STORY OF TRAGEDY.

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

STORY OF TRAGEDY.

Captain Hears " Suspicious Noises." NOT A CHANCE FOR CREW. (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, July 7. Later reports state that seven were rescued, including the commander, two midshipmen, two petty officers and two seamen. All were good swimmers and kept afloat for over an hour until they were- rescued by a fishing smack and hurried to Cherbourg, where Lieutenant Du Meanil gave the first news of the catastrophe. He says he was inspecting the engines with experts when he heard suspicious noises and cries coming from the deck. He rushed up to find the Promothee sinking beneath his feet. All the hatches were open and he ordered those below to e6cape, but within a few moments the vessel had disappeared. The search for the vessel has hitherto been fruitless. The loss of the Promothee forme the greatest submarine disaster in French naval history, her casualty list of 60 comparing with the 43 killed when the Ondine rammed a Greek steamer in October, 1928. -. The Promothee was designed for colonial defence. Those who _ were rescued were too dazed to give a coherent account of the tragedy, although some eaid they were blown off the submarine. A fishing boat, which had no wireless aboard, hurried to port to give the tidings to the Admiralty, and thus lost valuable time before divers could be hurried to the scene. When the Promothee foundered, all her hatches were open, so no hope is held out for any other survivors. Outstanding submarine disasters were: 1904—A1, struck by liner off Isle of Wight; all on board lost. 1905—-A5, explosion of petrol vapour; six killed, nine injured. 1908—A8, sank in Plymouth Sound; 14 loet. 1909—C11, eank off Cromer. 1912—A3, sunk in collision off Isle of Wipht; 14 lost. 1012—82, in collision; 15 lost. 1913—]':.'), explosion; three killed. 1914_A7, lost off Plymouth; 11 lost. (War years excluded.) 1921—K5, sank in English Channel; 57 lost. 1922—H42. rammed by warship off Gibraltar; 23 lost. 1924—L24, rammed by warehip off Portland; 41 lost. ]925—M1. sunk off Start Point; 68 lost. 192&-H29, Rank. 1931—Poseidon, rammed by Chinese merchant vessel in Far East; 24 lost. January. 1932—M2, sank off Portland Bill;" 60 lost.