14 SAILORS RESCUED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 79, 15 March 1934, Page 9

14 SAILORS RESCUED

Japanese Naval Accident SHIP PROBABLY TOP HEAVY By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. TOKIO, March 14. Reports from Sasebo, where the lomozuru was docked, state that 13 men were taken out alive from the ship early in the morning, two of whom died in hospital. Plus the three rescued yesterday the total known to be alive is therefore 14, while 15 were found dead and 83 are missing. The rescuers, spurred on by faint tapping from within, speedily cut holes in the hull. A commission of 25 noted naval authorities has been appointed to inquire into the disaster, the chairman being Admiral Nomura. The cause of the capsize is surmised to be that the centre of gravity was too high, giving an advantage in fighting qualities and speed but making the vessel top-heavy in rough weather Presumably it will mean the renovation of the Tomozuru’s sister ships and the modification of further construction. A later message states that six more . bodies have been recovered. The majority of the remainder are believed to have been washed overboard and drowned.