New Britain herald., 1928-01-05

tf0m our exp0t1onco 0u1n8 tn' entire time the listening was mos unfavorable. Even when we wer' within 600 feet of the S-% at time VIC were barely able to distinguish tapping signals, owing to unde water noises and our own vibration.
 S-4 Without Soda Lime
 The witness staid that the S-4 Wal without soda lime for purifying thu air.
 Did the commanding officer o' the S-4 try to obtain supply"
 II believe he did"
 Lieut.. Worden explained that 1T July last the entire 12th submarsn. division requested the installation ol air purification systems and also the storage of new soda lime containers
 The bureau of construction and repair advised the S-S and l believe all the other vessels that this work was contemplated for this fiscal year 1929" the witness said. Il under stand that the S-4 received such q communication
 The witness. in reply to questions by Commander Doyle said he had never seen the commanding officer of the S-4 handle his vessel
 Do you consider him cautious or careless 2"
 From my knowledge of him. l would consider him very cautious and careful. In fact, in some things, have had occasion at times to think that he might be overly eau tious."
 Tn redirect examination the wit ness told Commander Bratton that the coast pilots guide called atten- ton to the submarine trial range at the entrance to ProvincetoWn har- bor.
 To Commander Reinburg the wit ness said submarines operating alone did not follow the rule calling for a tender flying the submarine warning flag. This was done, he said. only when several submarines were carrying out maneuvers with other ships
 Lieut.. Worden said he had not notified any submarine agency of the government that he was going to operate in the vicinity of Province town.
 Do you ever notify the coast guard stations when you are going to operate in certain vicinity"
 ''I have never done so.'
 To Captain Joseph V. Ogan. q member of the court of inquiry. the witness said he believed that if the Paulding had approached on any other course she probably would have been sighted earlier.
 Rear Admiral Julian l.. Latimer, a member of the court. questioned Lieut.. Worden Ut length on details of his previous testimony. especially regarding methods of supplying air to submarines. To Admiral Latimer the witness aid he did not consider the duty at Provincetown unduly hazardous. There was only one fog gy day during the trials, aud on that day no runs were made.
 Rear Admiral Richard II. Jackson. president of the court. took the wit ness. To him Lieut.. Worden said the fairway leading into Province. town could not be considered q steamer lane. Steamers. he said, rarely used it. and these proha ply would no out beyond the buoys marking the trial course.
 The range, he said, was regarded as the best on the coast. its only dis advantage being the weather.
 The witness said that since 1908, when tho practice began of having Q warning flag displayed by an ac- vessel when a sub- marine was operating submerged. in the submarine had rendered the practice of little value. The flag now was used only in spe- cial circumstances.
 safety Devices Listed
 Lieut.. Worden read from the na- val submarine manual commonly known as The Submarine Bible" the list of safety devices used on boats. These included wa tertight doors. matches in the con- ming tower through which men inn priSoned in sunken submarines might escape, salvage air systems for blowing air from flooded com listening devices. good periscopes, efficient automatic blow valves. battery ventilation system to prevent hydrogen explosions in the gas masks, and air purid- cation system.
 The latter. he said. had not be, installed on the S type vessels. and he automatic blow valves had not proved satisfactory.
 The witness said one difficulty was to find sufficient space for stow age of soda lime cans. Each vessel should normally carry for submerg d work in wartime about 120 cans SdSA AolIIll6 70 foAliuos | liS |" GUS based on the fact that half pound of soda lime would absorb the car oon dioxide generated by one man in one hour.
 Soda Lime of Little Use
 Lieut.. Worden said he did not be- ieve life on board the S-4 would nave been extended more than from .hree to six hours had the vessel been supplied with soda lime.
 In reply to further question by Jackson, the witness said { was now the practice to regard q submarine as capable of looking out 'or itself while submerged and pro- .ecting itself against collision with surface craft.
 They can and do take care Of themselves" Lieut.. Wordcn said.
 With the conclusion of Lieut.. Norden's testimony the court adj ourned until 2 o'clock