SIXTY-SIX LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 7

SIXTY-SIX LOST.

FRENCH DISASTER. SUBMARINE SINKS. New Craft Goes Down During Surface Tests, FIVE OF CREW FLUNG INTO SEA (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) CHERBOURG, July 7. Sixty-six were drowned when the French submarine Promothee, 1379 ions, which was launched in 1930, sank suddenly in 150 feet of water while performing surface tests in the roadstead seven miles north of Cape Levi. Five members of the crew, including two officers, were flung into the sea and rescued, Boats hurried to the scene of the disaster. The Promothee, }n addition to her complement of 50, carried 17 workmen and engineers. The Ministry of Marine announces that the cause of the accident has not yet been determined. The authorities have sent every available vessel to locate the submarine, and an aeroplane is also assisting. Underwater operations will be difficult owing to a strong current. The disaster is reminiscent of the loss of the British submarine M 2 with the whole of her complement in the English Channel last January, when an open hatch door during a submersion in the course of test manoeuvres caused the tragedy. The experts aboard the Promothee included a Government engineer, two officials find seven workmen from the Cherbourg Dockyard, and an engineer and six workmen belonging to the armament firm of Schneiders. The latter were attending the trials after prolonged alterations to the vessel. A naval authority expresses the opinion that the absence of any other explanation for the fact that five men were thrown clear,' including the commander, Lieutenant Du Mesnil, indicated that they were on the bridgo of the vessel when she eank without warning, possibly owing to her tanks being flooded for an unknown reason, trapping everyone below.