Reported Location Of Sub. Is Not Confirmed

Northern Advocate, 2 June 1939, Page 5

Reported Location Of Sub. Is Not Confirmed

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, This Day. Aircraft are reported to have located the Thetis off Great Ormes Head. Surface ships are hurrying to the spot to establish communication. It is understood that buoys were released from the submarine, and were observed from the air. Another message says that the Admiralty has not confirmed the report that the Thetis was located. It is stated that aircraft reported sighting a buoy off Great Ormes Head as darkness was falling, and suggested that it might be the submarine. No confirmation that the submarine has been located has yet been received from surface ships searching the area. Was Submarine Holed? No message has been received from the Thetis by the Admiralty since 2 p.m. yesterday. It was stated then that every effort was being made to locate the vessel, which was believed to have sunk in 132 feet of water. It was feared that it may have struck a submerged object,' which would put all electrical equipment out of action. A tug and a number of warships are at the spot. The weather last night was misty. S.O.S. Notices. S.O.S. notices were flashed on the screens of cinemas and theatres at Weymouth and Portland, to recall men serving in the first anti-submarine flotilla and fixed destroyer flotilla to their ships. Eight destroyers of the Tribal class sailed to the Mersey last night from Portland. The first anti-submarine flotilla was preparing to sail during the night. These and the destroyers are all fitted with the latest secret detector devices used in underwater operations for locating craft. All the crew of the Thetis are fitted with Davis escape apparatus. This is the 12th British submarine disaster since 1921.