ploaion viii leave the War and Navy
Depaftments TO face renewed de-
fraands from New Jersey residents for
removal from that State OF large
explosive stores. Some time ago Sem
ator Edge led a delegation represent
ing New Jersey communities who
asked that the supplies be trans.
ferred to sections Of the country less
thsclSly populated. and officials found
they had no funds to flnance the re-
mOyal.
Secretary Davis said today he was
without authority. even II the money
were available to change the iocation
or the Arny's New Jersey ordnance
stores, which we're established on. the
authority Of Congress.
ts ~ 8s
STREET. / IGHTc GOING lIp.