Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-09-06 | Page 3 | Failure to Close Valve Cause of 'Sub' Sinking

FAILURE TO CLOSE VALVE CAUSE OF -SUB' SINKING PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 0. According Accord-ing to an unofficial report received here. Lieutenant-Commander Charles M Cooke In his testimony on board the battleship Ohio In the preliminary Inquiry, is of the beliel that neglect to close the main induction valve was responsible for the sinking ot the submarine S-o off the Delaware capes last week According to the unofficial report. Commander t'ooke said: "At the lime of making a crash dive there arc innumerable things that must be done almost at the mumo Instant In-stant and 1 can hardly hold anyone culpable, l believe, tor the overlooking overlook-ing for an Instant 6f one detail. The vessel carried some- ballast to correct a slight list and this 1 believe, accelerated accel-erated her dive to more than ordinary speed " Asked If any member of the crew was deserving commendation or condemnation, con-demnation, Commander Cooke, according accord-ing to the nfflclal statement, said "I do not believe an particular member of my crew or of the crews of the vessels that attended to our rescue res-cue are doserving of a lettei of condemnation con-demnation owing to their exceptional behavior during our confinement '