Evening star., 1942-05-22
Senator'S Partly Blame
Disunity for Fire
On Liner Normandie
Soy Conversion to
Transport Was Sped Over
Protest Of Men on Scene
Sy the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
The Senate Naval Affairs Com
mittee has prepared a tentative
report holding confusion of COM
mand partly responsible for the
Normandie fire and recommend
ing creation of an Office of in
spector general Of the Navy to
prevent any future mixups.
Carelessness, poor supervision and
lack of precautions also contributed
to the fire and capsizing of the
Normandie, said the report, which
is now in printed form and awaiting
final committee approval. It de-
clared that while sabotage played
no part in the incident, there was
lack of adequate safeguards against
subversive activity.
The Navy disclosed last night that
preliminary salvage work had been
started on the Normandie, which
was being converted into the troop
ship Lafayette when it burned and
turned over February 8. It will be
at least year before the vessel is
raised.
Carelessness Direct Cause.
The Senate committee said that
the direct cause Of the fire was care
lessness in the use Of an oxy-acety-
lene torch and attributed its quick
spread to the disorder resulting from
the rush nature of the conversion.
A report by James F. Dulligan Of
New York, special counsel for the
committees investigation, explained
that the work was "unduly acceler-
ated through decisions made by the
United States Navy Bureau of Ships
IN Washington by persons in au-
thor1ty who were not on the scene,
who had no personal knowledge of
the work entailed, yet placed un-
reasonable time limitations on those
charged with the actual burden of
doing the work-and in the face of
advice to the contrary by subordi-
nate Navy officers who were on the
scene and fully acquainted with the
difficulties involved"
As proposed by the Senate com.
mittee, the inspector general of the
Navy would be charged with keep
Ing Congress and the Secretary of
the Navy informed "as to the con-
ditions and needs Of the entire naval
service, pointing out to the legisla-
tive and administrative authorities
the errors Of commission as well as
the errors Of omission, and of
making recommendations to correct
any unsatisfactory conditions or
procedures. 80
Contributory Causes Listed.
The committee Is Of the opinion
that II some such service had been
IN operation in the Navy Depart
ment during the month Of Febru.
airy, 1912, 1t might have been able
to reconcile the difference of opin-
lon between the officials who or
dered the Lafayette be made ready
to sail February IA and the officials
on the scene who protested that
the ship could not be made ready
on that date"
In addition to the conflict over a
time limit for finishing the Job, the
committee listed the following con-
trtbutory causes:
Confusion Of command and di-
vided authority among the naval
officers aboard the vessel prior and
subsequent to the fire.
Absence Of proper supervision of
the contractors work by naval in
spectors and the failure of said
naval inspectors to insist on gen.
eral compliance with the security
provisions of the contract.
Absence Of adequate flre-preven-
tion safeguards; absence of trained
personnel to cope with ever-present
fire hazards such as flame torches
as were in continuous daily use on
the vessel"
Admiral Andrews Defended.
The report contained a finding
that it was difficult to place the
blame on any one individual and
included a statement by Mr.. Dulli-
gan that mo one can truthfully
say" responsibility for the loss of
the ship rested with Rear Admiral
Adolphus Andrews, commander of
the Eastern sea frontier.
Yesterday the Senate delayed &C
ton on the promotion of Admiral
Andrews to the rank of vice ad-
miral along with three other naval
promotions pending publication OF
the report.
Senator Danaher, Republican, Of
Connecticut suggested that the
Senate also delay action on ap-
pointment Of Rear Admiral John