San Diego

Six Navy crewmen from the guided missile cruiser Gridley were hospitalized Friday at the Navy Hospital in Balboa Park for moderate dehydration after complaining of stomach problems and diarrhea.

Two dozen others of the ship’s 411 crewmen were examined at the 32nd Street Naval Station clinic after they reported having stomach pains, but their conditions were not considered serious enough for hospitalization, Lt. Ed Mapes said.

The cause of the crewmen’s illness will not be confirmed until early next week, when laboratory results are returned, he said. The Navy is investigating food and water consumed on the ship for possible clues, Mapes said.

“People first started complaining at about 6 a.m.,” Mapes said. “All the hospitalized victims are enlisted men and are being administrated intravenous fluids, as is common with this type of thing. They will stay in the hospital at least overnight.”