Evening star., 1939-06-21
Ventilation Major
Weakness Of Subs,
Ii. Doyle Testifies
Hints Air Induction
Failure Caused
SquoIus Tragedy
BY the Associated Press.


PORTSMOUTH, N. H., June 2l.-
Lit. William T. Doyle, jr., of Balti-
more, executive officer of the sub
marine Squalus, which carried 26
men to death deep in the sea, today
supported the testimony of his COM
mander that the virtually unpro-
tected ventilating systems of this
Nations submarines were their
greatest weaknesses.
Almost simultaneously he gave
new indication that failure of the
air induction system was the cause
of the accident.
They probably would be the first
things to be ruptured in case of a
depth bomb explosion or in the case
OF any unusual happening or acci-
dent outboard," he told the naval
court inquiring into the Squalus
tragedy
Disaster struck the Squalus
stealthily, according to 1t. Doyles
testimony, when the christmas
tree was green. In submarine par
lance this meant that all lights on
the tree-shaped indicator board
showed green rather than red and
gave false assurance that the sub
marine was ready to dive.
Reports Made by Officers.
In addition to the story told by
the indicator board, 1t. Doyle said,
1t. John c. Nichols of Chicago, came
to him from the forward compart-
ment, and Ensign Joseph w. Pat
terson of Oklahoma City, from the
after compartment and reported to
him orally that their sections were in
readiness. This, too, confirmed the
testimony given yesterday by the
Squalus' commander, 1t. o. F. Ma
quin.
After reporting, Ensign Patter-
son returned to his station and per-
ished.
Then this definitely establishes"
asked 1t Naquin, in ss-eXamina-
ton, the fact that communications
were not faulty with these two COM
partments as late as 10 seconds after
the first blast "a diving SignaD had
been sounded?"
"A very definite indication" 1t.
Doyle replied
Assuming that the vessel was
flooded through the high induction
valve would this accident have been
avoided if there had been an inter-
lock between the ballast vents and
the high induction valve" 1t. Doyle
was asked.
Was in Front of Board. .
eff an interlock was so rigged that
it would prevent the opening of the
ballast vents until the high in
duction valve was closed it certainly
would have given further indica-
ton that all was not right with
the outboard induction" he replied.
1t. Doyle said that when the sub
mersible dived he was directly in
front of the indicator board, and
added I'VE had an all-green board
He said the lights remained green
even down to so feet and just before
they began to take on water.
1t. Doyle, the first witness in the
third day of the naval inquiry said
he joined the Squalus as executive
officer on January 16, that he pre-
viously had year of service as div
ing officer on the S-33, and that he
was acting commanding officer on
the SIS for about a year during the
illness of the regular commander.
1t. Naquin testified yesterday he
believed a recommendation made
after another underwater disaster
l9 years ago might have prevented
the Squalus tragedy, providing it
was the failure OF an air induction
valve that was responsible.
1t. Robert N. Robertson of Qua
nah, Tex, engineering, construction
and repair officer following 1t. Doyle
to the stand, testified he had made
two tests of the operating gear and
that the induction valve was work.
ing perfectly.
Asked if he had any recommended
tions, 1t Robertson suggested pipe
should be run from the induction
valve to the diving officer so that
with the first trickle of water he
would know that something had
gone wrong.
In response to question from
Capt. William r. Munroe, assistant
director of Naval Intelligence, as to