SUBMARINE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1928, Page 1

SUBMARINE TRAGEDY

BATHETIC SIDELIGHTS. SAX I BAXGISCO. dan. 0. Some of the American newspapers have been unsparing in their criticism of the operations of the naval cratt concerned in the lamentable tragedy of tbc ramming ol tlx- C.S. submarine SI. oil I'lvn uiectou a and tbc utter helplessness ol naval vessels in the vicinity to rescue the imprisoned men in the sunken .submarine so near the shore in hut iMIt) feet of water. The blunt charge that the F.S. Xavy Department ‘‘crucified” the crew of the submarine S-l by ils "cruel indifference" to their fate was made in a letter received in Washington from Mr and All's .John M. .Julies, oi Hennessey. Oklahoma, parents ol Lieutenant-Commander Roy K. Jones, who commanded the ill-fated cratt. The letter was written to Representative McClintir. Democrat, of Oklahoma. and was the bitterest attack yet made on the navy's alleged responsibility for failure to rescue the crew of the sunken submarine. It 'aid in parts: ‘‘We were first advised of the disaster by the Press, and not until four hours after we had wired ' the Department did we hear a word from them. Mrs .lones and T kept vigil for six days, waiting for some word oT encouragement from Washington, only to be rewarded with a statement from I he Secretary that ’the SI would probably not he raised before spring.' “We both feel that the Nav.v Department Inis crucified our dear hoy and his comrades and the cruel indill'oreiue which they have shown these poor hoys who died in xiie service oi their country is inhuman and without precedent. Mrs Jones and myscll both commend you for the stand you have taken and pray you may he successful iu causing this ship to he raised immediately.” Responding to this criticism. Secretary of the Xavy, Wilbur denied that lie had informed .Mr and Airs Jones that. the submarine would probably not he raised before spring, pointing out that every effort was being made to raise the craft immediately. Ho added: •The Xavy did not have the address of Air and Mrs .limes, and did not learn it until Mr .Tones wired the Xavy Department for information about his son.” LEGISLATOR'S CIMTIPfSAI. The Xavy Department was severely criticised by Representative Griffin. Democrat, of Xeu )ork. lor Hiihire to provide safety appliances for submarines and facilities for raising sunken submarines. Sueli devices and facilities. he said, had been used successfully for years by foreign nations. Tie. proposed three measures of safety. which, lie said, he would recommend to the House Xaval Affairs Committee on behalt of his resolution (or investigation of the i-U disaster. The Xew Volk member has made a .study of the submarine quasi ion. and two veal's ago characterised the Failed Stales' submarines a- "lioatiug coffins” in a speech in 1 he House at Washington, following the S.il disaster. 11 is three proposal< were : - 1 . ’! i loplione buoys, sin'll a.s used by Germany. ‘Grappling rings on .submarines. wiih which German undersea craft, were ■-pupped. :!, Especially coastractei! salvage vessels. Mich as. In .aid. a e!e ,• illp!'•*• ed by Germany Italy, and France. Had the F.S. Nav.v possessed these safeguards, he said, the six men who were alive after the SI went down could have been rescued. IXVKSYTGATTOX" DEMANDED. All investigation of Secretary \\ ilbur’s administration oi the I .S. Xavy was demanded in a resolution introduced in the House at Washington by Representative Luring Black <-f Xew York City. Citing recent, disasters to naval vessels and criticism of alleged ineflieieney hv high naval officers. Representative Black said that ( align ought to impure whether these things

were mere isolated incidents or the result of a policy which had led to deterioration and weakening of America’s sea power. He pointed out that within i comparatively short period one hattloshin. five destroyers, three submarines, and one aeroplane carrier hail figured in serious accidents. His resolution billows; “Whereas the Navy has recently suffered great losses of life and property not due to war; whereas it is essential to the safety of the country that the lives of naval officers and men and naval vessels he main! lined iu the highest state of efficiency; whereas flic public is deeply concerned over the comparative strength of the Navy, and whereas the maritime standing of the United States in 10gnrd to the Navy and merchant marine is not commensurate cith the wealth or needs of the country, therefore, bo it resolved that a select committee of five members of the House of Representatives tie appointed by (lie Speaker to inquire into the matters above set forth and to make iceonimendations to the Congress *.s to ways and means of safeguarding the lives of the Navy personnel, of enhancing the Navy’s efficiency and comparative strength. of eliminating waste, and of building up the merchant marine,” William Philip Simms. a noted American war correspondent, who has made a study of lunal affairs. has asked from Washington: “What lias become of the listening gear about which we heard so much during the war? The commander of a submarine, we were told, while far below the siirlaoe. could hear and locate other vessel- as they came and went. Was tile SI so equipped? If not. why not? And if yes, then it would he very iisvlul to find old why the gear tailed. Something is wrong somewhere, anil most likely among the 'higlierups. since the lower grades have little to say ill mat tors of this kind.”