Evening star., 1941-10-17

board, Is Ensign Waldo 6. Rothen-
berg, Cos Cob, Conn.
Cost Five Million.
There was no indication in the
Navy's first report on the Kearny
incident as to just how the torpe-
doing occurred or what If any COM
bat or protective steps preceded it.
The Kearny was built at a cost of
s50O0,0O0 at the Federal Shipbuild-
ing e. Dry Dock Co. yards at Kear-
ny. N. j., and was launched March
9. 1910. before crowd of 10000,
largest ever TO witness launching
At the New jersey yard. Sliding
down the ways with the vessel was
her sister ship. the U. S. S. Plunkett.
The KearnyS survival of the at
tack without casualties or serious
damage was viewed by Navy men as
evidence of the staunch, improved
construction of the new craft and
her sister ships. The Kearnv was
designed to withstand much greater
battle punishment as well as to hit
harder and speed faster than earlier
and smaller destroyerS.
Watertight compartments, which
can be closed quickly to localize
damage. are more numerous. Like
battleshipS new type destroyers
have double skins" of steel. but it
was considered unlikely the outer
skin of any destroyer would suffice
to explode a torpedo while the in
ner skin remained intact.
Believed Hit Near Bow.
From the Navy's announcement,
Informed quarters were inclined TO
believe the torpedo probably struck
towards the bow Explosion of
half-ton of INT in the destroyer's
stern almost inevitably would have
put the propelling mechanism out Of
commission. it was believed.
An explosion amidships might
conceivably occur without causing
casualties or Gripping damage, but
the chances for such an escape were
deemed less likely than if the blow
occurred near the forward end of the
vessel
DeStroyers such as the Kearny
are understood to have four fire
rooms where steam is generated from
oil. and conceivably only two of these
compartments might have been
manned. An explosion Wrecking one
or more idle compartments thus
might occur without casualties.
The Navy's announcement did not
say specifically that the torpedo ex-
ploded but the chances that it was
merely a dud were considered small.
The Kearny attack occurred in
the same general area as the Greer
incident. Only four days ago Chair
man Walsh of the Senate Naval
Affairs Committee made public
statement by Admiral Harold R
Stark, chief Of naval operations, de-
failing the story of the encounter Of
the Greer and a German sab
marine.
British Spotted Submarine.
This account showed the Greer
was IT'S miles southwest of Iceland,
at about $40 am. on September 4,
when a British plane notified her
that a submarine was submerged 10
miles ahead directly on the course
the destroyer was following.
The Greer steamed ahead rapidly, |
sigzagging. and at 9:20 picked up the
propeller beat of the submerged
U-boat and began trailing it. broad
casting the submarines position, the
report said.
Admiral Stark commented that
such action was in accordance with
the Greers orders, which he de-
scribed as being TO give out in
formation. but not to attack"
At 1892 the plane dropped four
depth charges. which went wide.
and 20 minutes later withdrew from
the hunt. the account continued,
The Greer, which was carrying
mail to Iceland. stayed on the
U-boats trail. Then at l2:4O pm.
the submarine suddenly changed
course and itself began to close on
the Greer.
Minutes later two torpedoes were
fred from the submarine. Both
missed and the Greer then counter
attacked. dropping II high explo-
siye depth charges into the sea, but
officers and crew observed no signs
indicating a hit.
Germans Blame Greer.
The German account of the Greer
incident said the destroyer started
the attack.
Additional comment at the Capt.
FOL on the Kearny torpedoing held
that the incident might be linked
directly with Axis developments
across the world in Japan.
The act was deliberate, there's
no question about that" said House
Majority Leader Mccormack. 1T
looks like a part of the Berlin
Toxic strategy what with the Jap
snese cabinet change yesterday"
Senator Brewster, Republican. OF
Maine said, 1T would appear that
Hitler is forcing the Japanese Sit
uation."
Other Comment at Capitol.
Other comment:
Representative Eaton, Republican,
of New Jersey: IF a German sub
marine was responsible, it proves
that this man Hitler has absolutely