Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-16
INVESTIGATION BARES
SABOTAGE AS CAUSE
OF COLORADO FIRE

Continued From First Page)
received a formal report on the out
come of the inquiry, but so far nothing
has been found to show how the needles
got there"
The photograph nesdles, OF which
there is a plentiful supply aboard all
of Uncle Sans men o. war, were said
to have been inserted in several places
in the main cables of the plotting room,
hidden beneath wrappings of tape. 1t
was this finding that gave rise TO the
theory the short circuiting was de-
liberately conceived and executed.
Possibility of an agent OF conspirators
having been planted aboard the ship as
member of her crew was seen.
Secretary Adams admitted that intel
ligence investigators have gone aboard
the battleship to conduct secret probe,
but he could not say whether they are
in sailors uniforms, as reported. The
Secretary commented that sit would be
good way to make an investigation,
however" He said the intelligence Of
ficers were given free rein to conduct
the investigation as they saw t1t.
One of Three Largest.
The Colorado, commissioned in 1928,
is sister ship of the Maryland and the
West Virginia-the fleet trio having the
largest caliber guns in the American
Navy. She carries eight 16-inch guns
mounted in four turrets. She Is manned
by 1.400 officers and men,.
The plotting room fire was discovered
on the night of June last. This room,
located far below the water line in the
very heart of the vessel, is the point
from which all fire control and navi-
gational strategy is directed. The room
is filled with delicate instruments OF
bewildering array to a land lubber.
1.-The instruments down there are as
delicate as a fine watch, Secretary
Adams pointed out. They are dam
aged Just as easily as watch, and
are just as hard TO repair. 1t can be
imagined what the fire, and water did
to them"
Because the plotting room is a most
vital part Of the ship 1t is located down
in the hull where full protection car
be afforded by armor plate.
When the cables short-circuited that
night flames broke out in the plotting
room, filling the room and adjoining
compartments with smoke and with
chlorine fumes. The fire alarm was
sounded by officers, calling all hands tt
duty in readiness to combat the fire
Capt W. S. Miller was the commanding
officer and Comdr. j. p. Gliding executive
officer.
The officers and members of the
crew displayed great bravery in fight
ing the fire, for all realized the serious
nature of fire in the location from
which the smoke was pouring. Dis
patches from Colon at the time told
of about 40 sailors being rendered un-
by their mates. More than score OF
the men who were conspicuous in the
rescue work were recommended fol
official communication.
The fire spread, despite the valiant
efforts to curb it, and the battle to ex-
tinguiSh the flames continued for nearly
eight hours. Finally it was necessary
to flood the plotting room with sea
water-an unavoidable step that ruined
most of the control apparatus not al
ready destroyed by the fire.
The battleship was detached from the
fleet and ordered to the Brooklyn Navy
Yard for repairs. At the yard the dam
age was found to be much greater thar
been forced to remain at Brooklyn evel
since. Secretary Adams said today he
had not been advised when the repairs
would be completed.
Colorado Is Jonah"
The Colorado has come 10 be known
as a Jonah" ship because of series
of mishaps which have marked hel
career on the seas. Naval officers here
recall that in addition to the June fire
and the reports of more recent one
she went aground some time ago.
With her sister ships, the Colorado
is one of the mainstayS of the battle
fleet. She replaced the old U. S. S
Delaware, which was scrapped under
terms of the Washington Arms Confer
ence. She embodies all the latest i'm
provements in naval architecture grow
ing out of lessons learned by naval
builders as a result of the Battle OF
Jutland.
She is 624 feet long, 81 feet wide at
the water line and has displacement
of $4,000 tons.
She was one of the first battleships
to be powered with electric drive.