Show SEA DISASTER I DETAilS GIVEN GEN Scene as Destroyers Piled On Rocks Is Described SAN DIEGO Cal Oct 1 CR CRAll J- J JAll All of the tho thee e essela of squadron eleven cl followed the th lead leod ot of the tho flagshIp when she sh s swerved sh sharply eastward to the rocks oft off lIon do Cal sep sep- i 8 S and none non of them sh ed hesitation I at t the th turn according to Commander William P G ot of the tho U S S 8 Somers who took tock the toI witness stand at nt the opening of or to today's to- to tod today's I days day's d ys torsion session of ot the navil nav court ot of Inquiry Investigating the tho disaster In set seen en ships and nud 23 lies Hies were lost AVERTED CUA CRAdlES Commander Gaddis said ald he ho him him- him celt hat 1153 Il not checked the tb change chance of course courso executed by the Delphy and had not Intended to do so until e e were ere ore settled do down n on the new course Up to this thil point he ho had given radio compass be bearings from Point Arguello Indicating the th squadron still to the north of the thO point duo duo due consideration but hut hadnot had hadnot not placed too much i In them h he said When he saw raw ships ahead of him stop and ships astern of ot him corn com comIng com Int Ing on at full fun speed he ho testified ho he steered sharply to the right and out of squadron formation to es- es escape escape cap cs-cap cape collision foro fore and aft A mo- mo mo moment mont ment later ho saw sow breakers breaker 50 foot ahe ahead d felt the th-Som th Somers r bum bump over the rocks rock and ordered full speed astern until the ship thip was as back In deep water THOUGHT T Lieutenant nt Commander Richard rd It 11 Booth of the U 15 S 5 S Chauncey ho ho followed Commander Gaddis Gaddison on the stand nd said h ho did not reo I the squadron as wa ae on th the rocks until after he ho had hd approached the U S SS SS SS S Young In an effort to make tnt fast ta to the sinking ship hip and save savo her crew II H 1 though h It was ns as a lie ho eXI explained The Chauncey had been navi- navi navigated rated gated solely by de dead d reckonIng since her departure from San Fran Francisco cisco the th witness s testified and ond was wa expected to be abrea abreast t of ot Point at 8 30 p I m halt hal nn an hour before the Delphy sl signalled th the squadron to change chang ch the course to the eastward east rd |