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Show DEFECTIVE G UN CAUSESJUT WASHINGTON. July 22. To the' failure of a safetly mechanician! to j operate whoa a sudden powerful pull j was given by an aitllleryman In at- taching the lanyard. Is now laid the responsibility for the accident which I cost the lives of 11 men at Fortress I Monroe, Va . In the battle proctice I yesterday. Such Is the conclusion of ; I General Crozier, thief of ordinance, j I United Slates army who attended tho practice nnd who has been In touch I with the inquiiy made" by the Investl-' 1 gating board. J i Never lefore in tho history of the I army had the device failed to work, j The possibility of Its occurence was demonstrated however by Ceneral Crozler himself, shortly after the accident ac-cident by a test made of all the guns which part icipated in the practice iu the practice. Tn another gun of the ill-fated ill-fated DeRussy battery, the device was 1 found defective when General Crozier applied unusual forc, such as never deemed necessary in tests and examinations. ex-aminations. Just before the-accident the gun was pronounced by the officers offi-cers In proper condition, and In Aprlu a coast artillery officer, on Inspection Inspec-tion duty, reported that its premature ' explosion was beyond the range of possibility. Steps will be taken at once to remedy the device. Of course it is entirely possible so to change the meehanlsro as to prevent another accident such as that of Thursday, said General Crozier. I Funeral of Victims. NEWPORT NEWS, Va., July 22 Imnrecsive military services were conducted con-ducted this evening over the bodies of seven of iho eleven ctims of ves-terdav's ves-terdav's Occident at Fort Monroe. Ctp-taln Ctp-taln .T. K H. Seotr. post chaplain, conducted con-ducted tb.e services. The post band, led the funernl prrcessi.iii and a choir of fifty voices with American f)n?s and surrounded by flowers. The fUn-( fUn-( erals of the other victims will be held tomorrow. Tho post is awaiting with intense interest the report of the board of Investigation. |