SUBMARINE SAVED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 17

SUBMARINE SAVED

Electrocution Risk

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAN DIEGO (California), September 30. Two American seamen saved their submarine from sinking in 12.000 feet of water by sealing themselves in a flooding comoartment which could have become an electrocution chamber, their commanding officer said yesterday. John McGee, of California, and Douglas Webster, of Washington. ooened air valves of the UJS.S. Charr to hold back water with atmospheric pressure. LieutenantCommander Harold Skelly said. He told this story:— "The men were on duty in the submarine's control room above the engine room during a dive 150 miles west of San Diego on Tuesday. “The four engines were Hooded when a rubber coupling, supplying cooling water to the engines, broke and poured 64,000ib of sea water into the compartment in 45sec. “Pressure at the craft’s 100 ft depth was so great that it bent steel plates in the comoartment ‘■Die men sealed themselves in the compartment—isolating the flooded area—and alerted the rest of the crew over a loudspeaker. “They continued to man their engine controls as tihe water rose in the motor room below. accessible through a hatch in the deck under their feet. “The water was about 7ft deep in the engine-room and up to their knees in the above comsoartment as the submarine made a 40-degree ascent to the surface. “The rising water could have shorted out the. electrical circuits in the compartment and electrocuted them," Commander Skelly said. He said the men would be commended for bravery. The submarine was towed into San Diego by a destroyer.

VALUATION ROLLS

Property owners in the Eyre. Oxford, Mount Herbert and Akaroa counties, and in the Riccarton and Lyttelton boroughs, have had new valuation notices posted to them by the Valuation Department. They will be able to inspect the valuation rolls at county and borough offices. Officers of the department will be available to discuss the new valuations with property owners.

Shipping Telegrams AUCKLAND. October 1. Arrived.—Saturday: Kawerau 2:5 am.), Mourilyan; Kalmal (11-40 a.m.), Lyttelton; Navua <2 pm.). Dunedin. Sunday: Tbfua (826 am.). Suva: Saraeen (1028 am.). United States; Walotahi (1020 am.). Gisborne: Koromiko (223 pm ). Sydney: Abel Tasman (2.55 pm.). Gisborne; KoraJd (4 p.m.). Wellington; Kaimlro (9 pm.). Wellington. Sailed.—Saturday: Straat Malakka (720 a.m.). Wellington: Oranje (1026 am.), Wellington; Tawanui (1025 am.). Bluff: Land Breeze (12.42 pm.), Sumatra: Turakina (4 p.m.). Japan Swdsy: Kapuni (3.15 p.m.). north. WELLINGTON. October 1. Arrived.—Saturday; Ranginui (5.40 am.). Kalapoi; Echo (5.40 am.), Blenheim; Willomee (6.45 am.), Neison; Barrington Court (726 am.), Napier; Toa (920 am.). Kalapoi. Sunday: Waimea (9.30 am.). Lyttelton; Oranje (12.38 p.m.). Auckland; Tarawera (1.30 p m .), Auckland: Towai (4.55 pm.), Westport. Sailed—Saturday: Kaltoa (3.5 p.m.). Melson; Crusader (4.58 p.m ). Auckland. Sunday: Kokiri (6.30 am.), Greymouth. Picton (95 am.). Kalapoi. NEW PLYMOUTH, October 1. Arrived.—Saturday: Port New Plymouth (4-35 am.), Auckland Sunday: Port Wellington <2 pm.). Picton. Sailed.—Saturday: Sandalwood (S pm.). Geelong. DUNEDIN. October 1. Arrived. Saturday: Tugela (740 am.). Lyttelton; Devon <8 am.). Falmouth. Sunday: Squall (2.48 am.). New Plymouth: Van Neck (11 am.). Lyttelton; Konini (1128 am.), Lyttelton; Kawatiri (1.45 pan.). Lyttelton: Haporangi (10.15 pm.), Napier. Sailed. Saturday: Kanna (1120 am.). Oamaru; Devon (I pm.). Lyttelton; TugeU (3 p.m.). Bluff. Sunday: Raksla (11 am ), Risdon. BLUFF. October 1. Arrived. Sunday: Tugela (7.45 am.). Dunedin; Storm (150 pm.). Wellington. Sailed—Sunday: City of Auckland (645 pm.). Timaru; Port MaeQuarie (755 pm.).