THETIS INQUIRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 5

THETIS INQUIRY

CAUSE OF LOSS OF LIFE.

CAPTAIN DENIES SUGGESTION.

EFFECT OF OVER-CROWDING

(United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 4.

When the inquiry l into the sinking of the submarine Thetis was resumed, Captain Oram (commander of the vessel) was examined by Mr R. Paget (representing the relatives of the Cammel Laird Company apprentice, William Smith) and suggested that tho possibility of saving the submarine and the near certainty of saving the crew was lost by dilatoriness in sending ships to the scene.

Captain Oram replied: “I would not say dilatoriness.” Mr Paget emphasised that instead of every available ship rushing to the scene by 5.40 the first, ship asked was the Brazen, which was 55 miles away at 6.45. “I suggest that the real cause of the disaster was the dilatoriness in sending vessels to the rescue. Another cause was the excessive crew.”

Captain Oram agreed that the effect of overcrowding was that instead of having 48 hours of air, the crew had only four. He admitted that each time the Davis apparatus was used, air escaped. Mr Paget: If the carbon dioxide poisoning became quicker than you expected, would that not account for the failure of any more to escape? Captain Oram: “It might have been a cause.’’ He added that the number of contractors’ men was normal for the surface part of the trial, hut it was a fact that nobody disembarked before submerging, according to the customary procedure.

Captain Oram agreed that it was inexplicable that the tug did not see . the marker buoy. It was always a, matter for immediate attention if the submarine had not sent a surfacing signal within a specified perial. The ships ought to have been in the vicinity by 8.30, in which event no doubt the men would have escaped throughout the night.i Lieutenant Woods, describing his escape in the Davis jacket, said' that Stoker Arnold, who followed him, thought he saw sparks and smoke through the escape chamber scuttle, and when no others followed, witness suggested tapping the hull to let those imprisoned know that help was at hand. This was at 10.15 a.m. There was no answer, and presumably tho uccupants were. dead. Lieutenant Woods added that when he escaped the distress of the others was very had. Many were then too weak to make escapes. The inquiry was adjourned.

SALVAGE NOT STARTED YET.

ROUGH WEATHER CAUSES DELAY

LONDON, July 3

A statement issued at Liverpool on the salvage operations on. the Thetis, says: “No work was possible in the week-end because of strong winds . and rough seas. “This morning the wind was a light westerly and the lifting craft, the Zelo was moored over the wreck by the salvage steamer Ranger.”

In an answer in the House of Commons to-day the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare) said that the operations would commence as soon as the weather was suitable.—British Official Wireless.

SALVAGE STILL DELAYED.

(Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 4

The report from the Thetis to-day was that strong winds prevented the placing of wires under the .submarine.