LINER'S TREASURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 202, 27 August 1931, Page 7

LINER'S TREASURE.

GOOD WORK OF SALVAGERS

LONDON, August 20.

The divers from the modern salvage ship Artiglio 11., who are now seeking to recover the f 1,000.000 worth of bullion that was lost when the P. and 0. liner Egypt sank, in 1922, with the losa of 87 lives, off the coast of France, 2.3 miles south-west of Ushant, are credited with a remarkable performance.

In the course of their examination of the treasure ship, which lies at a depth of 400 ft, says the Brest correspondent of "The Times," they cleared the wreckage from a hole blasted in the upper deck, which nearly bisects the vessel, without using their hands. Visibility extended only five yards.

Explosive charges were ignited throughout Wednesday beneath the calm, sunny surface of the sea, and their discharge shook the Artiglio from stem to stern, and startled passing craft. Activities were continued after nightfall, as the divers methodically cut a section 30ft by _50ft from the upper deck, much as a- giant tin-opener would make a circuit of a sardine-tin.

The current defeated an endeavour to slide the loosened structure overboard, with the aid of grapnel irons, and therefore the bombardment with explosives was resumed.

The bullion room cannot be exposed pending the removal of a section of the upper deck, which has collapsed on to the main deck.