ESCAPE CHAMBER OVERCROWDED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 244, 13 July 1939, Page 9

ESCAPE CHAMBER OVERCROWDED

Evidence At Inquiry Into

Thetis Disaster

NO PANIC ON BOARD,

SAYS JUDGE

(Independent Cable Service.) (Received July 12, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, July IL During the inquiry into the sinking of the submarine Thetis, Mr. Justice Bucknill said the probable reason for putting four men into the escape chamber was shortage of time. “They must have been very much like sardines in a tin,'’ he said, “and the apparatus required certain freedom of movement. It do not think there is the slightest reason to puppose that there was any panic.” Lieutenant - Commander Me Vicker demonstrated the difficulties of four men using the apparatus in the rescue chamber. He thought this was the chief cause of failure.

Since 1937 there had been only four complete failures of the apparatus at the training centre at Fort Blockhouse from a total of 3279 men. he said. He considered it was a mistake to send four men into the chamber as it was designed for two. Four men would bo crushed together, which would probably affect their ability to breathe out.

The crowding might even double up the mouthpiece tubes and, if such was the case, they could neither breathe in nor breathe out.

Had List to Port.

John Rowe, assistant foreman shipwright in the employ of Cammell, Laird and Co., builders of the submarine, said he examined the Thetis on the morning of its departure and discovered that there was ir list of two and a half inches to port.

He reported the list and was informed that it would be rectified by trimming. A second examination immediately before sailing showed a list of nearly three inches. Mr. L. C. Williamson, Assistant Director of Naval Construction, crossexamined. said that if the Thetis had been fitted with efficient mechanism preventing the outer and inner doors of the topedo tubes opening simultaneously, the disaster might not have occurred (states a Press Association message). Other technicians testified that the inspection of the Davis escape apparatus on March 30 showed that it was satisfactory. The Attorney-General, Sir Donald .Somervell, said that the evidence of the divers who descended at the time of the rescue efforts would not be brought forward at present as it was inconclusive evidence which might become irrelevant if the Thetis were salvaged. He agreed that in the event of salvage being impossible the divers’ evidence should come .before the tribunal. It is announced that the salvage vessels Ranger and Zelo and the divingship Tedworth have gone to Liverpool Bay. The weather is good. The Tedworth is now’ moored over the Thetis.