MISHAP ON SUBMARINE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 255, 27 September 1932, Page 7

MISHAP ON SUBMARINE.

ENGINEER KILLED. SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED. Received September 27, 12.25 p.m. CHERBOURG, Sept. 26. Several were injured in an explosion aboard the French submarine Persee, a sister sliij> of the Promothee, during her final trials. The captain wirelessed for the assistance of tugs which are towing the Persee to Cherbourg. The extent of the damage is unknown. A later message states that the explosion occurred in the Diesel engine rooms and killed the engineer, M. Lecoq, fractured the skulls of three of the crew and badly injured six others. Altogether 32 were hurt in the explosion or the fire which followed. The flames were quickly extinguished. The men rushed to the bridge and donned lifebelts preparatory to jumping into the sea, but the officers reassured them and ordered them to return to their stations. The explosion was caused by the bursting of the engine’s water jacket.

Sixty-six persons were drowned last July when the French submarine Promothee, of 1379 tons, which was launched in 1930, sank suddenly in 150 feet of water while performing surfaco tests in tho roadstead seven miles north of Capo Levi. I 1 ive members of tho crew, including two officers, wore flung into tho sea and wore later rescued. The Promothee, in addition in her complement of fifty-six, carried seventeen workmen and engineers.