A Navy spokeswoman had no immediate comment on the issue.

A Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon, Lieut. Karen Jeffries, said she did not know the cause of death.

A Navy spokeswoman said that a ship like the one in the advertisement would not have been commissioned until the mid-1970's.

A Navy spokeswoman said the families of the crew members were being notified.

The problem, a Navy spokeswoman said, is that the authorities have never found "definitive proof" that Chief Tomich had any relatives.

A Navy spokeswoman declined to comment, as did officials of the postgraduate school.

Lt. Pauline Storum, a Navy spokeswoman, said that the problems could have been caused by commercial transmissions.

Barbara MacStravic, a Navy spokeswoman, said five other houses were damaged and four cars destroyed.

"These things take some time," said Lt. Ingrid Mueller, a Navy spokeswoman.

A Navy spokeswoman said that many of the chaplains in the class action lawsuit were not promoted for reasons other than religious discrimination.