Evening star., 1928-01-10
PAULD|NG OFFICERS
TELL OF S-4 CRASH
Distance Too Short to Avoid
Collision, Chief Quarter
master Says.
BY the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press.
| BOSTON, January 10.-Members of
the crew of the Coast Guard destroyer
Paulding. which rammed and sank
the submarine S-4 off Provincetown
last month. continued to give evi.
dence today before the naval court of
| inquiry investigating the S-4 disaster.
The first witness to take the stand
today was Charles Il. Reed, chief quar-.
termaster on the Paulding. who was
acting as Junior officer of the deck at
the time of the collision.
! The movements of the Paulding as
she approached Provincetown Harbor
on the afternoon of December II were
described in detail by Reed. who went
over ground previously covered by
Lieut.. Comdr. John :. Bayliss. com.
mander of the destroyer. and Ensign
| NJ. NJ. Phannemller, officer of the
deck.
In Navy II Years.
| Reed said he had been in the Navy
ii years prior TO joining the Coast
Guard Service five months ago.
The visibility was good as the
Paulding entered the harbor. Reed
said. Preceding the collision. he was
watching the Nantucket Lightship
which was at anchor in the harbor, to
determine why it was off it's station.
| lie had Just begun to pick up a signal
the lightship. was flying when warn.
ing came of the submarine ahead.
Il had my position on the starboard
wing of the bridge when / heard a
commotion in the interior of the
bridge" Reed said. II glanced for.
ward over the rail and saw. less than
| nh h.
| marine. probably three feet out of the
| water"
| The witness indicated with wooden
models OF the Paulding and the S-4
the positions described, the vessels ap.
parently moving on courses at a right
angle
The submarine hove little over
the port bow, Reed said
! Il could not determine from the
| glance j gave what speed the sub
marine was making. l did not wait
| To see any more. but went immedi.
| a'ely to my station at the engine
room telegraph. As / reached tho
door the captain passed me. He and
| ! srasped the telegraph at the same
! time
Questioned on Speed.
| Comdr. Leslie r.. Bratton. judge
| advocate. questioned the witness as
| io his impression at the time OF the
speed the S-4 was making.
My impression was that II was
| too close for comfort. and my posi-.
| tion was at the telegraph" he
answered. II had no time 10 look
| around when others were observing
| the submarine My momentary i'm.
| preston was that she was, under way
| and crossing our bow.
| The distance was so short ! knew
| the helm would not answer enough,
10 clear. My next thought was Of
the siren. which is directly. over the
/ telegraph. l pulled il and started
for the port wing OF the bridge. Re.
| fore | got out there the crash came
| and ] had TO steady myself"
Reeds next duty" he said was
| tn take the bearings of the Paulding' $
| position and note them in the log"
! AS | was taking my last bearing.
! that on Wood End Coast Guard sta.
| tion. ] got my last view Of the sub.
| marine" he said. My instrument,
VAS directly over what I took To he
| the tail Of the submarine. l saw IL
| feet Of the stern above the surface
| on the port beam. gradually sinking "
Reed said he had not seen the
clearing wires of the submarine os
| iis propellers.