ITALIAN MARINE TRAGEDY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 202, 9 August 1928, Page 5

ITALIAN MARINE TRAGEDY

CREW oZIuBMARINE ASPHYXIATED. IMPRISONED MEN’S LAST MESSAGES. [United Preu Association—By CableCopy right.) [Australian Preu Assn.-United Service.; Rome, Aug. 8. The submarine Fl 4 was brought to the surface within 34 hours of the col lision, and when opened the whole crew of 31 were dead, asphyxiated by poisonous gases. The final moments of the imprisoned crew were dramatic. A message eame from within the submarine: "We are waiting calmly to be rescu ed.” Then cheerfully there came from the imprisoned men the following mes ■age: — ‘‘We are confident you will be no longer than you can help.” The wireless operator continued to send messages until the following unfinished one: ‘‘Twenty-two of our men are still alive, and perhaps —” This last message was dramatically broken off just as the work of raising the submarine began. Apparently the steep slant of the craft as it was being hauled to the surface upset the storage battery, the fumes from which overcame the men.