WRECKED LAUNCH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 3

WRECKED LAUNCH

Naval Inaction Explained

<By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. June 21. “Ju view of continued articles in newspapers which would seem to blame the Naval authorities at Lyttelton for apt taking any action to save the launch Hope, the following statement of facts is issued," states a report released by the naval officer in charge. “The launch was first missing at 1.20 p.m. on June 6, but no report was received by the Navy Offico at Lyttelton till 4 p.m. on June B—over8 —over two days later —when the Air Force reported having sighted her off Timaru. The harbourmaster at Timaru was immediately contacted by telephone and stated that he had the situation well in hand and that three launches were leaving shortly. He intimated that no naval assistance was required. As the only naval vessel available was 120 miles by sea to the northward and could not be expected to make better than six knots against the sea then running, and in view of the Timaru harbourmaster’s confidence that lie could deal adequately with the situation. no action was taken.” After dealing with the earlier suggestion that the launch had foundered off Port Olialmm-s and the fact that the Dunedin Naval authorities said that the fishermen there did not call on them for help, the report adds: “If unv information that the launch might still be afloat had been passed to the Naval authorities at Lyttelton definite steps would have been taken while there was still time to take measures to earr.V out a search ami render assistance to the Hope. Naturally, great regret is felt by the Naval authorities at the loss of two valuable lives tvhich might have been saved had we been informed earlier.