SUNKEN TREASURE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 5

SUNKEN TREASURE

CALL TO SYDNEY DIVER

ANCIENT CHARTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) 1 SYDNEY, 25th February.

Charts made more than 40 years age] by a Sydney diver, Mr. G. M. Dale, while he was engaged in an attempt to recover bullion valued at £600,000] jfrom the French flagship, L'Orient, sunk; by Lord Nelson's Fleet in Aboukir Bayj in 1798, have resulted in his being j called upon by a British syndicate to renew the search. ,In 1889 Dale believed that he had the treasure within! his grasp when the salvage firm for; which he was working became bank* rupt and -abandoned operations. But; Dale took the precaution of making an. accurate chart, with valuable cross^ bearings, of the positions of L'Orient, He' stowed it among his valued possessions—and forgot all about it until re* cently when he read that a British] | syndicate had received permission to reaTch for the sunken treasure.

Dale is now 80 years of age, but as keen as ever. He claims to be the olcU est diver living and says lie does not' feel more than 45. He is looking for* , ward to his new adventure with the greatest enthusiasm, and says it will be a great satisfaction toxhim if he accomplishes in 1932 what he failed to accomplish in 1889. He feels that if the job is tackled with patience and application the fortune will be'recovered. The work should not be difficult las the vessel sank in only six fathoms of water. Dale has had experience in," all parts of the globe, for he was attached to the British Navy for years. . Dale claims that in 1889 he located five of the ships of the French squadron.; sunk in.Aboukir Bay. As well as the £600,000 thought to be in L'Orient.it is believed that she carried the treasure seized by the French when they occupied Malta. He is convinced that he discovered the stern post of the L'Orient and was making good progress' with his undersea investigations when] he was forced to' discontinue work.: The diving conditions in the bay were perfect, as the sea was clear and the bottom hard sand. There were n»-. sharks in the locality, but large octopuses often gave trouble.