THETIS EVIDENCE
WHY DID ESCAPES CEASE?
CAPTAIN TO BE RECALLED
WIRE ON CONNING TOWER
(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received July 19, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, July 18.
At the Thetis inquiry, to-day, a diver, Frederick Orton, described the discovery of an entanglement of wire on the conning tower and expressed the opinion that this may have interfered with the escape hatch. He said the attached guide rope came to the surface, and then he was ordered to cut the rope and cease diving.
Cross-examined, Orton said he would have had no difficulty in attaching an nirpipe or screwing down the forward hatch in accordance with Captain Oram’s plan. The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somervell) read an Admiralty statement of 1934 that it was intended to rely on the Davis escape apparatus in preference to waiting for a hope of salvage.
Mr Justice Bucknill : This is quite at variance with the rescue plan. Captain Oram brought up for raising the ship. I am wondering why the men ceased to escape and whether they voluntarily decided to stay. The Attorney-General: We are recalling Captain Oram regarding this matter.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 195, 19 July 1939, Page 9
Word Count
186THETIS EVIDENCE Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 195, 19 July 1939, Page 9
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