H47 DISASTER

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 9

H47 DISASTER

COURT-MARTIAL HELD

UNDELIVERED MESSAGE

SENTENCE ON OFFICER

United Tress Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright Australian Tress Association—United Service. (Received 27th July, 10 a.m.) j LONDON, 26th July. Whether or not an all-important verbal message was delivered to the captaiu of the submarine Ll2 a few minutes before the collision on 9th July, which sank the H47, was decided at a conrt-raartial on' Lieutenant Claud Keen, navigating officer of Ll2, who was charged with causing the collision by failing to avoid H47 and altering his course without warning the commander of H47. Commander Oram said that he was positive that he did not receive the I following message from tho bridge: j "H. 47 crossing our bow, can we slow down?" The signalman gave evidence that he heard the message passed below through' the speakitg tube. Seaman Rogers gave evidence of taking tho message. He passed it on to Commander Oram, who nodded assent. Lieutenant Wise, who ./as with Lieutenant Claud Keen on the bridge, gave evidence that Keen sent the message down the voice pipe. The Court found Keen guilty, ;uid ' ordered him to bo dismissed his ship and severely reprimanded.