A LOST SUBMARINE

Evening Star, Issue 15394, 19 January 1914, Page 6

A LOST SUBMARINE

ELEVEN LIVE* LOST. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 16. At midday during the mancouvree Submarine A 7, in charge of Commander Wellman, foundered in 17 fathoms of water. The salvagers are endeavoring' to raise the vessel. The crew weTe still alive at 5 o'clock. When the flotilla "was ordered to the surface the submarine did_ not rise, A warship communicated with _ the crew wirelessly, and divers, by tapping signals, but no answers were received after 6 o'clock. The catastrophe is attributed to disabled pumps. The death Toll is two officers and nine petty officers and men. FURTHER DETAILS. LONDON, January 17. The 11 victims at Whitsand Bay include Commander Wellman and Sub-lieu-tenant Robert Morrison. The 6ea was moderate. The submarine was accompanied by a pigmy, which is attached to seagoing depot ships for the purpose of firing torpedoes. The submarine remained an unusual time below the water, and the pigmy's officers were alarmed. They endeavored, to communicate with the sunken vessel, but did not get any response. There were ominous bubbles upon the smooth swell. They placed a buoy to mark the spot, but tho buoy drifted. Salvage efforte were continued fruitlessly by the help of searchlights. The officials stated that it was practically hopeless. The oxygen on board was sufficient for six hours. In 10 years 200 men have perished in seven British and nine foreign submarine accidents. The newspapers, commenting on the successive disasters among the A class, coneider that frail hulls are unfitted for the work, even eliminating the duties recently assigned—namely, exercising in easy reach of the shore. The search for the submarine was resumed at daylight, but the depth of the water forbade opening the conning tower, as the inrush of water would be disastrous. A COINCIDENCE. London Times-Sydney Sim Special Cable. — Copyright. LONDON, January 16. The sister ship of A 7 sank at Plymouth with all hands in 1905. She was launched at Barrow on the same day. (Received January 19, at 8.25 a.m.) All the foreign Powers have, sent condolences over the accident to the submarine.