Evening star., 1928-03-20

structure above it shows that had the
S-4 been 2 or feet lower down IN the
water the damage from the Pauldlng
might not have been serious. Had sne
been 10 or IL feet lower, she Woulo
probably have escaped unScatneo. She
could not have sighted the Paulding Tar
away. for If she had seen her a minute
or SO earlier the collision might nave
been avoided. Something OF importance
NAV be learned from the bearing OF the
two periscopes. But the blow OF the
Paulding may have so diSarranged them
that their position now Will De OF little
value.
The after periscope was jammed down
in its housing, so that any one looking
through II now must lie down on the
deck to get view. This periscope Is set
about four points on the starboard bow,
which would have been toward the ap-
preaching Paulding The forward peri
scope is set nearly dead ahead, just
little to starboard.
The board of inquiry members who
jammed their way, bundled as they
were in bulky oilskins, through the mar
row hatch into the torpedo room yes
terday. had a hard time getting down.
Later they constantly reported through
the telephone carried with them the
difficulty of moving about in the other
compartments. How the divers. working
l02 feet under the surface OF the water,
managed to cut of part OF the coming
tower to get into the submarine and
remove 80 bodies is impossible for the
layman 10 understand. But their feat
stands for itself.
To Determine Facts.
Cant ] d. Wilson. senior member
of the board of inquiry. said yesterday
that his investigations will be confined
to determining the bare facts and that
no attempt will be made 70 draw con-
clusions from them. The findings OF
this board will be forwarded to Rear
Admiral Philip Andrews. commandant
Of the navy yard. who will send them
to Washington or place them before the
board which investigated the subnna-
rine's sinking At some later day. there
may be an attempt to piece together
the facts in a manner that viii give
partially accurate attempt Of what hap
pened on the submarine before and
after the accident.
Meanwhile, with the gaunt, wounded
hull of the S-4 lying in dry dock. the
Nays board of inspection and survey
from Washington viii visit the S-4 and
determine upon whether she is to be
Scrapped or reconditioned. A rough eS-
innate of the cost Of reconditioning her
is s250,000.
The navy yard now Is closed to vis-
itors, but It should be opened 70 all.
after the inspection work Is concluded.
and the hull OF the S-4 left exposed to
the view and the study Of the well In
tentioned persons who. during the days
Immediately following her tragic sink
ing, sent thousands of suggestions TO
the Navy Department about how the
rescue OF her occupants could be effect
ed A slight examination Of the wreck
itself and a child's understanding OF
the difficult and heartbreaktng work
that went into raising this mass Of steel
from the bottom OF the sea would suf-
fice To show the futility Of such Sug-
gestions and their utter waste Of words.
Those who 60 down to the sea In
submarines go with death standing on
the bridge When death takes the con-
trols. there is little left for men TO do
unless. like Lieut. Fitch. they send out
as q partin word. ANS Well!"