Disturbing Evidence At Thetis Inquiry

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1939, Page 7

Disturbing Evidence At Thetis Inquiry

(Received noon). LONDON, July 12. .At the Thetis inquiry, James Crosby, a naval; telegraphist aboard the accompaying tug, said he watched the Thetis submerge.'* The vessel, which appeared to be light in the bow, went down .at a slight angle in about, 20 minutes.. , • . _. ’ / ~ . Speedy Disappearance. ■ « kyii t ' rf "T ■ Then It levelled, and then seemed to submerge bodily and horizontally. Witness remarked upon the speed at which it disappeared.' He stated that he radioed Fort blockhouse, asking how long the Thetis was suppose to be submerged. Fifteen minutes after transmitting the piessage, which required 20 minutes to send, due to the fact that his signals, were weak, he was ordered to send a further message stating that the Thetis had dived and failed to reappear. He was unable to get this message through. .

The Last Observation.

Captain Godfrey, skipper of the accompanying tug, said he ordered the signalman to ask the Thetis whether she was submerging completely. The Thetis replied that the periscope, and also a red flag, would be visible the whole time. The submarine first went down at the stern, and then began to roll from side to side. The bow went down, then swung about four points to port, before disappearing very quickly. ’ It took about quarter of an hour to submerge, and she was still swinging on a port helm when last seen. '

The AttorneyrGeneral, Sir Donald Somervell, at the Thetis inquiry, said the evidence of the divers who had descended at the time of the rescue efforts would not be brought forward at present, as it was inconclusive evidence, which might become irrelevant if the Thetis . were salvaged. He agreed that, in -th event of salvage being impossible; the divers’ evidence should come before the tribunal. It is announced that the salvage vessels, Ranger and Zelo, and the diving-ship Tedworth, have gone to Liverpool Bay. The weather is good. The Tedworth is now moored over the Thetis.'

Overcrowding of Escape Chamber,

Dliring the inquiry, says an Independent Cable Service message, Mr Justice Buckmll said the probable reason for putting four men into the escape chamber was shortage of time. “They must have been very much like sardines in a tin, and the apparatus required certain freedom of movement. Ido not think there is the {slightest reason to suppose that there was any panic.” Lieut.-Commander McVicker demonstrated the difficulties of four men using the apparatus in the chambqr. He thought this was the chief cause of failure.,.-Since 1937, he said, there have been only four complete failures of the apparatus at the training centre, Fort Blockhouse, from a total of 3279 men.

Witness said it was a mistake to send four men into the chamber. It was designed for two. Four men would be crushed together, probably affecting their ability to breathe out. Crowding might even double up the mouthpiece tubes in such a way that the men could neither breathe in nor breathe put ,