Evening star., 1928-05-07
BOARD EXONERATES.
CREW Of PAULD|NC.
Coast Guard Inquiry Places
3 Blame for S-4 Disaster
L on Navy Department.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Lieut.. Comdr. j. S. Bayliss. the skip
per. and all others on board the Coast
Guard destroyer Paulding when she
crashed into and sunk the submarine
Sd off Provincetown, Mass, last De-
cember II, have been exonerated of all
Blame in connection with the disaster
in report by Coast Guard board of
inquiry.
The report. made public last night
with the approval of Secretary Mellon,
disagrees with the original decision of
. naval investigating board attaching
serious blame" to the Paulding COM
mander for alleged failure to sight the
submarine III time to prevent the colli-
sion. Secretary Wilbur. however. had
referred this phase of the inquiry to the
Treasury. which has supervision over
the Coast Guard. for its attention.
Taking up the testimony of witnesses
In the naval investigation in detail. the
Coast Guard board found nothing to
warrant the charge that any of the
Paulding'S men were responsible. en-
phasized particularly the absence of
warning flag in the vicinity of the SUBJ
marines trial course, and recommended
that 20 further action be taken and that
Csmdr. BayliS be notified officially that
neither he nor any of his officers or
men is held responsible for the dis
aster
No Warning Flag.
Had a submarine warning flag been
displayed as shown on the photographic
Office pilot charts and in the Navy signal
manual or had the commanding officer
Of the Paulding knowledge of the opera
tons Of submarines in this vicinity" the
report said, no collision would have
occurred"
Referring to naval testimony that
owing TO modern Improvements in SUBJ
marine construction. particularly since
the World War. these vessels had been
enabled to look out for themselves and
special warnings of their proximity were
no longer considered necessary, the re-
port said this fact had not been pub
lished nor was it communicated to the
Coast Guard.
The board held that the Paulding's
speed Of 10 knots was the normal speed
of a destroyer on the Provincetown
'fairway" in daylight and that the Of
1icers of the submarine had every OPP
portunity by observations to see the de-
Stroyer at considerable distance and
seek immediate safety at a greater
depth"
The cause of this failure. however,
the report added, must remain inde-
terminate, since there are no survivors
TO testify"
1T is the experience of the members
Of the board" the report continued,
that no mechanical appliance is in
4allible. 1t appears to be impossible to
determine whether or not there was a
failure on the part of the mechanical
appliances OF the S-4 prior to the coll
lision.
Sub Must Keep Clear.
The report stressed the doctrine of
the submarine service that response
bility rests upon a submarine COM
mander TO keep clear OF all surface
craft"
"A destroyer. on the other hand" 1t
said. approaching vessel admittedly
designed TO see and not be seen, and
evidenced only by two periscopes little
above the water In a choppy sea with
considerable white caps, and those on
the bridge of the destroyer having no
reason 10 anticipate the presence Of
submarine, cannot be held 10 be negli-
gent in failing to observe the peTiScopes
IN tine 20 avoid collision as they ap-
preached slowly through the water"
Praising CoFndr Bayiis for neglect
ing no precautions for reScuing pos
sibie survivors of the S-4, the board
further concluded:
The action of the Paulding in
swinging right full rudder and backing
her engines was ti1e correct one as
giving the greatest promise Of passing
clear.
When the submarine S-4 was sight
I'd by the Paulding upon It's emergence
rs yards on the destroyer's port bow,
collision was inevitable, l1otwitnstand-
ing the immediate and correct nlaneu-
yers undertaken In accordance with
the orders Of the oflcer Of the deck.
Whiteeaps Covered Sea.
'Tl1e failure 70 recognize the peril
scopes al a greater distance than rs
Yards did not indicate an Indifferent
lockout, since the difficulty Of picking
Up and distinguishing small objects was
greatly enhanced by the choppy sea
sn6 strong wind that covered the sur
face with wf1iDscaps."
The Paulding was damaged 10 the
extent Of sIa.T65 IN the collision. but
was able 70 proceed unassisted TO an
anchorage in PrOYincefown Harfor and
later went to the Boston Navy Yard
for repairs. Before leaving the scene.
however, the report said, she lowered
a boat Immediately after the crash
10 rescue possible survivors. dropped a
buoy 70 mark the spot Of sinking and
took cross bearings.
the Coast Guard board was made
10 of capts. A. l.. Gamble and VIII
liam J. Wheeler. Engineer in chief
Robert y. Adams and Condrs. Charles