The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-06
NAVAL court PLANS
TO PROBE DETAILS
Of AKRON DISASTER
Facts Determined May Decide
Nations Future Policy on
Dirigibles
SURVIVORS WILL TESTIFY
Three Rescued Men Report "a
Navy Secretary and Talk
With President

Washington, April 6.-R- The
navy viii seek the full facts Of the
Akron's tragic plunge into the At
lantic at q court Of inquiry opening
at Lakehurst, New Jersey, next Mon
day.
Preparations for this exhaustive In
vestigation - the results Of which
probably will 90 far toward determine
Ing the nations future ughter-than-
air craft policy-went forward Thurs
day rs the three survivors Of the
tragedy worked on formal written re-
ports for secretary Swanson.
The three Lieutenant Commander
Herbert v. Wiley and Richard Z. Deal
and Moody =. Erwin, enlisted men-
gave their stories verbally to Swanson
and Admiral William ". Pratt, chief
Of naval operations, at the navy de-
partment Wednesday afternoon.
Later Pratt ordered the court Of
inquiry to be convened and directed
that the search for any possible sur
vivor still drifting on the ocean be
continued until "there can be no
thread Of hope" Dragging operations
to bring up any wreckage that may
throw light on the cause Of the dis
aster also were ordered.
President Hears Survivors
President Roosevelt. who termed
the Akron's fate . national disaster, "
with the survivors Thursday and
heard their stories.
Shaking each by the hand, the
|preSident said:
Il am thankful that you are here
Each Of those saved by the German
tanker Phoebus spoke in the highest
terms Of the German sailors who pick
ed them up.
Turning to Assistant Secretary Hen
Try L. Roosevelt, Of the navy, who es-
corted the men to the white house
the president suggested that some
thing fitting be done for the captain
and crew Of the tanker and added
that he would write q letter to the cap
tain himself.
For twelve minutes, Wiley and the
two enlisted men, gave their accounts
to the president.
Deal, who was also on the Inflated
Shenandoah. had Z cut on the face
and his hand was wrapped In band
ages.
Commander Wiley. who responded
first to the suggestion for an account
said that providence was miraculous
" kind" to him.
He said that actual danger to the
ship did not exist for more than three
minutes before the crash.
Erwin said that after he caught
hold Of the life buoy thrown to him
from the Phoebus he lost conscious
ress.
When he woke up six Of the Ger
man crew were working on him.
Praise Resolve Crew
All three men reiterated again and
again their praise for tho treatment
and seamanship on the German res
cue ship.
AZ the men left, the president said
they were deserving Of anything the
service could do and suggested that
they Be given furloughs for visits
home.
The survivors emphasized that no
one was more anxious than they were
for the complete story Of what caused
the crash and ~ deaths.
However, they were doubtful n the
exact cause ever would Be determined.
The president did not question them.
Quietly entering the white house.
the trio found themselves . center Of
unusual attention. Things stopped
|momentarily ct the executive office -
the girl stenographers. the clerks and
the secretaries Ill went to the main
lobby to So the three men.
As plans were laid for separate
probes by congressional committees,
the bodies Of Lieutenant Commander
CONTINUED On paee 0even)