SUBMARINE SINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 5

SUBMARINE SINKS.

ELEVEN LIVES LOST. ONE OF FAT AX. *A«» CLASS. &BSSEL FAILS TO RISE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright) LONDON, January 17. •Daring the course of some naval manoeuvres at Whitesand Bay, near Plymouth, yesterday, the Submarine A 7, commanded by ICammander WeUman, foundered in 17 fathoms of water at midday. A salvage crew immediately commenced operations, endeavouring to raise the crew, who were etill alive at five o'clock in the evening. 1 Wihen the flotilla, was ordered to the surface the submarine did not rise with the rest. A warship communicated with the crew by wireless and divers also by tapping on the outer walls of the vessel, but they received no anewere after six ©'clock in the evening. The catastrophe is attributed to disabled pumps. The salvage crew have returned to tport and will resume operations in the morning. The death-roll comprises two officers and nine petty officers and men. The victims include Commander WeUman and Sublieutenant Robert Morrison. The sea was moderate. The submarine, accompanied by a " pigmy," was attached to a sea-going depot ship. She dived for the purpose of firing torpedoes, and remained under water an unusual length of time. The pigmy's officers became alarmed and endeavoured to communicate with her. They elicited no response, while ominous bubbles appeared upon the surface of the water. They placed a buoy to mark the spot, but the buoy drifted owing to the rocky nature of the bottom. The salvage efforts were continued fruitlessly by the light of searchlights. The officials state that the position is practically hopeless, the vessel containing oxygen sufficient for only cix hours. Two hundred in all have perished in 10 years in seven British and nine foreign submarine accidents. The newspapers, commenting on the successive disasters .with the A claes of submarines, consider that the frail hulls are not fitted for even the elementary duty recently assigned to them, namely, that of exercising within easy reach of the shore. The Admiralty is being urged to dispense with them forthwith. The search for the submarine will be resumed at daylight The depth of water forbade the opening of the conning tower as the inrush of water would have been disastrous. • ■ • . (Received 8 a.m.) : ' LONDON, January 18. Torpedo boat destroyers were sweeping White Sand Bay on Sunday trying to locate the lost submarine. All the foreign Powers have sent messages of sympathy with the relatives of the drowned sailors. UNFORTUNATE CLASS. (Times-Sydney San Special Cable.), LONDON, January 17. A sister ship to the A 7 sank at Plymouth with all hands in 1905. Both vessels were launched at Barrow on the same day.