THE WORST FEARED

Evening Star, Issue 21012, 28 January 1932, Page 9

THE WORST FEARED

SUBMERGED SUBMARINE ACTIVE SEARCH PROCEEDING Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 27. Lifting lighters and the best divers of the Navy are being rushed to West Bsty, where a circle of flickering lights two and a-half miles off Chesil Beach indicate where the M2 is thought to be lying. The sea is moderate. - Minesweepers continued to ■ search throughout the night. As it is known that a wreck occurred in the vicinity during the war it is now doubted whether the object that was found overnight is the M2. Many ships assembled this morning, but the Use of instruments capable of hearing underwater signals over a wide area proved fruitless. The weather ia threatening and the sea is rising. SALVAGING DIFFICULTIES LONDON, January 26. The 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ naval export says it is ominous that M2 vanished under circumstances recalling the loss of Ml on November 13, 1925, It was surmised that Ml got out of control during a dive and was crushed by the pressure of water through passing the limit of safe submergence. The salving of a wrecked submarine is a long and tedious process, and to indicate that there would be a possibility of raising the boat in time to save the men would be encouraging false hopes. DIVERS ON THE SCENE LONDON, January 27. Warships are grouped in a wide circle around the spot where M2 ia lying. Xhe destroyer Sabre, with specially trained deep sea divers, and two Admiralty salvage ships with special, lifting apparatus, are rushing to get operations started at daylight, when, according to.the ‘Daily Mail,’ the divers will first attempt to discover whether anybody is alive by tapping the hull and listening for a reply. The submarine is provided with valves which will enable the divers to pump fresh air to any compartment. It is stated that it would be possible for a man to Jive for eighty hours if, there was no extensive leakage, but in naval circles at Portland the worst fears are entertained. One theory is that the submarine dived with an open hatch and the inrush of water prevented (the inmates from reaching the Davis apparatus. ' VESSEL LOCATED AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT LONDON, January 27. (Received January 28, at 10 a.m.) Though, it is not confirmed by the Admiralty, the ‘ Standard’s ’ special Weymouth correspondent says that two destroyers have located the submarine, to which salvage vessels are hurrying. The correspondent asserts that the submarine has not answered the signals. The Admiralty announced at 1.30 this afternoon that there wa,s no communication with the submarine. Great anxiety is- therefore felt for the safety of the crew. The Admiralty insists* that M2 has not been found, but the ‘ Standard ’ declares that the mother ship, Adamant, wirelessed Portland dockyard: “Have definitely located M2. Aift surrounding the position. Will send divers down.” Six officers and fifty men are aboard, including Able Seamen Thomas and Morris, survivors of the Posiedon disaster. MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION SWEEPING OPERATIONS CON- % TINUED. I LONDON, January 27. (Receved January 28, at 1 p.m.) Contrary to the hopes raised in the afternoon, the Admiralty is now definitely of opinion that the submarine has not been located. Thr general belief is that the vessel sank in a stretch of water with the sinister name of Dead Man’s Bay owing to the number of ships wrecked there during war time. Sweeping continues in an area about a mile square, though it is too rough for the divers to descend. The skipper of the coastal steamer Tynesider, who was in the vicinity yesterday, says he believes he saw the submarine diving in a strange fashion. It seemed “ Stern first.” The Naval authorities are slowly coming to the conclusion that there may have been an explosion aboard, in which case the men must have been immediately suffocated. The serious view the Admiralty has taken is shown by the fact that officers have been sent to visit the men’s wives to tell them that they should not build hopes that their husbands will be found alive.