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Show EDISON BATTER! IS NOT 10 BLAME Expert Who Examines E-2 Makes a Report on the Explosion. New York, Jan. 1G A statemont indicating thnt the new Edison storage stor-age battery was not in any way responsible re-sponsible for the explosion of tho submarine sub-marine E-2 at tho New York navy yards yesterday, was made tonight by Miller Reese Hutchinson, chief engineer en-gineer for Thomas A. Edison and a member of tho naval consulting board The preliminary Inquiry into tho explosion was held In secret today by the board of Inquiry appointed by Rear Admiral Nathaniel R. Usher, commandant of tho navy yard. Neither Nei-ther Admiral Usher nor any of those present would discuss what occurred at the inquiry. Persons on board or nnr the E-2 at the time of tho explosion ex-plosion wore questioned at length, however. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, who Is expected to namo tomorrow to-morrow a board of Inquiry to conduct con-duct a formal Investigation, left for Washington this afternoon, without making any statement regarding tho explosion. At tho hospitals where the injured were taken it wns said several of them were In a serious condition and one Is expected to die. Nothing approximating an official theory as to tho causo of the explosion explo-sion which resulted In the death of four workmen and the Injury of ten others, was obtainable. Edison Battery Absolved. Tho only light shed upon the disaster dis-aster was contained in the statement of Mr. Hutchinson, who absolvod from blame the Edison battery designed de-signed to mlnlmlzo tho danger to submarine sub-marine crews resulting from accumulations accumu-lations of gas. The E-2 was tho only boar thus far equipped with these batteries, the tests of which were reported re-ported to bo thoroughly satisfactory- "I havo made as complete an inspection in-spection of the interior of the submarine sub-marine E-2 as conditions will at present pres-ent admit," said Mr. Hutchinson. "This Inspection I made as Mr. Edison's Edi-son's chief engineer and personal rep-lesentatlve. rep-lesentatlve. I have formed a tentative tenta-tive opinion. This 1 have transmitted transmit-ted to the commander of tho navy yard. "Regarding the Edison battery, I believe be-lieve there is no reason to recommend recom-mend to Mr. Edison any changes or alterations in the theory, construction construc-tion or method of installation of the Edison submarine type storage battery. bat-tery. Tho battery in the E-2 does not appear to" have been injured in the least." , , Rear Admiral Usher made the following fol-lowing formal statement tonight: "The board of Inquiry met today and went aboard tho submarine, where they conducted a thorough Investigation. In-vestigation. The investigation was not finished and therefore the board will again meet tomorrow. No conclusion conclu-sion was reached." no |