Court-Martial Captain Of Lost Cruiser

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1945, Page 9

Court-Martial Captain Of Lost Cruiser

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18

Giving evidence at his court-martial arising from the sinking of the heavy cruiser Indianapolis in /the Philippines Sea on June 30,‘ Captain C. B. McVay said he did not order a zigzag course on the night the ship was sunk because there was no moon and visibility was poor. He was sleeping when the torpedoes struck and immediately went on deck and ordered the transmission of a distress message. The damage control officer shortly afterward reported that an examination indicated that the ship was badly damaged. Captain McVay said he did not order the ship to be abandoned, because she was on a fairly even keel and he thought the damage could be controlled. He ordered the control officer to make another check. Then the executive officer recpmmended abandoning the ship, because the damage was so extensive. He immediately ordered abandonment. He went himself to the radio room to ensure that the distress message was sent out. SUDDEN LIST The ship suddenly listed to 60 degrees and half a minute later went to 90 degrees. He stood upright on the ship’s side and was swept oft' by a wave.

“I struck out into the darkness,” added. Captain McVay. “I heard a swish and looked back, and the ship had gone.” Captain McVay was giving evidence at his own request in an effort to correct a statement which he made while in hospital at Guam after the sinking. He then reported that on the night the ship was sunk “there was intermittent moonlight, at' which times visibility was unlimited.” Today he vigorously asserted that the statement was extracted from him under great pressure. “I prepared the Guam report under duress,” he said, “because it was wanted in a hurry. This led me to describe the visibility as I remembered it after the sinking.” The navy general court-martial acquitted Captain McVay on a charge of inefficiency in the loss of the Indianapolis. The court did not announce its decision on the charge of negligence in failing to order a zig-zag course. Navy regulations require that any finding of guilt be reviewed by a higher authority before the verdict is announced, but require proven charges to be immediately published.