34
EXPERTS ARE SENT
TO DISASTER SCENE
■ _ *
Comdr. Comerford and Three
Civilians Dispatched to
Report on Blast.
Explosive experts have been dis
patched to Lake Denmark, and as soon
as the situation clears, will make an
effort to determine the cause of the
explosion there Saturday, and at the
same time seek to And lessons from
which the Navy may profit in the con
struction of other ammunition storage
plants.
Assistant Secretary of Navy Robin
son said this afternoon that Comdr.
E. F. Comerford, an explosive expert
In the Bureau of Ordnance of the
Navy Department, had been dis
patched to the scene with a civilian
powder expert from the Navy powder
factory at Indian Head, Md.. and two
explosive experts from the Bureau of
Mines. The latter bureau volunteered
the services of its two experts and
they were gratefully received by the
Navy Department, w’hich is anxious
to have all the expert advice possible.
Admiral Bloch, chief of the Navy.
Bureau of Ordnance, who was to pro
ceed to Lake Denmark last night, has
decided to wait several days. He
was informed that it was not possible
to make an inspection or, investiga
tion of the area at this time. Assist
ant Secretary Robinson said that the
reports indicated that there w'ere in
termittent explosions still occurring
and that after the 17 bodies were re
covered the relief forces were forced
to retreat because of the intense heat
from fires.
Os the 17 bodies recovered 4 were
dismembered. Mr. Robinson also said
that the preliminary reports Indi
cated that there were only 18 of the
276 buildings on the reservation left.
