Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-26
NAVY MAY LEARN
FROM So WRECK
Cape Cod Fishermen Say
They Could Have Raised
Craft at Once.
BY HARVEY ANDERSON.

assembled mere TO Work over tne
sunken submarine S-4 has become,
with the tragic flight OF precious
hours, a mere salvage squad, this lit
tie fishing village. and, indeed. the en-
tire Nation. is turning 60 the ques-
ton Of what the Navy may learn
from this disaster and what assur-
ances may be found that 1t will not
be repeated.
The Navy Department has been as
sailed from many quarters both for
the existence of conditions which per-
mitted such an accident to happen and
for the failure to get assistance to the
men imprisoned 102 feet below the
surface in time to save them from a
slow. agonizing death by suffocation.
Say They Could Have Raised 1t.
How much justification exists for
these criticisms will be brought out
by the naval court appointed to eX-
anime into the tragedy. and out OF 1t
all may come marked advancement in
the problem of rendering submarines
more safe.
Cape Cod flShermen-griZZled, hard
bitten Portuguese for the most part
say openly that they could have saved
the S-4. One old skipper told the
writer that If the Navy had put up
a sign saying anybody could have the
submarine, the Portuguese would
have had it up before morning" But
inquiry among the fishermen de-
veloped considerable difference Of
opinion as to what should have been
done.
The writer has been informed by a
oNl o1%so
equipment Of any kind in Boston; that
all the Navy emergency apparatus
had been removed to New London,
Conn, and that after the disaster. the
Navy telephoned to Boston to try to
find equipment among commercial
firms.
A former communications of1cer. in
the submarine service three years, and
now retired, said to the writer:
After the Ssh went down, per-
sonally and by letter urged Navy Of
ficials to place pontoons and derrick
apparatus at Provincetown and other
ports near places where submarines
were being tested. / made sugges-
tons as to adaptation OF air and water
valves of the pontoons. to facilitate
their use in an emergency. / was
informed that my suggestions were
not practicable.
PontOons Arrive Late.
II do not care to be interviewed
about this, but you are at liberty TO
give my name and address to any per.
son officially interested"
Unquestionably, a searching inquiry
into the placing Of emergency appara-
tus in the vicinity OF submarine tests
will be an important detail Of the in
vestigation. Pontoons were brought
from New London and the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. fighting high seas and ar
irving more than two days after the
S-4 sank. The derrick lighter Colos-
sus. brought from New London, did
not arrive until Tuesday.
The mine sweeper Falcon was the
only vessel Immediately available
which carried diving apparatus. 1t
was the only vessel with a decom.
preston chamber, without which no
diver could work. When the diver
Michaels collapsed Monday. the F'al.
con had to leave the wreck to take
him TO Boston, as slow decomposition
was required for the vain effort to
save him from the bends" OF which
he died.
While the Falcon was away nothing
could be done. II was explained by
Navy officials that the gale made work
impossible, and hence the removal OF
the Falcon did not affect the situation.
However, IL the wind had fallen with
the Falcon away and life ebbing fast
below. the absence Of the ship would
have been critical.
Capt. ]. S. Bayliss OF the destroyer
Paulding. which struck the S-4. said
he had no information as to the near.
~ x1ya nd
ing OF any kind. Navy regulations
provide a submarine tender. TO clear
the seaway for submarine tests, carry
ing a red flag and warning all vessels
from the course. The Wandank was
the tender for the S.4. 1t was in
Provincetown Harbor when the S-4
was struck outside the harbor. This
correspondent has been unable TO de-
termine whether the Wandank was
under steam at the time. Statements
that the Wandank had no steam and
that II was getting up steam have
both been made.
Used for Tests for II Years.
Provincetown has been used for sub.
marine tests for IL years. Conditions
for this work have been found pccul.
iarly favorable. and submarines of
this purpose. Repeated efforts have
been made TO have a submarine base
established here. II a base IL not es
tablished here. the Navy may find It
advisable TO place such equipment and
personnel as may DO needed TO safe
guard life.
The Navy Department already is
overwhelmed with suggestions for
technical equipment OF submarines To
enable trapped men TO escape. Lay
opinion, Of course, Is not conclusive
in this regard, but the drive toward
thorough overhauling OF the under.
sea boats. In every engineering detail
involving protection Of life. promises
results.
l.. G.. Montgomery. retired petty
officer. with years Of service on many
submarines. outlines some Of the prob.
lens as follows:
II think all experienced submarine
men will agree that IA way should be
found to utilize the air In the air
TASKS OF the torpedo tubes. This air,
under ] 800 pounds pressure, would
Of course. Kill the men instantly IL
the TASKS were punctured. But II
would be IA simple matter to rig n
valve which would enable them TO
draw on the air ms they need IT,
There In no reason why the butterfly
valve, which released the foul air that
has been breathed. should not still he
working. If even tiny flow of air
could be- maintained steadily from the
air TASKS. 1t would prolohg iife for
many hours.
Service Men Devise Plans.
THE men In the submarine servics
who 20 down in tho subs used 10 iig-
ufs out all sorts of schemes. For In.
stance. IL might he possible To carry
in a chamber on top Of iiia boat "A
coiIed tube. perhaps 200 fest long.
connected with ono Of the air TASKS,
! am convinced that the pressure In
the flask. suddenly released, would be
sufficient u free this tube and carry
IL toward the surface, II would be
capped at the end ana picked up by
tho salvage crew. would Immediately