THE SUBMARINE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 44, 16 November 1925, Page 9

THE SUBMARINE DISASTER

HOPE OF RESCUING CREW ABANDONED iSIXTY-NINE MEN MISSING VESSEL’S BULK PRECLUDES POSSIBILITY OF RAISING IT U The Admiralty has abandoned hope of any of the . crew of the submaine Ml being rescued. A message from a correspondent on board the warship Revenge says the submarine’s bulk precludes the possibility of raising it, adding that it is most unlikely that the vessel could withstand the,intense pressure at a depth of 240 feet, i ./ ’ , By Telegraph—Ph ess Association. Copyright.

London, November 13. News has been received at Portsmouth that Admiral Sir Henry F. Oliver, Coramander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, received aboard H.M.S. Revenge a wireless message saying' that the ships searching for Ml apparently located the submarine . twelve miles south bv west of Start Point, but the depth was too great to permit of diving. It is stated that there is still a faiiit hope’ that the crew are alive, as it is ascertained there has been no collision, but the great size of the submarine makes it practically impossible to raise her. It is pointed out th-it Ml is able to remain under water for from 36 to 48 hours without endangering the lives of the crew, if the vessel is not holed. An Admiraltv statement has been issued that everv effort is being made to locate the Ml, but owing to the number of wrecks and the depth of water in the neighbourhood, and the absence of any indications such as oil or air bubble’s, considerable difficulty is anticipated before anv success is obtained. So far the Admiralty has not received any intelligence enabling them to credit the report that the submarine lias been located.—Reuter. (Rec. November 15, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 13. Just when the evening papers were announcing that the submarine Ml hadbeen located, the Admiralty issued a statement that no intelligence had been received justifying credence of the earlier report which stated tliat mirai Oliver had received a radio message announcing the submarine s discovery. This apparently originated from the fact that a sweeper was on the point of abandoning a particular area when a faint sound in the hydrophone suggested that the drag had cauaht a submerged body. 1 his was promptly reported by radio to Portsmouth ‘The Admiraltv’s official demal said that owing to the number of wrecks and the depth of water around the point, and the absence of oil or air bubbles, considerable difficulty was likeiv to be experienced in finding the submarine. Experts comment on the ominous absence of oil, which the crew would release to attract attention. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn London, November 14. An official message states that the Admiraltv has abandoned hope of there being any survivors from submarine memorial service has been arranged for at Portsmouth Dockyard church on November 17.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

COMMANDER MARRIED LAST DECEMBER (Rec. November 15, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 13. Tlie total of the missing has been increased to 69. The Admiralty has issued an additional name. Lieut.-Commander Alec Came, commander of the Ml, was married last December, and a son was born nve weeks ago.—Reuter.

FIRST INDICATION OF TROUBLE FAILURE TO ANSWER SIGNALS London, November 12. <' 'j'pe first indication qf disaster to Ml was her failure, after submersion, to answer signals. Search commenced within two hours. It is presumed that

she is Iving at a depth of from 220 to 240 feet, rendering salvage practically impossible, although, if the hull is intact, the occupants may survive for two to three days. The crew included « nunijjer of recruits undergoing instruction." Lieutenant-Commander Alec Carrie was ill command. The weather is moderating. Derrick ships are proceeding to the scene.—Sydney "Sun” Cable.

UNLIKELY TO WITHSTAND ; INTENSE PRESSURE MESSAGE OF REGRET FROM THE KING (Rec. November 15, 5.5 p.m.) London," November 13. The "Evening Standard’s” correspondent on board the warship Revenge telegraphs that the submarine’s bulk precludes the possibility, of raising the vessel. Furthermore, it is most unlikely to withstand the intense pressure at a depth of 240 feet. It is also significant that the Ml had not used its undersea signalling apparatus to reply to the sent her bv the same means. The King has sent a message to the commander of the Atlantic Fleet expressing deep regret and sympathy at the loss.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SPECIAL APPARATUS FROM KIEL DIVERS ENABLED Td WORK AT GREAT DEPTH (Rec. November 16, 0.25 a.m.) London, November 15. At the Admiralty’s request a German firm at Kiel is sending to Plymouth a special apparatus enabling divers to work at a depth of 360 ft., in order not to neglect any possible chance of reaching the lost submarine—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ABOLITION OF SUBMARINES ADVOCATED LITTLE USE AGAINST WARSHIPS (Rec. November 16, 0.55 a.m.) London, November. 15. The "News of the World,” pointing out it was France’s objections chiefly which prevented the abolition of submarines at the Washington Conference, suggests that Britain . should reopen negotiations on the subject, offering as inducement to forgo half of France s debt to Britain. It adds that the abandonment of submarines would doubtless be approved by America, Janan and other naval Powers. "Reynolds’s News,” in an editorial, savs- “Submarines are valueless in peace time. , War showed them to be of little use/against warships. me world is talking loudly of peace and disarmament. Let the Governments prove their sincerity by banning submarines. They will have the support of the great masses of their peoples. Cable Assn.